Program Officer-Post Harvest & Infrastructure / Grain Bank Officer

Job title : Program Officer-Post Harvest & Infrastructure / Grain Bank Officer

Overall Responsibilities

• The Post-Harvest and Infrastructure/Grain Bank Officer will provide technical support for the operationalization, management, and sustainability for five Community Grain Banks (CGBs) and five post-harvest aggregation and processing hubs under the Agri-Food System Transformation and Innovation (AFTI) project in Bade LGA, Yobe State.
• The position will support farmers, Producer Marketing Organizations ( PMOs ), Grain Bank Management Committees, youth operators, aggregators, and other value chain actors to improve grain aggregation, drying, storage, processing, quality control, and value addition.
• The Officer will ensure that Community Grain Banks and post-harvest hubs are operated safely, efficiently, inclusively, and under appropriate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), user agreements, maintenance plans, and cost-recovery mechanisms.
• The role will contribute directly to the project target of reducing post-harvest losses by at least 20%, increasing adoption of improved post-harvest technologies, strengthening aggregation systems, and ensuring sustainable management of community-owned agricultural infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities:

• Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager/Technical Lead the Post Harvest and Infrastructure/Grain Bank Officer will be responsible for:

Grain Bank and Infrastructure Management:

• Support the operationalization and effective management of Community Grain Banks (CGBs) and post-harvest hubs.
• Conduct routine assessments of warehouses, equipment, and facilities and identify maintenance and improvement needs.
• Support the formation and strengthening of inclusive Grain Bank Management Committees.
• Develop and implement SOPs, user agreements, safety procedures, and maintenance plans.

Post-Harvest Management and Technology:

HiringManagement Consultants

• Provide technical guidance on grain receiving, weighing, drying, cleaning, grading, packaging, storage, and stock rotation.
• Supervise the installation, operation, and maintenance of post-harvest equipment, including dryers, cleaners, shellers, threshers, milling machines, moisture meters, and hermetic storage systems.
• Train and coach community and youth operators on equipment use, occupational safety, hygiene, quality control, and routine maintenance.
• Promote improved post-harvest practices, food safety, pest and moisture control, and value addition to achieve at least 20% reduction in post-harvest losses.

Aggregation and Market Support:

• Support grain aggregation, revolving stock mechanisms, inventory management, and accurate stock records.
• Mobilize farmers to utilize CGBs and post-harvest services in collaboration with Business Advisors and Community Mobilizers.
• Work with the Market Linkage Officer to ensure aggregated commodities meet buyer specifications, quality, volume, and delivery requirements.
• Support sustainable fee-for-service and cost-recovery models for CGBs and post-harvest hubs.

Monitoring, Coordination and Reporting:

• Maintain equipment inventories, stock records, maintenance logs, and hub utilization records.
• Monitor facility performance, service utilization, revenue, maintenance funds, and technology adoption.
• Coordinate with government institutions, extension services, private-sector suppliers, processors, aggregators, and other technical partners.
• Promote inclusive and safe access to infrastructure for women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, environmental, safeguarding, protection, and occupational health and safety standards.
• Collect and report data on CGB utilization, post-harvest services, equipment functionality, and loss reduction.
• Contribute to monitoring visits, technical assessments, success stories, lessons learned, and periodic reporting.
• Identify technical challenges and recommend corrective actions.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Stay abreast of developments in conflict sensitive programming and humanitarian response.
• Perform other duties as necessary, commensurate with professional background and experience, as deemed by the supervisor.
• This Terms of Reference outlines the key responsibilities and expectations for the Post Harvest and Infrastructure/Grain bank Officer under the WFP/BMZ-funded project.

Education & Qualification

• Bachelor’s Degree or HND in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Food Science and Technology, Post-Harvest Technology, Crop Production, Agricultural Extension, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of relevant professional experience in post-harvest management, grain storage, agricultural infrastructure, warehouse management, aggregation, or agricultural value chain development.
• Practical knowledge of grain drying, cleaning, grading, moisture management, storage, pest control, packaging, quality assurance, and post-harvest loss reduction.
• Experience operating or managing post-harvest equipment such as solar dryers, grain cleaners, shellers, threshers, milling machines, moisture meters, weighing scales, and hermetic storage systems is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of warehouse inventory management, stock reconciliation, commodity tracking, or warehouse receipt systems is an advantage.
• Experience working with farmer cooperatives, PMOs, aggregators, community structures, government agricultural departments, private-sector actors, or NGOs.
• Fluency in English and Hausa and/or relevant local languages spoken in Bade is essential.