Government Relations and Policy Specialist

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund supplies 1 million smallholder farmers with the agricultural services they need to make their farms vastly more productive. Our 8,000+ team is drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. With operations across six core countries in Africa, we make farmers more prosperous by providing quality farm supplies on credit, delivered within walking distance of farmers’ homes, and agricultural training to improve harvests. On average, the farmers we serve harvest 50 percent more food after working with One Acre Fund. 

To learn more about our work, take a look at our Why Work Here blog for more information.

The Nigeria program, established in 2018, is headquartered in Minna, Niger state. We’re serving over 100,000 unique farmers across the state via our inputs on credit ‘Core’ program, inputs on cash ‘Retail’ program, and have a free tree seedling distribution ‘Agroforestry’ program. To learn more about our work, look at our Nigeria program blog.

About the Role

Our Government Relations team supports field operations to provide vital services to farmers. It also informs our wider policy, communications, and outreach work. We believe potent opportunities exist to partner with the government to shape and implement policy coordinated with our field presence.

The  Government Relations and Policy Specialist will report to the Nigeria Government Relations Lead and will manage government relations and advocacy activities across multiple states where One Acre Fund operates in Nigeria.

You will demonstrate an understanding of government structures, and strategies for building and maintaining relationships with government partners, build relationship with diverse audiences and you will manage projects across multiple locations independently.

You will be based in Abuja but working in Nasarawa or Niger with frequent travel to our state offices for several weeks.

Responsibilities

• Relationship Management and Champion Building 
  • Develop and implement Strategies across states of operations. This will include promoting and relationship-building strategies to maintain relationships with key players in the agricultural sector, such as Commissioners of Agriculture and Environment, NGOs, local authorities, research institutes, and others, to unlock opportunities and de-risk the program.
  • You will manage projects with other team members at states of operations, focusing on relationship building, risk management and policy advocacy. 
  • You will coordinate our involvement in operational partnerships with key partners and development agencies by identifying opportunities and managing the required administrative work streams.
  • You will coordinate and support our teams with government relations work streams.
• Policy Advocacy and Compliance 
  • You will research and report on new policies or regulatory developments that may affect operations in states of operation.
  • In collaboration with the Government Relations lead, the Communications Specialist, and other global team members, you will implement strategies to respond to risks or opportunities emanating from state-level policies or other developments that have implications on the program. 
  • You will ensure that state teams meet all regulatory requirements, such as securing operations licenses and permits at the required time. 
• De-risking Operations 
  • You will provide support and strategic advisory to state teams to de-risk operations & programs such as expansion, enrollment, distribution and repayment.
  • You will develop GR strategy for program support and operations de-risking. 
• Team Development and Management
  • You will manage the main GR team members based in our state of operations.
  • You will ensure that staffers are adequately coached, mentored and supported to deliver their daily tasks. 
  • You will oversee the departments CRM (nutshell) and ensure it is up to date every week.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• 2+ years of project management experience with an international organization. 
• 2+ years of experience managing relationships with state and local government officials
• 2+ years experience managing team members across multiple locations.
• A minimum degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Public Administration, Law, International Development, or Business. A masters degree in a related field will be an added advantage. 
• Experience analyzing policies, legislation, and regulatory frameworks to produce meaningful, relevant briefing materials for senior management. 
• Advocacy, communication and negotiation skills: We are looking for someone who can access key stakeholders and foster collaboration among different stakeholders to pursue our mission.
• Strong collaborator and project manager with a demonstrated track record of providing structured, support across different departments.
• Languages: English required.

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Abuja, Nigeria

Benefits

Health insurance, paid time off 

Eligibility

This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Nigeria.

Application Deadline

12^th December 2024. Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here ([email protected]), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.