The current food system contributes to roughly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions and is ill-equipped to meet rising global food demand in a socially and environmentally sustainable way. At the same time, small-holder farmers, who produce most of the world’s food, are often amongst the world’s poorest and most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. We are working to change this.
Ignitia has developed the world’s first and most accurate tropical weather forecasting model to benefit both small-scale farmers and agribusinesses. By providing hyper-local, highly accurate climate and weather information services, farmers make improved decisions that directly impact yield and productivity. We are a high-tech social enterprise that leverages advanced technologies to provide a unique and valuable means for farmers, agribusinesses, and organizations in emerging markets to stabilize operations, mitigate risks, build resilience, and maximize profits.
Ignitia is a low-ego, high-energy environment. We don’t have multiple management layers and we are not into red tape or office politics. We have some of the best minds in meteorology, math, and technology working alongside a powerful commercial sales team to change how weather impacts the food system in the tropical belt.
POSITON:Regional Programme Director
HOW WILL YOU MAKE AN IMPACT?
Ignitiaprovides climate and weather forecasting services to 1.3 million subscribers through a robust portfolio of programs and partners in Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. We have recently launched in Brazil and have ambitions to scale to other countries in West Africa and other regions. In addition to reaching farmers directly through the region’s largest mobile network operators including MTN, Airtel, and Orange, and through a web app and web dashboard used by agribusinesses like crop input distributors, we’re also an agtech service provider to INGOs and their farmer-beneficiaries.
As ignitia’s Regional Program Director (RPD), you will oversee the successful implementation of new and existing programs in West Africa for both NGO project subcontracts and agribusiness customer engagements. S/he will be responsible for effectively collaborating with the sales team for the customer and implementation handover, the product team for customer feedback and service improvements, and directly oversee the finance and admin team based in Ghana. S/he will continuously develop operational efficiencies and drive project delivery innovations to submit project deliverables on time and within budget leading to long-term service contracts with repeat customers.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
Primary functions and responsibilities
Leadership: oversee, support and coach the West Africa team in delivering their objectives whether it is Finance, Admin, or Project Implementation; develop tools and processes that drive operational efficiencies across the business; build technical knowledge and demonstrate thought leadership by committing to continuous improvement, pursuing workshops and webinars, reviewing professional publications, and sharing those insights broadly within the company
Project execution: establish and maintain strong working relationships with customers, donors, and implementing organizations; effectively develop and execute activities against a clear work plan to deliver on contractual milestones and ensure high-quality and timely submission of reports and invoices to customers; develop and execute against a sound M&E plan that assesses outputs and outcomes across the business and social performance indicators; actively problem solve and anticipate delivery challenges related to customer forecast receipt and use of information services within agribusiness operations; create knowledge management products and marketing collateral including best practices documents, ignitia product literature, implementation guides, case studies and video testimonials to capture lessons learned and promote ignitia’s brand
Financial management: Manage country and regional budgets, quarterly financial planning, audits, and backstop and oversee the work of the Finance Lead (Ghana and Nigeria) and support reporting alignment with Swedish financial processes (supported by a bookkeeper in Sweden); process international payments
HR: manage and provide timely and regular feedback to colleagues and direct reports including annual performance management process; hire independent consultants and staff as required for project implementation
Coordination: Collaborate with the sales and product teams to ensure smooth customer service, satisfaction, and increase lifetime value where pilots lead to scale-up
Support: support the sales team as needed for business development activities from lead generation to presentations to follow-ups; support the CEO inboard and investor reporting
Requirements
WHO ARE YOU?
The RPD will have significant management and international experience, be capable of successfully leading programs, teams, and operations across multiple countries, and have a passion for social entrepreneurship to create social and commercial value. S/he is an outstanding communicator and team leader, an adaptive manager, entrepreneurial, and ambitious. S/he is analytical and team-oriented with an interest in climate change, tech, and international development in West Africa. Previous experience working with INGOs, agribusinesses, tech companies, or other private sector experience is highly desirable.
WHAT WILL IT TAKE?
Bachelor’s degree in international relations, economics, business, technology, or another related field. Master’s degree (MBA, MPP, MIA) preferred.
At least 7 years of experience in-country operations, team management, project implementation, and delivery
Skilled in stakeholder engagement and managing complex relationships from Executive to field level
Excellent knowledge of the food system and international development sectors in West Africa, the key stakeholders, their business and social outcome priorities, and how they operate and how decisions are made
Powerful communicator – both written and oral
Outstanding project and financial management skills
Self-starter with strong time management skills
Excellent computer skills and tech-savvy
Superb analytical skills and a mastery of data analysis; experience in both qualitative and quantitative M&E approaches a strong plus
Advanced oral and written proficiency in English. Ability to speak and write in French or Portuguese a plus.
Benefits
IGNITIA’S VALUES
We are go-getters – we work hard and have a sense of urgency in pursuing the opportunities that help us accomplish our goals
We act like owners – We take every decision based on what’s best for the company. We take responsibility for our actions.
We are curious – we learn rapidly and eagerly; we are in constant search for ideas that challenge conventional wisdom. We lead the way.
We act with integrity – we treat others the way we like to be treated. We deliver on our promises and we do what we say we will do.
We strive for excellence – We aim to be the best in everything we do; we recruit fantastic talent. We provide great customer service and we provide the best weather data on Earth!
