Partnerships Manager - Abuja

Job Description · Job Title: · Partnerships Manager · Reports to: · Program Director · Location: · This position is based in Nigeria with regular travel to the ten project implementation states (specific base location TBD) · About TechnoServe · Everyone deserves the opportunity t ...

Job description

Job Description


Job Title:
Partnerships Manager


Reports to:
Program Director


Location:
This position is based in Nigeria with regular travel to the ten project implementation states (specific base location TBD)

About TechnoServe

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe's work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development.


But they face many challenges:

low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change.

For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty.

The results are incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they can access health care and education previously out of reach.

Communities and even whole countries are better off.

Job Summary

The Partnerships Manager will build and manage strategic partnerships, engaging diverse stakeholders including processors, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs), government agencies, financial institutions, and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to scale impact in food processing and waste-to-value (W2V) activities.

This role focuses on fostering inclusive sourcing, backward integration, and policy advocacy to create sustainable job opportunities for young women and persons with disabilities (PWD).

The Partnerships Manager will serve as a primary external-facing representative of the project, building trust and credibility with stakeholders across public, private, and civil society sectors.

The ideal candidate will have exceptional networking and negotiation skills, deep understanding of multi-stakeholder collaboration, and proven ability to influence policy and practice in support of inclusive economic development.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Engagement
Establish and maintain relationships with TVET institutions, polytechnics, and universities across the ten implementation states
Develop memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with TVETs for participant recruitment, training delivery, and internship placement
Work with TVETs to align curriculum with industry needs and embed food processing and W2V content into existing programs
Facilitate internship and apprenticeship opportunities for TVET students with processing companies and W2V enterprises
Support TVETs in developing practical training facilities and updating equipment to meet industry standards
Create pathways for TVET graduates to transition into employment or entrepreneurship in target value chains
Engage TVET instructors in project training programs and capacity building initiatives
Explore opportunities for certification and accreditation of project training through TVET institutions
Enterprise Support Organization (ESO) & Business Development Services
Partner with ESOs, business development service providers, and business membership organizations to extend project reach and impact
Engage business associations, chambers of commerce, and industry groups in project activities
Facilitate ESO participation in training delivery, business advisory services, and mentorship programs
Support ESOs in developing specialized services for women-led and PWD-led enterprises
Create referral mechanisms between the project and ESO networks for ongoing business support
Build capacity of ESOs to deliver inclusive business development services
Leverage ESO networks for market linkages, peer learning, and advocacy
Government Relations & Policy Engagement
Build and maintain relationships with relevant government ministries, departments, and agencies at federal, state, and local levels. Engage with government initiatives such as Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), import substitution programs, and youth employment schemes to create complementarities and avoid duplication
Advocate for policies that support gender inclusion, GBV prevention, PWD accommodations, and fair labor practices in food processing
Participate in policy dialogues, working groups, and technical committees related to agricultural processing, youth employment, and inclusive development
Support the development of regulations, standards, and guidelines that create an enabling environment for micro and small processors
Facilitate project participation in government-led forums, exhibitions, and promotional events
Monitor policy developments and regulatory changes that may affect project activities or target beneficiaries
Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) Collaboration
Establish and maintain strong working relationships with OPDs at national and state levels
Partner with OPDs for identification and recruitment of PWD participants
Engage OPDs in accessibility assessments of training venues, work environments, and project activities
Collaborate with OPDs in developing tailored training approaches and reasonable accommodations
Support OPDs in advocating for disability rights and inclusive employment in the food processing sector
Create platforms for PWD entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and connect with market opportunities
Ensure PWD voices and perspectives inform project design and implementation through regular consultation
Document and share success stories of PWD participants to challenge stereotypes and promote inclusion
Partnership Performance & Adaptive Management
Establish clear partnership frameworks with defined roles, responsibilities, and mutual commitments
Monitor partnership performance against agreed objectives and indicators
Document partnership processes, challenges, and solutions to inform adaptive management
Conduct regular partnership review meetings and adjustment of strategies as needed
Share lessons learned and best practices with project team to inform program design and implementation
Develop partnership success stories and case studies for communication and advocacy purposes
Ensure partnerships prioritize youth, women, and PWD through incentive mechanisms such as grants, recognition, or preferential access to project resources

Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Business, International Relations, or related field with 7 years of experience; OR a Master's Degree with at least 5 years of experience.

Proven Track Record:
Must have demonstrated experience creating job and work opportunities for youth, women, and disenfranchised populations.

Technical Experience:
Experience in agriculture, food processing, or agribusiness sectors, ideally with donor-funded programs.

Negotiation Skills:
Strong negotiation skills with a proven ability to broker deals and find "win-win" solutions in complex multi-party discussions.

Languages:
Excellent written and spoken English; proficiency in Hausa, Yoruba, or Igbo is a significant advantage.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in Nigeria with donor-funded programs on youth employment, agricultural development, or private sector engagement
Knowledge of policy advocacy processes and experience influencing government policy
Prior work on gender equality and disability inclusion initiatives
Experience with market systems development approaches and facilitative programming
Established networks within Nigeria's food processing industry, government, or development sector
Experience organizing high-level events, forums, and multi-stakeholder dialogues
Background in private sector development or public-private partnerships

Required Languages

Excellent written and spoken English; proficiency in local languages (Hausa, Yoruba, or Igbo) is highly advantageous for stakeholder engagement

Travel

At least 50% of the time for partner meetings, stakeholder engagements, and field visits across the ten implementation states

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Proven ability to build and manage strategic partnerships across government and private sector stakeholders, including negotiation and facilitation of multi-party agreements.

Solid understanding of Nigeria's agriculture, employment, and social inclusion landscape, with experience in policy engagement and inclusive market-based approaches.

Strong strategic thinking, commercial awareness, and systems perspective, with the ability to identify and structure high-value partnerships aligned with project objectives.

Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and conflict resolution skills, supported by project coordination and event management experience.
Technical knowledge of agribusiness value chains (soybean, sesame, tomato, ginger), youth employment, TVET systems, and circular economy concepts.
Proficient in MS Office, CRM platforms, and virtual collaboration tools; adaptable, ethical, and collaborative in approach.

Supervisory Responsibilities

May supervise relationship officers, partnership coordinators, or other staff supporting stakeholder engagement activities (specific structure to be determined based on project needs)

Closing Statements

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at or call