Project Officer

Job Opportunity: Project Officer – Technical Assistance Department

Location: Nairobi, Kenya | Deadline: 29 October 2025 | Start Date: December 2025 (flexible)

COLEAD is looking for a Project Officer
to strengthen its Technical Assistance department, as part of the implementation of its projects and programmes supporting the ACP horticultural sector.

The Project Officer will be based at COLEAD's Programme Management Unit in Nairobi and will actively contribute to the development and implementation of projects supporting private sector partners (producers, processors, exporters, professional organisations, consultants, etc.) and public institutions (SPS authorities, universities, training centres, etc.).

These projects aim to strengthen the capacity of ACP horticultural stakeholders to meet evolving SPS, commercial, social, and environmental requirements on local, regional, and international markets.

Your Mission

As a Project Officer, you will provide technical, administrative, and logistical support for COLEAD interventions, focusing on Eastern Africa (and other countries as assigned). Your responsibilities include:

• Providing administrative and technical support to analyse applications from programme/project partner-beneficiaries
• Deploying COLEAD's Self-Assessment System (SAS) within companies
• Developing action plans in collaboration with partner-beneficiaries
• Organising and overseeing capacity-building activities, trainings, and technical assistance
• Contributing to the drafting of terms of reference for contracted service providers
• Coordinating and monitoring the selection of training participants
• Ensuring logistics and organization of trainings and events (equipment, transportation, venue setup)
• Supporting administrative and financial management, including contracting service providers in line with COLEAD procedures and donor requirements
• Ensuring technical, administrative, and financial follow-up and evaluation of activities
• Contributing to reporting and the planning of project activities

You will collaborate closely with COLEAD teams in Brussels, Lomé, and Nairobi
,
and liaise regularly with public and private partners and service providers.

Profile Sought

• Education & Experience:
  University degree in agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, plant protection, food science, environmental sciences, or project management. Minimum 5 years' professional experience in the Eastern African agricultural/horticultural sector and in project management.
• Technical Knowledge & Assets:
  Knowledge or experience in food safety/SPS, environmental compliance, business/HR management, horticultural production, training/digital tools, EU/regional markets, or prior collaboration with COLEAD is considered an asset.
• Languages:
  Fluency in
  English and Kiswahili
  (spoken and written) is essential. Proficiency in Amharic, French, Spanish, or Portuguese is an asset.
• Skills & Competencies:
  Strong project management, planning, and prioritization skills; analytical and detail-oriented; excellent communication, interpersonal, and networking abilities; proactive, results-oriented, autonomous, flexible, and resilient; intercultural awareness and curiosity.
• Organisational Alignment:
  Commitment to COLEAD's mission, strategy, vision, and values, and ability to engage actively with multicultural teams.

Practical Information

• Location:
  Nairobi, Kenya
• Contract:
  Full-time, 1 year (renewable)
• Start date:
  December 2025 (flexible)
• Mobility:
  Occasional short missions within Eastern Africa (and other regions if required)

How to Apply

Send your
CV + Cover Letter + References
by Wednesday, 29 October 2025
.

Joining COLEAD means joining a multicultural and passionate team. It is also an opportunity to live an enriching experience within a civil society organisation working for cooperation and development of the horticultural industry in Kenya and ACP countries. COLEAD's values are commitment, difference, humanity, performance, and continuous improvement.