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Quick Summary of Chief Operating Officer (ARVS) at ECOWAS Agribusiness Incubation
| Company | ECOWAS Agribusiness Incubation |
| Category | Job |
| Job Type | Full time |
| Job title | Chief Operating Officer (ARVS) |
| Application Mode | Online portal |
| Location | Central Business District, Abuja (FCT) |
| Benefits | ₦1,500,000 |
| Experience Required | |
| Application Deadline | June 30, 2026 |
About Our Client – ECOWAS Agribusiness Incubation
ECOWAS Agribusiness Incubation is a transformative initiative dedicated to identifying high-potential agribusiness founders operating in key commodity verticals across West Africa. Their focus commodities include:
- 🐟 Fish Processing
- 🍅 Tomato
- 🌿 Shea
- 🍯 Honey
- 🥔 Potato
- 🌾 Sesame
The incubation program nurtures these founders into dominant local and export companies providing them with structured funding, operational processes, market linkages and corridor infrastructure access.
The program leverages the ARTC corridor infrastructure, NEXIM trade finance and Afreximbank guarantee mechanisms to position its enterprises as certified exporters 18 months after venture incubation.
About the Recruiter
Qualis Business Support Services Limited is a leading human resources and business advisory firm, handling this recruitment on behalf of ECOWAS Agribusiness Incubation.
Position Summary
The Chief Operating Officer (ARVS) will be a key operational driver of the Agribusiness Incubation program. This is a high impact, strategic function that marries venture activation, commodity domination strategy, building founding teams, financial oversight and institutional relationship management.
The COO will be responsible for managing the complete lifecycle of portfolio ventures, from rapid diagnostic assessments, buyer-mapping, increasing production, getting certifications to finally positioning enterprises as competitive exporters.
This is not a desk position – it’s an operational leadership post where you will be hands-on, with significant knowledge in agriculture value chains, export commerce and commercial outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
1. Venture Activation — Portfolio Prioritisation and Build‑Out (Priority One)
- Build the market linkage architecture: For each key commodity — fish, tomato, shea, honey, potato — map and secure the buyer relationships that give the company an offtake anchor before they scale production.
- Conduct a rapid 30‑day diagnostic across all ARVS portfolio ventures. Assess each entity’s product‑market fit, unit economics, operational readiness, and founding team capability.
- Produce a tiered activation plan: Determine which ventures get full resource deployment, which get structured support, and which get restructured.
2. Commodity Domination Strategy — Local then Export
- Drive product quality and certification as a competitive weapon: Ensure NAFDAC registration, SON certification, phytosanitary compliance, and ISCC traceability where relevant.
- Lead the export activation for qualifying ventures. Work with the ARTC corridor infrastructure, NEXIM trade finance, and Afreximbank guarantee mechanisms to position ARVS ventures as certified exporters within 18 months of incubation entry.
3. Founding Team Development and Performance Management
- Own the portfolio‑level P&L. Track EBITDA performance across each venture monthly.
- Flag distressed ventures early. Recommend capital reallocation, restructuring, or exit where appropriate.
- Provide structured mentorship and operational support to founding teams to build scalable, investment‑ready businesses.
4. Financial Oversight and Capital Stewardship
- Monitor capital deployment and ensure efficient use of structured capital across ventures.
- Ensure each venture meets financial milestones and adheres to budgetary discipline.
- Report portfolio financial health to the CEO and board regularly.
5. Regulatory, Compliance, and Institutional Relationship Management
- Maintain clean regulatory standing across all venture jurisdictions.
- Ensure compliance with NAFDAC, SON, state agricultural agencies, SMEDAN registration, and other relevant regulatory bodies — the COO ensures the portfolio is fully compliant at all times.
- Build and sustain strong relationships with government agencies, financial institutions, and trade bodies.
6. Incubation Model Documentation and Replication
- Produce the annual ARVS portfolio review — a full performance report across all ventures, covering revenue, EBITDA, capital deployed, milestones achieved, and strategic outlook.
- Document the incubation model to enable replication and scaling across other value chains and regions.
Requirements
Educational Qualification
- Degree in Agriculture or a related course
- M.Sc. in Agribusiness is highly preferred
Professional Experience
- 10 years of experience in the agricultural value chain, particularly in exports of agricultural products
- 8 years of direct operational experience in agribusiness, agro‑processing, or structured agricultural trade — with at least 2 years in a role where you personally owned commercial outcomes
- Must have personally built or managed wholesale, institutional, or export buyer relationships for agribusiness products in West Africa
Key Competencies
- Strong understanding of export compliance (NAFDAC, SON, phytosanitary, ISCC)
- Proven track record of scaling agribusiness ventures
- Financial acumen — P&L ownership and capital management
- Strategic thinking with hands‑on execution capability
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills
What We Offer
| Monthly Salary | ₦1,500,000 |
| Role | High‑impact strategic leadership in a pan‑African agribusiness ecosystem |
| Exposure | Work with international development partners, export finance institutions, and regional trade corridors |
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their resume/CV to:
adanne.osuagwu@gmail.com
Email Subject Line:
“Chief Operation Officer (AR VENTURE STUDIO)”
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