One Acre Fund is seeking an entrepreneurial field operations leader to launch and run its newest expansion state in Nigeria. The State Expansion Specialist will lead community mapping, site selection, team building and a full programme season across Credit, Cash, Trees and Extension while managing operational performance, teams, stakeholders and readiness for scale. Sabi Network | Discover Network Grow
Full Job Description:
POSITION DESCRIPTION & REQUIREMENTS
ABOUT ONE ACRE FUND:
One Acre Fund is a nonprofit organisation working with smallholder farmers by providing agricultural services such as quality farm supplies, financing, training and market-related support designed to improve farmer productivity and income.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Nigeria State Expansion Specialist will lead the launch and initial operation of One Acre Fund's newest expansion state. The role combines field operations, programme management, team leadership, community engagement, stakeholder management and operational decision-making.
The successful candidate will support site selection, establish the operational footprint, recruit and prepare the local team and coordinate a full first-season programme across Credit, Cash, Trees and Extension before the programme scales further. Sabi Network | Discover Network Grow
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.Lead community mapping and site selection within the assigned state, building on state-level approvals and relevant security assessments to determine operationally viable locations.
2.Establish the operational footprint, including districts, wards and Points of Delivery (PODs), based on farmer potential, accessibility and operational viability.
3.Recruit, onboard and prepare the in-state team before programme activities begin, ensuring staffing meets operational requirements and organisational diversity objectives.
4.Develop and execute the state's operational calendar, coordinating recruitment, enrolment, training, seedling production, repayment and other seasonal programme activities.
5.Lead implementation of the first programme season across Credit, Cash, Trees and Extension activities.
6.Take ownership of operational, enrolment, revenue and programme targets and ensure implementation remains aligned with organisational priorities.
7.Lead, coach and develop the in-state team while building a strong performance and accountability culture.
8.Build relationships with community leaders and other local stakeholders to strengthen trust, programme participation and successful implementation.
9.Monitor programme performance across districts, use operational data to identify risks and root causes and recommend corrective action.
10.Manage operational, financial and programme risks within the assigned state and escalate significant issues when necessary.
11.Provide evidence-based recommendations on programme performance and readiness for further scale following the first season. Sabi Network | Discover Network Grow
REQUIREMENTS:
1.Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Business, Economics, Social Sciences or a related field.
2.At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, including at least 3 years leading field teams or managing multi-workstream operations.
3.Strong project-management skills with the ability to plan, coordinate and deliver complex multi-workstream programmes while balancing competing priorities and timelines.
4.Ability to analyse operational data, identify root causes and make evidence-based operational decisions.
5.Demonstrated ownership of operational, commercial or programme targets with a track record of delivering measurable results.
6.Experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing teams and collaborating across multiple functions.
7.Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills with the ability to engage communities and present clear, evidence-based recommendations.
8.Willingness to work in a rural or remote location within the assigned state, travel extensively and relocate to another expansion state if organisational needs change.
9.Fluency in English is required.
10.Proficiency in the predominant local language of the assigned state, such as Hausa, is an advantage.
11.Applicants must be Nigerian citizens or permanent residents of Nigeria. Sabi Network | Discover Network Grow
LOCATION:
Kano, Jigawa or Gombe, Nigeria. Sabi Network | Discover Network Grow
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the specific One Acre Fund vacancy page using the online application option. Candidates should ensure their CV demonstrates field leadership, programme management, team management, stakeholder engagement and operational decision-making experience.
DEADLINE:
27 October 2026. Sabi Network | Discover Network Grow
