Chief Operating Officer

AGRA is an alliance led by Africans with roots in farming communities across the continent. We understand that African farmers need uniquely African solutions designed to meet their specific environmental and agricultural needs so they can sustainably boost production and gain access to rapidly growing agriculture markets.

Chief Operating Officer

Role purpose

• To provide strategic leadership and operational integration across AGRA’s corporate-services portfolio—including Finance, People & Culture, Procurement, Administration, Information Technology, Grants Management, Facilities and Enterprise Risk Management—to enable efficient, effective and sustainable delivery of AGRA’s mission and strategic objectives.

• The role ensures that corporate-service strategies, systems, processes, resources, and performance priorities are integrated and aligned with the approved operating model, while preserving the functional accountability, professional independence, and delegated authorities of the respective functional leaders.

Role Summary

• The Chief Operating Officer at AGRA provides strategic and operational leadership to strengthen organisational effectiveness and ensure the seamless delivery of corporate services that enable programmatic impact across Africa. Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the COO leads integrated operational planning, cross-functional performance and delivery of the approved operating model across the corporate-services portfolio.

• Operating through a matrix-management model, the COO provides executive coordination and operational-performance oversight across Finance, People & Culture, Procurement, Administration, Information Technology, Grants Management, Facilities and Enterprise Risk Management. The CFO and Chief People & Culture Officer retain functional leadership, professional independence, delegated authority and accountability for their respective mandates, including appropriate direct access and escalation to the President and relevant Board or Board Committee structures.

• The COO leads initiatives to improve resource utilisation, operational efficiency, digital and business transformation, enterprise risk management and compliance with donor, regulatory and organisational requirements. The role ensures the timely coordination, escalation and implementation of agreed actions on material operational, financial, people, risk, compliance, audit and control matters, in accordance with AGRA’s delegated-authority, governance and Board-reporting frameworks. Internal Audit remains independent of management and retains its direct reporting and escalation access to the Board or relevant Board Committee.

Key Measures of Performance

The performance of this role holder will be assessed based on the achievements made on:

• Operational Excellence & Service Delivery: Ensure effective delivery of corporate services by achieving agreed service-level standards, improving operational efficiency, and implementing process optimization initiatives that enhance organizational performance.

• Governance, Risk & Compliance: Maintain robust governance, enterprise risk management, and compliance frameworks across corporate functions, ensuring strict adherence to organizational policies, donor requirements, regulatory obligations, and the swift, systematic resolution of internal and external audit and control findings while respecting Board assurance independence.

• Financial Stewardship & Budget Discipline: Drive organizational cost optimization, strict budget adherence, and value-for-money outcomes in close operational matrix partnership with Finance, enforcing proactive cost-control mechanisms and operational efficiency across all corporate service units.

• Technology, AI & Business Transformation: Lead operational and digital transformation initiatives, leveraging AI-enabled tools, data, and modern business systems alongside appropriate risk and governance frameworks to strengthen organizational capabilities, efficiency, and business continuity.

• Grant Prudence & Effectiveness: Ensure effective stewardship of grant resources through strong grant management, compliance, monitoring, and reporting practices, maximizing the impact, efficiency, and accountability of donor-funded investments.

• People & Culture Leadership: Foster a high-performing, inclusive, and value-driven culture by overseeing operational HR execution, talent development, workforce planning, and employee engagement, while supporting executive and FHRC governance priorities.

• Leadership & Stakeholder Effectiveness: Build and sustain high-performing teams, foster a culture of accountability and collaboration, and maintain strong stakeholder satisfaction through responsive, reliable, and effective operational support services.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose – Advance

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of AGRA’s operational functions, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, growth objectives, and program delivery priorities.

• Lead the development and implementation of operational strategies, frameworks, policies, and systems that strengthen organizational effectiveness and sustainability.

• Oversee enterprise-wide operational excellence initiatives, driving continuous improvement, efficiency gains, and service quality across corporate functions.