Innovations & Growth Lead – Ethiopia

About the role

The Innovations & Growth Lead will join One Acre Fund’s Ethiopia team and report directly to the Country Director. This senior position sits at the crossroads of strategic planning and field implementation, driving the ambition to plant 100 million trees and generate over $100 M of additional impact for 440 000 farmers by 2030.

Key responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of innovators and monitoring‑and‑evaluation specialists to design and execute field trials and a rigorous Learning Agenda.
• Transform data collected in the field into actionable insights that shape high‑level strategic decisions.
• Support a network of 1 000+ nursery managers by improving production and creating new income streams.
• Engineer scalable, evidence‑based solutions that increase farmer income and unlock opportunities for youth and women.
• Secure seed supply through partnerships such as the Jimma Research Centre and large‑scale adoption of optimal varieties.
• Conduct feasibility studies to transition One Acre Fund Ethiopia from a traditional NGO model to a revenue‑generating organization, including regulatory analysis and operational design.
• Identify and test the next frontier of agricultural practices, products, and services for Ethiopian farmers.

Required profile

• Proven experience leading innovation or growth programmes in agriculture or related development sectors.
• Strong track record of evidence‑based decision making and translating data into strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex operational challenges in field environments.
• Leadership experience managing high‑performing, cross‑functional teams.
• Passion for sustainable agriculture, climate‑smart practices, and farmer resilience.

Required skills