Outgrower Program Lead

Job description

Ituse Agro is seeking a dynamic and experienced Outgrower Program Lead to spearhead the growth and management of our innovative outgrower scheme. The role is central to building sustainable partnerships with smallholder farmers, mainly youth and women, and integrating them into our inclusive agricultural value chain.

You will oversee the recruitment, training, support, and performance monitoring of smallholder farmers while ensuring alignment with the company’s commercial goals, sustainability standards, and quality assurance protocols. This is a high-impact role for a results-oriented leader passionate about transforming rural livelihoods through climate-smart, inclusive agribusiness.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development & Management

Design and implement the outgrower program strategy aligned with Ituse Agro’s commercial crop production plans.
Develop detailed workplans, annual targets, and monitoring frameworks for farmer onboarding, support, and performance evaluation.Identify and engage target communities, focusing on women and youth inclusion.

Farmer Recruitment & Relationship Management

Lead farmer mobilization campaigns in collaboration with local leaders and extension staff.
Oversee contract signing, land verification, and registration of farmers.
Maintain strong, trust-based relationships with farmers to foster long-term engagement and loyalty.

Training & Capacity Building

Organise and deliver regular training sessions on agronomic practices, sustainable farming techniques, and post-harvest handling.
Partner with technical experts and NGOs to offer access to additional capacity development (e.g., solar irrigation, soil testing, GAP certification).

Input & Production Support

Coordinate the distribution of input loans (seeds, fertilizers, solar kits) and monitor their usage.
Track farmer activities to ensure timely land preparation, planting, irrigation, and harvest.

Quality Assurance & Aggregation

Monitor crop performance and enforce Ituse Agro’s production standards.
Supervise aggregation centers or collection points to ensure quality grading, packaging, and logistics to Ituse Agro’s commercial buyers.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

Maintain a robust data system for farmer profiles, input usage, yields, repayments, and offtake volumes.
Prepare monthly reports with key performance indicators (KPIs) for internal management and external stakeholders.
Document case studies and impact stories for investor and grant reporting.

Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

Engage with local cooperatives, government extension officers, NGOs, and development partners.
Support the preparation of proposals and reports for impact investors or grant funders.

Qualifications & Experience

Diploma in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Rural Development, or a related field. A Degree is an added advantage.
Minimum 2 years’ experience managing outgrower schemes, agricultural extension, or inclusive value chains.
Vehicle and Motorbike License

Desirable Competencies

Strong understanding of commercial farming operations and inclusive agribusiness models.
Experience in farmer training, input management, and climate-smart agriculture.
Fluency in English and Bemba.
Proficiency in data collection and digital farmer management tools.
Ability to work in rural environments with a high level of self-direction and resilience.
Passion for rural development and farmer empowerment.
Strong interpersonal and community engagement skills.
Strategic thinker with practical execution capacity.
Results-driven and highly organised.
Culturally sensitive with high emotional intelligence.

What We Offer

Opportunity to drive meaningful impact in Zambia’s agricultural sector.
A mission-driven, collaborative team environment.
Professional development and training opportunities.