Regional Program ManagerNigeria

Position: Regional Program Manager Partners in Food Solutions
Nature of position: Full time
Term of position: 1 year renewable based on grant funding and satisfactory performance
Position Location: Nigeria

Partners in Food Solutions connects the expertise of volunteers from its corporate partners (General Mills Cargill Royal DSM Buhler Hershey s Ardent Mills and the J.M. Smucker Company) with small and growing food processing companies in Africa. Our goal is to increase the capacity of the African foodprocessing sector to produce highquality nutritious safe affordable food for local populations while at the same time increasing and sustaining demand for crops grown by smallholder farmers. We are pioneering a remote knowledgetransfer model through our custom cloudbased platform so that volunteers can share their expertise from their home offices or anywhere in the world.

To date 1400 PFS subject matter experts have volunteered more than 100000 hours and have worked with over 1600 small and growing businesses) with a combined outreach of 1.3 million smallholder farmers. With the continued support of its corporate partners PFS is looking to broaden impact and outreach exponentially in the coming years.

The role will serve as a trusted advisor to clients and the lead liaison between clients ontheground and the PFS volunteer pool to deliver high quality food manufacturing expertise. The PM will act as a representative of PFS to ensure that the work is tightly aligned and connected to PFS in representing its Corporate Partners. PFS currently has a presence in Cameroon Cote d Ivoire Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Malawi Nigeria Tanzania Uganda Rwanda and Zambia. The candidate will be required to work with the team and Regional Director for West Africa to support rice processing/milling clients on a program which PFS has partnered with GIZ ECOWAS Rice Observatory and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and will be based out of Nigeria.

• Along with the PFS Headquarter Team the Program Manager will help identify and source potential Clients.
  
• Conduct initial meetings with previously identified local food processors to assess the potential for high quality and high impact projects.
  
• Conduct site visits to collect the necessary technical information (e.g. regarding ingredients suppliers packers and processes) to make an informed decision about proceeding with communications.
  
• In the case of highpotential clients conduct a thorough business assessment to identify priority needs and potential opportunities for client engagement.
  
• With client and PFS input draft a project scope document which articulates the expertise required target timelines etc.
  
• Facilitate alignment on project scope document and obtain signoff from management and clients prior to commencement of projects.
  
• Obtain signoffs for closure of projects.
  
• Identify and cultivate a local ecosystem of strategic partners to expand our impact and resources
  
• Responsible for sourcing and coaching apprentices.
  

• Set up communication to deliver technical and business advice on food manufacturing equipment materials and processes between PFS volunteers and the client
  
• Provide ongoing support of the remote knowledge transfer model and act as the bridge between PFS expert volunteers and the processors in the life of the specific projects.
  
• Participate in calls with management and volunteer teams ensuring effective communication and understanding of each other s expectations.
  
• Provide ontheground support for implementation of technical advice.
  
• Support organize and conduct training workshops for clients as needed on technical issues ranging from quality control production process operations supply chain safety and hygiene working conditions (i.e. wages safety) and proper environmental management.
  
• Provide support to client in coordinating the business component of the program with the technical aspects
  
• Track and report on project progress and highlight any issues that require support from management teams.
  
• Manage data reporting processes
  
• Drive data collection from the M&E framework
  
• Develop well written cohesive reports that meet the informational needs of donors and investors.
  
• Upload data and project documentation onto the technology platform.
  

• Identify and complete technical assessment of ingredients packaging materials manufacturing processes and safety and quality management practices relevant to developing project scope.
  
• Identify and complete business assessment of marketing sales finance and overall management practices as appropriate a business case for rice fortification
  
• Accurately translate technical and business requirements communicated by clients to volunteers.
  
• Work with PFS volunteers to ensure that technical expertise on equipment materials and processes as well as overall business management needs are communicated to clients without diluting the essence of recommendations.
  
• Provide direct support and guidance as appropriate to clients necessary to produce products to maximize capacity and optimize product quality and differentiation.
  

Requirements

• Must have proper authorizations to work in Nigeria
  
• B.Sc. in Food Science Food Technology Agricultural Science Agricultural Engineering Post Harvest Technology or related courses. Master s degree preferred.
  
• Between 5 to 10 years working experience in food processing with some being in rice milling sector preferably with at least 2 in manufacturing / plant.
  
• Rice processing expertise would be an added advantage.
  
• Must be both a Thinker and a Doer role will require being both a strategic thinker and performing many big and small tasks.
  
• Business acumen demonstrating a clear understanding of the business environment in the horticulture sector in the project region as well as globallyKnowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) as well as worker safety social and environmental sustainability.
  
• Highly developed interpersonal and relationship building skills
  
• Strong stakeholder management skills
  
• Reporting competence
  
• Understanding of Monitoring Evaluation and Learning practices
  
• Crosscultural agility
  
• Experience working in multiple countries or familiarity with region
  
• High degree of comfort in working in unstructured environments
  
• Proven track record in providing technical solutions to food processors.
  
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills.
  
• Strong project management skills.
  
• 25% travel to include Northern region in Nigeria and other West African Countries.
  
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English is required.
  
• Good computer skills in business software (Excel MS Project and PowerPoint).