Project Lead / Value Chain Expert - Oil Palm

About the role

Solidaridad Network West Africa is seeking a Project Lead / Value Chain Expert to lead the EU-funded Oil Palm Value Chains Improvement Project in Sierra Leone, led by FAO. The post holder provides overall technical and operational leadership, coordinates project staff and partners, supports farmer cooperatives, facilitates private-sector engagement and ensures results are delivered in line with approved plans, budgets, donor requirements and Solidaridad quality standards. The position is full-time during the project implementation period, reporting to the Country Representative.

Key responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination and implementation of the project, keeping activities on time, within scope and within budget.
• Coordinate technical specialists, four district field coordinators, consultants and implementing partners.
• Provide technical leadership on sustainable oil palm production, value-chain upgrading, market systems and smallholder commercialization.
• Guide cooperative strengthening, organizational assessments, capacity-building planning and institutional sustainability, and coordinate business plans and market-linkage negotiations.
• Promote access to finance, inputs, services, technology and markets for smallholder farmers.
• Support sustainability, traceability, quality and responsible sourcing requirements, including RSPO and EUDR assessments.
• Engage government, farmer organizations, private-sector actors, financial institutions and development partners.
• Oversee workplans, budgets, procurement plans, schedules and budget tracking, and keep documentation, contracts and reports complete and filed.
• Coordinate monitoring, evaluation, learning and knowledge management, and prepare narrative, technical and progress reports for Solidaridad, FAO and other stakeholders.
• Represent the project at national, district and sector coordination meetings, integrate inclusion and safeguarding, identify risks and mitigate them, and carry out any additional tasks assigned by the Line Manager.

Required profile

• Master's degree in agricultural economics, agribusiness, international or rural development, business administration, value-chain development, natural-resource management or a related field; a bachelor's degree with substantial relevant experience may be considered.
• At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in agricultural value-chain development, agribusiness, cooperative development or rural development.
• At least five years of experience managing donor-funded projects.
• Demonstrated experience with smallholder farmers, cooperatives and private-sector actors.
• Knowledge of the Sierra Leone agricultural sector and operating context.
• Excellent written and spoken English; knowledge of Krio and/or local languages is an advantage.

Required skills

• Strong knowledge of agricultural market systems, value-chain analysis, market access and inclusive business models.
• Experience in project planning, budgeting, financial monitoring, procurement and donor reporting.
• Experience in oil palm, tree crops or another commercially oriented agricultural value chain is highly desirable.

Applications include a cover letter, an updated CV with three referees' contacts, copies of certificates where requested, and must state the district in Sierra Leone. Applications close on 6 November 2026; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.