Core Crops Technical Manager (Processing of Agricultural Crops - Soybean and Sesame)

AI summary

TechnoServe is hiring a Core Crops Technical Manager in Abuja, Nigeria, to lead technical interventions across soybean and sesame value chains. The role focuses on improving processing, quality assurance, post-harvest handling, and market competitiveness while coordinating consultants, private sector partners, and government stakeholders. The position reports to the Program Director and involves local travel of 40–50%.

• Technical leadership role focused on soybean and sesame processing and value addition
• Based in Abuja, Nigeria, with 40–50% local travel
• Reports to the Program Director and supports high-performing teams
• Involves strategy development, innovation piloting, and donor reporting
• Requires fluency in English and private-sector agri-food processing experience

Original source description

Core Crops Technical Manager (Processing of Agricultural Crops - Soybean and Sesame) at TechnoServe ⏲ Aug 27, 2026, 9:12 AM ⋕ View all Agriculture & Agro-Allied jobs TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. We are a non-profit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital, and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs, and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives. We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Core Crops Technical Manager (Processing of Agricultural Crops - Soybean and Sesame) Job ID: INTER005280 Location : Abuja Required Languages: Fluency in English is required. Travel: Local travel 40-50% Reports to: Program Director Job Summary The role will oversee the design and implementation of interventions that improve processing, quality assurance, and market competitiveness for the core crops - soybean, and sesame. The Manager will identify and work with crop-specific technical consultants, coordinate with private sector partners and government stakeholders, and ensure delivery of high-quality technical assistance to the project’s clients/beneficiaries, processors, and agribusinesses. The position plays a key role in driving innovation, scaling best practices, and ensuring that project results are achieved on time and within budget. The primary responsibility of the Core Crops Technical Manager is to provide technical oversight and leadership across the program’s priority crop value chains to achieve the project’s goals. This role requires expertise in the agri-food processing sector, as well as experience: working with the private sector food processing companies. The ideal candidate should have a proven track record of working with high performing teams. Primary Functions & Responsibilities: Technical Leadership and Strategy: Advise TechnoServe’s Program Development team on project proposals, as needed Develop upgrading strategies for women-led micro and small enterprises engaged in soybean and sesame Identify systemic constraints and opportunities in soybean and sesame production, aggregation, processing, and marketing. Provide technical input into program workplans, budgets, and intervention pipelines.Offer technical solutions to implementation challenges Identify and pilot innovations to improve processing efficiency, reduce losses, and increase profitability. Contribute to donor reports and presentations to enable the Country Director and Program Director to effectively represent the project at external meetings and events. Provide technical oversight of the project’s interventions in soybean and sesame. Develop specific strategies for value addition and improved processing of soybean and sesame, post-harvest handling and quality management, Lead the design and implementation of technical interventions for soybean and sesame value chains within the broader program. Provide technical guidance on equipment selection, plant layout, food safety, and processing efficiency. Work with the Program Director and the project team to enroll and engage young people, women, PLWDs, SMEs and other beneficiaries on the project, while adapting project approaches, as needed, to reach targets and milestones. Program Implementation: Develop technical training materials for the clients and beneficiaries. to enhance the quality of their products and improve their performance. Ensure integration of cross-cutting themes including youth engagement, women and youth inclusion, climate-smart practices, and environmental compliance. Oversee field and enterprise-level technical activities, ensuring alignment with program objectives and work plans. Work with the teams to provide tailored technical assistance to the clients and beneficiaries and to transition them into commercially viable high yield businesses. Assess the gaps in the clients’ technical knowledge and capacity. Engage state and federal government agencies, research institutes, and industry associations relevant to soybean and sesame value chains. Work with the processors and processing clusters to ensure operational efficiency, compliance with quality and hygiene standards. Supervise technical consultants delivering support to clients, beneficiaries, cooperatives, and processors. Private Sector and Market Engagement: Support enterprises to become investment-ready through technical upgrading and business improvement planning. Support access to appropriate technologies for improved processing of soybean and sesame, storage, and quality assurance. Facilitate market linkages between producers, processors, women entrepreneurs, market actors and buyers for soybean and sesame. Build partnerships with processors, aggregators, input suppliers, off-takers, financial institutions, equipment vendors, buyers and technology providers. Capacity Building: Design and deliver training programs on good manufacturing practices, post-harvest handling, processing, quality management, food safety, business operations and quality assurance. Strengthen local service providers and extension networks to sustain impact beyond project life. Mentor and build the technical capacity of the project’s team. Promote adoption of resource-efficient processing practices for soybean and sesame. Strengthen extension and service delivery models that support soybean and sesame value chain actors. Quality Assurance and Standards: Support enterprises to meet regulatory and buyer requirements. Promote adoption of food safety standards, traceability systems, and relevant national/international certifications. Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting: Contribute to technical reporting, documentation of results, and knowledge-sharing products. Work with the MEL Specialist to assess the impact of the project’s interventions and ensure high-quality data is being collected to demonstrate project results. Work closely with the MEL team to track performance indicators and adapt interventions based on learning. Qualifications Prior experience: working or collaborating with private sector companies and businesses, SMEs, and processing companies. An advanced Degree in Agricultural Science, Food Science, Agricultural Engineering, Agribusiness, Crop Science, Agricultural Economics, or other relevant field and at least 5 years of relevant professional experience: (7 years with a Bachelor’s Degree). Experience: in international development or the private sector is preferred. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Experience: working in Nigeria is preferred. Excellent communication, training, and stakeholder engagement skills. Experience: in investment-readiness support for SMEs. Demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaboratively with a broad range of public and private sector counterparts and other key stakeholders. Proven ability to manage teams and deliver complex field programs. High level of integrity, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity. Experience: in designing and delivering technical training programs is highly desirable. Practical knowledge of Nigeria’s agricultural and agro-processing landscape. Ability to work with tight deadlines while managing multiple tasks and priorities. Familiarity with national regulatory frameworks (NAFDAC, SON, etc.). Willingness to travel frequently to field locations. Strong understanding of processing technologies, post-harvest systems, and food safety standards. Experience: in successfully implementing gender-integrated programs is a plus.Strong interpersonal and communications skills in a multicultural environment. Ability to contribute to well-written, cohesive analyses and reports. Strong problem-solving and adaptive management capability. How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply online View all Jobs in Nigeria Abuja