Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund supplies 1 million smallholder farmers with the agricultural services they need to make their farms vastly more productive. Our 8,000+ team is drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. With operations across six core countries in Africa, we make farmers more prosperous by providing quality farm supplies on credit, delivered within walking distance of farmers’ homes, and agricultural training to improve harvests. On average, the farmers we serve harvest 50 percent more food after working with One Acre Fund.

About the Role

The Maize Seed Multiplication Specialist will be an essential part of our Seed Program in one of One Acre Fund’s fastest-growing country programs. The Ethiopia program currently serves 150,000 farmers, grows over 10 million trees per year and has an ambitious seed multiplication program that intends to reach more than 100,000 farmers annually.

We are seeking a professional to manage the multiplication of maize seed through a community-based seed production model, needed to achieve our scale targets. You will report directly to the Seed Program Growth Associate and you will manage field managers and seed agronomists.

Responsibilities

Manage the multiplication of improved maize seed varieties through a community-based seed multiplication model

• Plan and manage the implementation of field activities, including farmer enrollment, farm clustering, planting, detasseling, harvesting, and seed delivery
• Facilitate the acquisition of foundation seed and ensure that it meets quality standards.
• Lead implementation of quality assurance best practices along the entire maize seed multiplication processes
• Collaborate with partners to plan and implement seed cleaning, processing, and packaging
• Coordinate with government certification offices during field inspections, quality testing, and certification
• Manage cooperative-level and farmer-level contracts

Lead project components related to reserach, validation, and demonstrations of new hybrid maize varieties tailored to unique agro-ecological zones

• Collaborate with research institutions and other partners to identify, test, and register hybrid maize varieties.
• Lead the site selection process and oversee the preparation and management of the demonstration sites.
• Organize farmers’ field days and gather feedback and lessons learned

Manage a field team

• Work with the Program Growth Associate to translate strategic team deliverables into short-term work plans and key performance indicators (KPIs) that will drive the execution of the field team.
• Analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to draw insights for management actions
• Create training materials and deliver training to improve field execution
• Work with field managers to identify field challenges and offer possible solutions
• Undertake periodic Performance Development Review of Field staff
• Collaborate with the Human Resource Unit to manage contracts, payments for the field staff, and processing of the field-related expenses
• Maintain all documentation and field-related records

Support department strategy development

• Support the Seed Program Associate in identifying opportunities and designing strategies to increase program efficiency and scale
• Work with the Seed Program Associate to develop department calendars, set timelines for key activities, and follow up to ensure adherence to timelines

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• 5+ years of experience in hybrid maize seed multiplication and processing. Experience in maize multiplication through a community/cooperative based multiplication model is an added advantage
• 3+ years experience in field team management
• Knowledge of different community-based seed production modalities and associated regulatory processes
• Basic knowledge of electronic data collection tools (e.g. ODK, Kobo, Commcare) and the ability to conduct analysis and generate reports from data collected
• Basic computer skills and creating simple spreadsheet
• Highly facilitative and collaborative across diverse cultures and organizations
• A bachelor’s degree in agriculture with specialization in crop production, breeding, crop protection, agronomy, plant science, or another relevant field. A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Fluency in English and Amharic