Country Coordinator – Seed Systems Group

Job Description

About SSG and the project

Seed Systems Group (SSG) is a non-profit scientific and technical organization that builds seed production and supply systems for smallholder farmers. It works in 15 African countries, including six in West Africa, and is supported by its regional office in Lomé, Togo.

With funding from the Gates Foundation and Gates Ag One, and in partnership with Nutritious

AgriFuture Nigeria (NAF), SSG is running a four-year project (October 2026 – September 2030) to scale up the production, distribution and adoption of pod-borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea in Ghana. Partners include CSIR-SARI, PPRSD, the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), MoFA extension services, AATF,

FIPS-Africa and private seed companies. The project aims to plant 30% of the cowpea area in the four target regions with PBR cowpea by Year 4.

Main responsibilities

1. Lead day-to-day delivery of the Ghana workplan and budget, and help the SSG-WCA project team identify, negotiate, and set up the Tamale project office.

2. Coordinate project partners.

3. Support the due diligence and selection of local organizations for project implementation.

4. Organize trainings, field days, stakeholder meetings, the annual regulators–seed producers forum, and field inspections.

5. Collect and check field data with the SSG M&E team, update the results tracker and take part in the baseline, mid-term and final evaluations.

6. Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports, and ensure that accounting follows SSG

Finance Department procedures and donor requirements.

7. Represent SSG at events and meetings in Ghana, including those involving government agencies, research institutes and the private sector.

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8. Arrange logistics for SSG and donor missions in Ghana.

Qualifications and experience Required

• MSc or PhD in Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Technology, Agronomy, Crop Science or a related field.

• At least 5 years of experience in seed systems in Ghana, including at least 3 years coordinating donor-funded projects.

• Hands-on experience with breeder, foundation, or certified seed production and with private seed companies.

• Good knowledge of the Plants and Fertilizer Act, 2010 (Act 803), PPRSD seed certification and the

Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831).

• Strong report writing in English and good skills in Word, Excel, and data tools.

• Willingness to travel often to rural areas of the four target regions.

Desirable

• Experience with genetically modified or PBR cowpea, stewardship, or biosafety compliance.

• Experience working with relevant public and private sector stakeholders in Ghana.

• Fluency in local languages.

• A valid driving license.

What SSG offers

A competitive monthly salary in line with qualifications and experience, statutory benefits under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) and SSNIT, and the chance to lead the national roll-out of a new seed technology.

How to apply

Send one PDF file with a cover letter (maximum 2 pages), a CV, copies of certificates, a copy of your national ID card, and the names and contacts of three professional referees to

secretariatwca@seedsystemsgroup.org, copy to mkangai@seedsystemsgroup.org,

dnelima@seedsystemsgroup.org, and bkiptanui@seedsystemsgroup.org. Use the subject line

“Application – Country Coordinator – Tamale”. The closing date is 15 November 2026, 17:00 GMT.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview, held online or in Tamale. SSG does not charge any fee at any stage of recruitment. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. The selected candidate will undergo reference and safeguarding checks.