Chief Operating Officer

About AGRA

AGRA is a pan-African institution dedicated to transforming agricultural and food systems across Africa. For two decades, it has collaborated with diverse stakeholders including governments, private sector players, researchers, and development partners to remove barriers hindering smallholder farmers in productivity, market access, and resilience. By leveraging catalytic investments, technical expertise, and strong convening abilities, AGRA drives inclusive and sustainable transformation aimed at bolstering food security and economic growth over the long term. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, AGRA is committed to intensifying its efforts to make Africa's agri-food sector scalable, attractive to investors, and full of opportunities for its key beneficiaries.

Role Purpose

The Chief Operating Officer will provide visionary and integrative leadership across AGRA's corporate services, including Finance, People & Culture, Procurement, Administration, IT, Grants Management, Facilities, and Enterprise Risk functions. This role ensures that strategy, systems, and resources are cohesively aligned with AGRA’s operating model, while preserving the autonomy and accountability of individual function leaders.

Key Performance Areas

• Ensure operational excellence and delivery of corporate services by meeting service standards, enhancing efficiency, and leading initiatives that optimize organizational processes.
• Maintain strong governance, risk, and compliance frameworks that align with organizational policies, donor mandates, regulatory requirements, and audit resolutions, while respecting Board independence.
• Drive financial stewardship through strict budget adherence, cost optimization, and value-for-money outcomes in close partnership with Finance.
• Lead organizational transformation and digital innovation using AI tools, data-driven approaches, and modern systems within sound risk and governance structures.
• Oversee prudent management of grant resources to ensure impact, compliance, monitoring, and accountability of donor-funded projects.
• Champion an inclusive and high-performance culture through HR management, talent development, workforce planning, and employee engagement aligned with executive governance priorities.
• Build and nurture high-performing teams, foster accountability and collaboration, and sustain strong stakeholder satisfaction with responsive operational support.

Candidate Profile

• Master’s degree in MBA, Operations Management, Public Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Organizational Leadership, International Development, or related disciplines.
• At least 20 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in operations, corporate services, business management, or organizational effectiveness.
• Minimum 15 years in senior leadership roles overseeing multiple operational units.
• Proven experience managing large, geographically dispersed teams within multinational development organizations, international NGOs, foundations, multilateral institutions, or similarly complex private-sector entities.
• Expertise in managing functions such as finance, procurement, administration, technology, facilities, grants management, risk management, and business continuity.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation, operational excellence, process improvements, and digital initiatives.
• Strong background in governance, risk, compliance, and performance management.
• Experienced in budget management, resource planning, and organizational reporting.
• Track record enforcing budgetary discipline, cost control, and resolving audit and control issues in international or development contexts.
• Experience in the nonprofit sector, particularly scaling development via government partnerships or managing complex funding related to climate or agri-food sectors.
• Ability to influence executive leadership, boards, donors, and key stakeholders effectively.
• Experience working across multiple African countries and cultural contexts.

Terms of Appointment

This position is offered on a two-year renewable contract, contingent on funding sustainability.

Role Location

Based in Nairobi, Kenya.