Agent Development Manager

Learn About Farmerline

Field

Details

Job Title

Agent Development Manager

Department and Location

Impact & Learning, Ghana

Incumbent Supervisor

Head, Impact & Learning

Suggested start date

Immediately

Length of assignment

Permanent role, subject to performance

Role Overview

The Agent Development Manager plays a crucial role in driving the success ofFarmerline’s field operations by managing and developing a network of field agents. These agents serve as the primary touchpoint between the company and smallholder farmers, ensuring the delivery of products, services, and support that enhance farmer productivity and livelihoods. 

The Agent Development Manager will collaborate with the business teams to design onboarding and training programs for the Field Officers to ensure they receive the needed resources, training, and support to effectively and efficiently conduct farmer engagement activities. The Manager supervises the execution of key farmer engagement activities and the creation of internal company career paths for various Agent levels. The onboarding process they create helps to identify high-potential individuals, determine work abilities, and professional support needed to engage and retain new talent

Responsibilities 

• Identify, interview, and onboard field agents (including Enumerators and Zonal Officers), ensuring they understand their roles and responsibilities.
• Establish a strong agent network capable of meeting project deliverables.
• Track budgets and negotiate contracts with part-time field officers
• Design and implement training programs for agents on product knowledge, service delivery, customer engagement, and digital tools.
• Institute and run an agent certification program for Mergdata services
• Set clear targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) for agents, regularly monitoring their progress and providing feedback.
• Act as a key point of contact for agents, offering guidance and resolving challenges they face in the field.
• Foster strong relationships between agents and the farming communities they serve, ensuring alignment with the company's goals and values.
• Develop incentive schemes, recognition programs, and professional development opportunities to keep agents engaged and committed.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to align agent activities with overall business objectives.
• Track and evaluate field agent development and resource needs.
• Train and support field agents to promote the right adoption of information services and high-quality inputs to farmers.
• Supervise and ensure all field agents collect high-quality data on all transactions and interactions with farmers and partners in near real-time.
• Track and drive measures of success such as task completion rate, enhanced talent pipeline, and agent retention.
• Any other duty assigned

Required Qualifications

• Working knowledge of MS Office(Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.) and ability to learn technology quickly
• Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development, Agriculture, Business/Human Resource Management or related field. A Master's degree is an added advantage.
• 3+ years of progressive HR talent development, and management experience; experience in social research, smallholder farmer engagement agent management, field operations, or rural development is strongly preferred
• Knowledge of the systemic challenges in agriculture value chains in Ghana, a passion for creating lasting solutions to them, and the ability to navigate farming communities.
• High energy with a positive, customer-centric attitude
• Extensive experience in rural engagement and data collection 
• Strong business analysis and financial management skills
• Excellent oral communication, writing, and presentation skills
• Ability to execute multiple projects with extensive detail coordination
• Ability to speak multiple Ghanaian languages is an added advantage