Project Manager - Research & Innovation Brokerage

COLEAD is a non-profit interprofessional association founded in 1973 whose main purpose is to facilitate and implement all actions that directly and/or indirectly increase the contribution of the agri-food sector to the achievement of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

COLEAD manages development projects in the agricultural and food sector in low and low-middle income countries, financed by donors (mainly the European Union).

More information is available on our website.

As part of the implementation of its new programme entitled “Sustainable Production for Resilient and Inclusive New Generations (SPRING)”, COLEAD is looking for a Project Manager for its Research and Innovation Brokerage Department.

The overall objective of this new intervention is to enhance The Gambia’s horticultural sector’s contribution to economic growth, food security, food safety, and nutrition by accelerating a people-centred (particularly for women and youth), resilient, market-driven, and nutrition-sensitive agro-ecological transition. The specific objectives are to i) increase investments, productivity, income and working opportunities especially for women, young people, and marginalized groups within targeted horticultural value chains; ii) to improve plant health, food safety, quality management, and sustainable agroecological practices among horticultural producers and processors, especially women and youth; and iii) to strengthen diversified, nutrition-sensitive, and agro-ecologically produced horticultural value chains.

COLEAD is recruiting a Project Manager with professional background in Agronomy, particularly in plant production, to strengthen its Research and Innovation Brokerage Department, especially in the areas of horticultural research and technical advisory services. The position requires at least five years of relevant professional experience. Time spent undertaking a relevant PhD will be fully counted towards this professional experience requirement. Relevant experience acquired in the private sector will also be taken into consideration. Candidates should demonstrate technical expertise and the ability to align with COLEAD’s operating context, positioning and values.

The role requires the capacity to coordinate and supervise multiple types of agronomic and horticultural trials under diverse agroecological conditions, involving a broad range of technical themes such as crop protection, varietal evaluation, soil fertility, irrigation, sustainable production practices, waste management, post-harvest storage and processing, and digital technologies.

Within the COLEAD team, you will actively contribute to the development and implementation of projects supporting partners from the private horticultural sector (fruit and vegetable production, processing and/or export-oriented companies, producer groups and organisations, consultants/service providers, professional organisations, etc.) and the public sector (National Plant Protection Organisations, Universities and training centres, laboratories, etc.) in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

These different projects aim to achieve the specific objective of the programmes implemented by COLEAD i.e. to enable smallholders, farmer groups and organisations, as well as MSMEs, to access national, regional, and international markets in compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and market requirements, in a sustainable framework.

The Project Manager will be based in Banjul (The Gambia) with a primary focus on Research and Innovation Brokerage activities under the SPRING programme in the country. However, its scope may extend beyond The Gambia in line with organizational needs. The Project Manager will work closely with COLEAD's programme management units in Brussels (Belgium), Lomé (Togo) and Nairobi (Kenya) under the supervision of the Research and Innovation Brokerage Manager.

As a Project Manager, your main tasks and responsibilities will be to provide coordination, technical, administrative and logistical support for the implementation of COLEAD's Research and Innovation activities. Tasks will include:

Provide support to the COLEAD Team in the implementation of research and innovation activities

• Support the Research and Innovation Team to identify and assess priority challenges and opportunities in crop production, through:
  

• Monitoring and analysis of emerging issues and sector trends;
  
• Engagement with public authorities and regulatory bodies;
  
• Collaboration with research institutions and scientific networks;
  
• Liaison with innovation stakeholders and agricultural input suppliers/manufacturers, (particularly plant protection product companies).
  

• Support the COLEAD Research and Innovation Team in implementing its programme of activities aimed at improving sustainable crop production, covering thematic areas such as seeds and varieties, soil and water management, crop nutrition, crop protection, IPM, biopesticides, and post-harvest management. This may include:
  

• Identify appropriate and qualified service providers;
  
• Prepare and oversee contracts with local service providers for trials implementation, delivery and reporting;
  
• Contribute to the development and validation of experimental protocols, data collection methodologies, and technical reporting;
  
• Ensure scientific and technical quality in trial design, implementation, monitoring, data analysis, and reporting.
  

• Support the testing of innovative solutions to improve SPS compliance and productivity in the ACP horticultural industry (for example, in surveillance to monitor the distribution of pests and diseases in priority crops; improved traceability for complex supply chains involving smallholder outgrowers; digital solution to improve productivity, monitoring and compliance).
  
• Support the organisation and implementation of calls for tender for the selection of external service providers.
  
• Supervise external service providers, who provide technical support to the COLEAD Research and Innovation Team.
  

Development of technical material

• Contribute to the development of new technical publications to disseminate knowledge and outcomes of research and innovation activities (e.g. technical brochures/guides, peer-reviewed scientific papers).
  
• Contribute to the compiling of technical information that is required for the digitalization of COLEAD activities and material (e.g. development of digital training tools and e-learning, digitalization of technical supports such as crop technical itineraries, development of AI-based communication tools or Apps).
  

Inform and communicate

• Provide relevant technical information and advice to the COLEAD Geographical Team and programme partners beneficiaries, in collaboration with the Information - Communication Department.
  
• Participate in relevant technical events (e.g. conferences, technical working groups), including oral and poster presentations.
  

Participate in monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Support the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of COLEAD Research and Innovation activities.
  

Main personal qualities sought:

• Ability to coordinate activities, work autonomously and collaboratively, and demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility and accountability.
  
• Scientific rigour, sound analytical and synthesis skills, and a solution-oriented approach to problem-solving;
  
• Strong interpersonal and writing skills, combined with computer literacy.