Group Agri Business Line Innovation Project Manager

Who are we?

SOLEVO is a leading distributor of chemicals and inputs for specific industrial and agricultural segments in Africa. SOLEVO assists African farmers and Industries succeed by providing them with a full range of fertilizers, seeds, crop protection products and industrial chemicals they need with a guaranteed quality and good value. With over 75 years at the frontier of economic growth and transformation across Africa, we deliver critical raw materials and expertise to the continent’s high GDP-contributing life sciences and industrials sectors.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking an experienced and talented Group Agri Innovation Project Manager to join our Agro Business Line, based in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. He/she should have a strong project management background in the agro-inputs sector and be fluent in English and French.

What do we expect from the candidate?

The Group Agri Innovation Project Manager will act as the driving force behind the Agro Business Line's innovation agenda, working across all countries where SOLEVO's agricultural activities are present. The role is the single point of accountability for keeping innovation initiatives moving forward, regardless of day-to-day commercial pressure at country level. Success is measured by delivery and execution, not by the number of ideas generated.

The key responsibilities:

• Own and manage the full innovation pipeline for the Agro Business Line, prioritizing initiatives by strategic and commercial value, defining roadmaps and milestones, and reporting progress and risks to Executive Management.

• Build and lead cross-functional project teams for each strategic initiative, assigning country representatives, clarifying roles and decision rights, and coordinating contributions from Regulatory, Procurement, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Sales.

• Run regular project meetings, maintain live action trackers, and escalate bottlenecks early to keep decisions moving.

• Lead flagship innovation initiatives spanning new product development, digital agriculture tools, sustainable farming practices, and emerging agri-technologies.

• Act as the main point of contact for innovation-related collaboration with external partners, including input manufacturers, research institutions, and technology providers, ensuring joint commitments are delivered on time.

• Coordinate pre-launch and launch activities for new products, including regulatory follow-up, field trials, business case development, and country-level rollout planning.

• Support country and business line managers by taking on the project-management workload, preparing meetings, driving action plans, and maintaining momentum across departments.

• Establish and run a structured innovation governance framework, including regular innovation committees, a stage-gate process, and project scorecards and KPIs.

If you possess…

Must-Have:

• Postgraduate degree (Bac+5/Master) in Business, or Agricultural/Industrial Engineering.

• 7–10 years of experience in agro-inputs (fertilizers, crop protection, seeds), with proven project or programme management experience and cross-functional coordination across multiple countries.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to understand business processes, identify improvement areas, and translate strategic priorities into actionable plans.

• Excellent communication skills in English and French for effective stakeholder engagement.

• Proven ability to influence and align stakeholders without direct authority.

Nice-to-Have:

• Working knowledge of Portuguese.

• Strong proficiency in Power BI.

• Familiarity with project management tools (JIRA, Asana, Trello) and collaboration platforms (Confluence, Slack).

• Willingness and availability to travel across African markets.

If you are…

• Able to tackle complex problems effectively and adapt to fast-paced, multicultural environments.

• A strong leader with the ability to challenge and align senior stakeholders.

• Proven track record of working effectively across multi-country teams, demonstrating flexibility and drive.

• Analytical and a problem-solving person: exceptional ability to identify bottlenecks and devise effective solutions, with strong follow-through on execution.

Why join Solevo?

• Join a young, dynamic team leading chemical distribution on the African continent.

• Enjoy a collaborative, international and agile work environment.

• Be part of a team where freedom, initiative and "thinking out of the box" is key.

• Opportunity to work in a growing, versatile environment.

• Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits package.

• Explore opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

Then, this job is for you!

How to join us?

If you’re excited about this position, we encourage you to submit your resume detailing your relevant experience and be part of our exciting journey.

What's next ?

If your profile matches our search, you will be contacted by our HR team for a first contact.

Please be informed that we will keep your profile to contact you for future professional opportunities.