Agriculture Partnership & Development Lead – Zambia

About the role

One Acre Fund is scaling its operations in Zambia, aiming to reach over 50,000 smallholder farmers by 2030 and plant 30 million trees through an agro‑forestry programme. The Agriculture Partnership & Development Lead will act as the senior agricultural expert and partnership manager, shaping strategy, building market‑based partnerships and guiding product development across the country.

Key responsibilities

• Identify and secure new partnership opportunities that align with One Acre Fund’s integrated farm system model.
• Negotiate, manage and report on partnership agreements to ensure mutual benefit.
• Provide agricultural expertise on crop diversification, horticulture and tree‑crop markets, advising on product strategy and regulatory changes.
• Conduct market scoping for higher‑value crops and assess commercial viability for smallholder integration.
• Collaborate with the global sourcing team to procure competitive seed and fertilizer supplies and develop supplier hedging strategies.
• Support the development of the tree‑seed supply chain, working closely with aggregators and government bodies.
• Manage government tender relationships and represent One Acre Fund on industry bodies and forums.

Required profile

• Proven experience as a senior agricultural professional in Zambia or a similar market.
• Demonstrated success in building and managing strategic partnerships.
• Strong understanding of Zambian agricultural regulations, market dynamics and agro‑forestry value chains.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills, with ability to influence stakeholders.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in agriculture, agronomy, agribusiness or related field.

Required skills

• Crop diversification and horticulture expertise.
• Knowledge of seed and fertilizer procurement processes.
• Experience with agro‑forestry supply‑chain development.
• Familiarity with government tender and grant management.

What we offer

• Opportunities for continuous learning, mentorship and career progression.
• Regular performance feedback and six‑month career reviews.
• Ability to shape a fast‑growing organization with a strong social impact mission.