Project Manager – Integrated Wheat and Soybean Value Chain

About the role

The Project Manager will lead the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting of Lersha’s integrated wheat and soybean value chain project based in Addis Ababa, with frequent travel to project sites in Oromia. The role ensures activities are delivered on time, within budget and meet donor requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and manage project work plans, schedules, budgets and targets.
• Coordinate wheat and soybean value chain activities including production, aggregation, mechanisation, finance and market linkages.
• Engage and collaborate with farmers, cooperatives, private-sector partners, government bodies, financial institutions and development partners.
• Lead project monitoring, reporting, data tracking and documentation.
• Oversee project teams to ensure accountability, timely delivery and effective collaboration.
• Monitor risks, compliance, safeguarding and budget utilisation.
• Support digital agriculture initiatives, farmer profiling and technology-enabled activities.
• Identify lessons learned and opportunities for sustainability and scale-up.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Project Management, Rural Development, Development Studies, Business Administration or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience, including at least 4 years managing or coordinating agricultural, development, value-chain or donor-funded projects.
• Proven experience working with smallholder farmers, cooperatives, private-sector actors, financial institutions, government and development partners.
• Experience in wheat, soybean or related agricultural value chains is highly desirable.
• Fluent in English and Amharic; Afaan Oromo is a plus.
• PMP or PRINCE2 certification is an advantage.

Required skills

• Project management and budgeting.
• Stakeholder coordination.
• Monitoring and reporting.
• Risk and compliance management.
• Digital agriculture tools.