Consultant Project Manager

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Role: Consultant Project Manager (Funded Programmes and External Partnerships)
Location: Kenema, Sierra Leone (with frequent travel to Freetown)
Employer: Tradin Organic
Department: Technical Assistance
Contract Period: Initial 12-month consultancy, renewable subject to satisfactory performance, organisational requirements and the availability of funding
Reports to: General Manager TSL & Manager Funded Programs (HQ)
Deadline: September 14th, 2026

 

Application Instructions: Submit your CV and Cover Letter to info@afriqia-solutions.com with “Project Manager” in Subject Line. 

 

Eligibility: Open to national and international candidates; candidates with strong knowledge of, or professional experience in, Sierra Leone are particularly encouraged to apply

 

Overview

Tradin Organic Agriculture is a global leader in certified organic ingredients, sourcing over 150 products from more than 60 countries, among them organic cocoa beans from Sierra Leone. Tradin Sierra Leone (TSL) was established in 2014, with its office and warehouse based in Kenema. TSL works with approximately 18,000 smallholder cocoa farmers organised into 10 cooperatives across eastern Sierra Leone. The company purchases and exports approximately 3,000 tonnes of organic cocoa annually, primarily to the European market. More than 100 employees support cocoa sourcing, quality management, farmer training, certification, and regulatory compliance.

TSL builds long-term partnerships with farmers and cooperatives to strengthen sustainable production and farmer livelihoods.

The company also implements donor-funded technical-assistance programmes (with a total project budget of 3.6 million euro) addressing low productivity, deforestation, and climate vulnerability. A central focus is Dynamic Agroforestry, which combines cocoa with diverse crops and trees in regenerative farming systems. Current activities include farmer field schools, demonstration plots, field-officer training, VSLA establishment and carbon in setting framework development. Through this work, TSL promotes food security, income diversification, biodiversity, soil fertility, climate resilience, and responsible cocoa sourcing.

 

Role Purpose

Tradin Sierra Leone (TSL) is seeking a Consultant Project Manager – Funded Programs & External Partnerships for the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of donor-funded technical assistance programmes (e.g. agroforestry). The role is responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of project activities, managing budgets and reporting requirements, and coordinating implementation with project staff, consultants, partners and donors.

The Project Manager will also support the Manager Funded Programs with the identification and development of new funding opportunities and contribute to the development of project proposals. The role also supports the General Manager in maintaining constructive working relationships with relevant government ministries, agencies, development partners and public institutions and representing Tradin Sierra Leone in selected external engagements to strengthen partnerships, support program implementation and identify future collaboration opportunities.

Approximately 80% of the role is focused on funded-program management and 20% on external relationship management. External-partnership activities are expected to require approximately 1–3 working days per month in Freetown.

The Project Manager works closely with the Sourcing Department in HQ Amsterdam and collaborates with all other departments within Tradin Sierra Leone. The role reports to the General Manager TSL and the Manager Funded Programs and works closely with local and international project partners, farmers, donors and government stakeholders.

 

Key Responsibilities

Strategy, Programme Planning and Budget

  • Lead the planning, implementation, monitoring and supervision of technical assistance programmes, including EU and AJF Agroforestry and Farm4EU.
  • Support the Manager Funded Programs in translating programme strategies, donor commitments and technical requirements into clear work plans, responsibilities, timelines and measurable results.
  • Coordinate implementation across diverse programme workstreams, maintaining effective project-management systems and initiating corrective action where delivery is falling behind.
  • Lead financial planning, budget monitoring, forecasting and reporting in close collaboration with HQ Amsterdam and the TSL Finance team, including oversight of multi-million-dollar programme budgets.

 

Resource Mobilisation and Programme Development

  • Proactively identify and develop relevant funding opportunities and joint initiatives with development partners and donors to advance Tradin’s strategic objectives, including agroforestry scaling and TSL operations.
  • Develop and maintain a forward-looking pipeline of funding, partnership and programme-development opportunities.
  • Contribute to the development of high-quality concept notes and project proposals, including business cases, budgets, results frameworks and implementation plans.
  • Coordinate technical and financial inputs into funding submissions and use programme evidence, stakeholder relationships and contextual knowledge to support the growth and diversification of the funded programme portfolio.

 

Programme Partnerships and Stakeholder Coordination

  • Coordinate effective communication and collaboration between project partners, suppliers, consultants, subcontractors, cooperatives, farmers, donors and internal teams to support successful programme implementation.
  • Establish clear coordination and follow-up arrangements, monitor partner and consultant deliverables, and address implementation challenges that may affect programme quality or progress.
  • Ensure effective internal coordination and information sharing across TSL functions, including Finance, Operations, ICS and HQ, to support project delivery.
  • Contribute to sustainability and programme communications, including newsletters, social media and donor materials, and ensure the local implementation of funded programme communication plans.

 

Data Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance

  • Ensure programme data is complete, accurate, centralised and fit for project management, donor reporting and decision-making, including farmer, plot and geospatial data.
  • Coordinate the local development and effective use of programme tools, including the Smallholder DAF Tracker and DAF blended-learning tools.
  • Monitor programme activities, expenditure, results, risks and compliance requirements, implementing mitigation or corrective actions and escalating significant issues where necessary.
  • Coordinate accurate and timely internal and donor reporting, and support knowledge sharing and organisational learning from Sierra Leone funded programmes across functions and regions.

 

External Partnerships and Government Relations

  • Support the General Manager in maintaining constructive relationships with relevant Government of Sierra Leone ministries, agencies, development partners and other public institutions relevant to funded programmes and TSL’s strategic objectives.
  • Build and maintain productive relationships with local and international partners and donors to support programme implementation, partnership development and resource mobilisation.
  • Represent TSL in selected government, donor and industry meetings when delegated by the General Manager, coordinating appropriate follow-up with external stakeholders and internal teams.
  • Maintain awareness of relevant policy, regulatory and donor developments, and flag potential opportunities or risks affecting funded programmes to management.

 

People Leadership and Performance Management

  • Lead, manage and support the staff and consultants responsible for the technical and operational delivery of funded programmes.
  • Establish clear team and individual work plans, priorities, responsibilities and performance expectations, allocating resources effectively to support programme delivery.
  • Monitor performance proactively and provide timely guidance, feedback, coaching and support to address delivery or capability gaps and strengthen team performance.
  • Delegate responsibilities appropriately, enabling team members to take ownership and perform independently while maintaining accountability, respectful collaboration and appropriate oversight of programme quality and results.

 

Qualifications and Experience

    • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in project or programme management, international development, business administration, agribusiness, agriculture or another relevant field.
    • Demonstrated experience managing complex donor-funded programmes, including planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, compliance and oversight of multi-million-dollar budgets.
    • Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams, including developing work plans, setting priorities, delegating responsibilities, monitoring performance and supporting staff development.
    • Demonstrated resource-mobilisation experience, including identifying funding opportunities and developing concept notes, project proposals, budgets, implementation plans and logical or results frameworks.
    • Proven ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder partnerships and work effectively with donors, development partners, government institutions, consultants and cross-functional teams.
    • Experience managing diverse programme activities and adapting effectively to changing priorities, stakeholder needs and funding requirements.
    • Experience using digital project-management and monitoring systems and maintaining complete, accurate and decision-useful programme data.
    • Experience in agriculture, agribusiness, agroforestry, rural development, livelihoods or sustainability programming is advantageous, as is knowledge of Sierra Leone or a comparable operating context.
  • Excellent written and spoken English, strong MS Office and presentation skills, and a proactive, analytical and culturally sensitive approach to people management, problem-solving and stakeholder engagement.

 

Key Deliverables

Specific targets and performance measures will be agreed at the beginning of the assignment and reviewed periodically. Key deliverables will include:

  1. Approved programme and teamwork plans are implemented, with activities and contractual commitments delivered to the required quality, budget and timelines.
  2. Staff and consultants have clear objectives and receive effective oversight, delegation, feedback and performance support.
  3. A strategically aligned pipeline of funding and partnership opportunities is actively managed, with high-quality proposals and donor submissions completed against agreed targets.
  4. Programme budgets, data, risks, compliance requirements and reporting obligations are managed accurately and on time, with significant issues identified and addressed promptly.
  5. Productive relationships are maintained with donors, government institutions and partners, while programme evidence and learning are used to strengthen delivery and future funding opportunities.