Zambia Fruit Seedlings Coordinator (Fixed-Term)

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips 5.5 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa's farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase their income and assets on supported land by more than 35 percent, while permanently improving their resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 9,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.

About the Role

This role is responsible for the coordination and oversight of fruit seedling nursery operations across decentralised production sites within the area of operation. Key responsibilities include propagation management, nursery monitoring, vendor oversight to ensure compliance with quality standards, and coordination of timely distribution of fruit seedlings. The role ensures that all seedlings produced or procured meet required quality standards and are delivered efficiently to intended beneficiaries.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership (Budding & Grafting) - Serve as the subject matter expert in fruit seedling propagation, particularly budding and grafting techniques.
• Develop and standardize propagation protocols for different fruit tree species.
• Ensure best practices are applied across all nurseries and supplier operations.
• Program Planning & Execution - Lead seasonal planning of fruit seedling production (April–December cycle).
• Forecast demand and align production plans with distribution targets.
• Coordinate procurement of inputs (rootstock, scions, polythene tubes, soil media, etc.).
• Ensure timely nursery setup and readiness across location.
• Nursery Capacity Building & Training - Train nursery managers and staff from foundational to advanced levels in:
• Budding and grafting techniques
• Seedling care and management
• Pest and disease control
• Nursery hygiene and handling practices
• Identify training needs and support capacity development initiatives.
• Conduct regular on-site coaching and performance assessments.
• Develop simple training materials and SOPs for ongoing learning.
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting - Develop and implement a monitoring tracker to effectively track and oversee the timely execution of key milestones, enabling prompt identification and response to any challenges that arise.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as:
• Survival rates
• Grafting success rates
• Production volumes vs targets
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor nursery and supplier performance.
• Prepare periodic reports on progress, risks, and corrective actions.
• Team Management - Directly manage and mentor the Fruit Seedlings Supervisor.
• Set clear targets, provide guidance, and monitor performance.
• Foster a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Distribution & Last-Mile Coordination - Plan and oversee the distribution of seedlings to farmers.
• Coordinate with logistics teams to ensure timely and efficient delivery.
• Ensure proper handling and minimal damage during transportation.
• Research & Learning - Collaborate with external experts and OAF countries to gain insights into best practices in nursery management, and adapt and transfer these practices to decentralized nurseries for implementation.
• Develop key initiatives and trials that will enable the department to better execute the seedlings program.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

• Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, Forestry, or a related field (required).
  • Specialized training in plant propagation or fruit tree management is an added advantage.

• Experience

  • Minimum 3–5 years of hands-on experience in:
  • Fruit tree propagation (budding and grafting at scale)
  • Nursery establishment and management
  • Proven experience managing large-scale seedling production (tens of thousands annually).
  • Experience working with external suppliers/vendors and conducting quality control.
  • Experience in training or building the capacity of field teams or farmers is strongly preferred.
  • Experience in program/project management, including planning and execution cycles.

How to Apply

Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.