Deputy Project Director

• The Deputy Project Director provides strategic oversight to ensure the programme achieves its intended results while maintaining strong commercial relevance and partnership effectiveness.
• Working closely with the Project Director, the Deputy Project Director monitors programme performance against key indicators, provides high-level technical and strategic guidance, strengthens relationships with strategic partners, and supports adaptive decision-making throughout implementation.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Programme Oversight and Performance:

• Provide strategic oversight to ensure programme implementation remains aligned with overall objectives, expected outcomes, and contractual commitments.
• Review programme performance against key performance indicators, including job creation, youth-led entrepreneurship, enterprise development, private sector engagement, and market systems strengthening.
• Provide strategic advice to the Project Director and senior management on programme direction, emerging opportunities, and implementation risks.
• Review programme performance reports and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
• Participate in periodic programme reviews and strategic planning sessions.

Commercial Strategy and Partnership Development:

• Lead the programme’s commercial and partnership strategy to strengthen private-sector participation and long-term sustainability.
• Build and maintain relationships with agribusinesses, processors, exporters, financial institutions, investors, input suppliers, and other strategic partners.
• Identify opportunities for market expansion, private investment, and commercial partnerships that support programme objectives.
• Support negotiations and strategic engagement with high-level public and private sector stakeholders.
• Advise on approaches that improve the commercial viability and sustainability of programme interventions beyond the project lifecycle.

Governance, Risk Management and Quality Assurance:

• Provide independent oversight of programme quality, implementation progress, and delivery standards across all implementation states.
• Review strategic risks affecting programme delivery and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
• Support compliance with donor requirements, organisational policies, safeguarding standards, and contractual obligations.
• Promote learning and adaptive management by reviewing programme evidence, lessons learned, and performance data to inform strategic decision-making.
• Support the Project Director in presenting programme progress and strategic updates to senior stakeholders where required.

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:

• Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Business Administration, Economics, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible experience leading large-scale agricultural, private sector development, or market systems programmes.
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic oversight for complex, multi-state or national development programmes.