Job Summary
The Pastoralist Coordinator is responsible for planning, coordinating and overseeing the implementation of all Pastoralist Market Development (PMD) programmes and field operations across Nigeria.
The role provides operational leadership to the PMD team, ensuring effective engagement with pastoralist communities, livestock associations, government agencies, development partners and other stakeholders to improve livestock productivity while driving business growth and market penetration.
The Coordinator ensures that field activities are executed efficiently, resources are optimally utilised, performance targets are achieved, and the department delivers sustainable value to pastoralists and the organisation.
The role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder management and extensive knowledge of livestock production systems and pastoral livelihoods across Nigeria.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Planning and Programme Coordination:
Coordinate the implementation of the company's national Pastoralist Market Development strategy.
Develop annual, quarterly, monthly and weekly operational plans for PMD activities.
Translate strategic objectives into measurable field programmes.
Coordinate activities across all states and operational zones.
Ensure consistency in programme implementation nationwide.
Monitor programme performance and recommend continuous improvements.
Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for field operations.
National Field Operations Management:
Coordinate all PMD field operations across Nigeria.
Supervise deployment of field personnel.
Ensure efficient scheduling of field activities.
Coordinate livestock outreach programmes.
Oversee vaccination campaigns and animal health interventions.
Coordinate emergency livestock response activities.
Ensure operational excellence across all field locations.
Conduct periodic field monitoring and quality assurance visits.
Leadership and People Management:
Provide leadership to the PMD field teams.
Supervise and coach Veterinary Doctors, PSRs, Para-Veterinarians and Forage Officers.E.t.c.
Set annual performance objectives.
Monitor productivity and field performance.
Conduct regular coaching and mentoring sessions.
Identify training and development needs.
Build a high-performing and customer-focused field team.
Foster collaboration across regions.
Community Engagement and Partnership Development:
Develop and maintain long-term relationships with pastoralist communities throughout Nigeria.
Engage Ardos, community leaders, cooperative societies, livestock associations and producer groups.
Build trust and strengthen the company's reputation within pastoral communities.
Identify emerging needs and opportunities within livestock-producing communities.
Promote sustainable partnerships that improve pastoral livelihoods.
Livestock Productivity Improvement:
Coordinate programmes that improve:
Animal nutrition
Feed efficiency
Herd health
Disease prevention
Vaccination compliance
Biosecurity
Calf management
Beef production
Water management
Pasture development
Sustainable grazing practices
Work closely with internal technical teams to deliver innovative livestock solutions.
Business Development and Market Expansion:
Identify opportunities to expand the company's presence within pastoralist markets.
Drive adoption of company products and services.
Promote livestock feed solutions.
Support sales growth of veterinary pharmaceuticals and animal health products.
Develop market penetration strategies.
Identify new business opportunities across livestock value chains.
Collaborate with Sales, Marketing and Technical teams to achieve commercial objectives.
Stakeholder Management:
Develop productive relationships with:
Federal Ministry of Livestock Development
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
State Ministries of Agriculture
State Veterinary Services
National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI)
National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI)
Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS)
Development partners
NGOs
International development agencies
Research institutions
Financial institutions
Community-based organisations
Represent the company at national meetings, conferences and stakeholder engagements.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:
Develop systems to monitor:
Community coverage
Herd health improvements
Productivity gains
Product adoption
Sales performance
Customer satisfaction
Programme impact
Return on investment
Budget utilization
Prepare:
Weekly reports
Monthly reports
Quarterly reports
Annual operational reports
Executive dashboards
Impact assessment reports
Training and Capacity Development:
Develop and coordinate training programmes on:
Modern livestock management
Animal nutrition
Disease surveillance
Vaccination
Biosecurity
Record keeping
Sustainable grazing
Forage production
Climate-smart livestock production
Business management for pastoralists
Train field teams on new technologies and best practices.
Budget and Resource Management:
Develop annual departmental budgets.
Monitor budget utilisation.
Control operational costs.
Ensure prudent use of company resources.
Coordinate procurement requests for field activities.
Monitor logistics and fleet utilisation.
Recommend cost-saving initiatives.
Risk Management and Compliance:
Identify operational and security risks affecting field operations.
Develop mitigation plans.
Ensure compliance with company policies and SOPs.
Ensure adherence to animal welfare, environmental, HSE and biosecurity standards.
Maintain compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Data Management and Digital Reporting:
Establish reliable field data collection systems.
Analyse operational and commercial data.
Produce dashboards and performance reports.
Ensure data accuracy and integrity.
Use insights to improve programme effectiveness and business decisions.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Achievement of national PMD strategic objectives.
Number of pastoralist communities engaged nationwide.
Number of livestock farmers onboarded.
Increase in livestock productivity among participating pastoralists.
Growth in sales of livestock products and services.
Vaccination and disease prevention coverage.
Customer satisfaction and retention rates.
Timeliness and quality of programme implementation.
Stakeholder engagement effectiveness.
Team productivity and performance.
Budget adherence.
Quality and timeliness of reports.
Successful implementation of training and extension programmes.
Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Animal Production, Livestock Production, Agricultural Extension, Agriculture or a related discipline.
Minimum of 8 - 10 years' progressive experience in livestock production, pastoralist engagement, agricultural extension, veterinary services, agribusiness, or rural development.
A Master's Degree in Animal Production, Veterinary Public Health, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development or Project Management is an added advantage.
Professional membership in relevant bodies, such as the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), or other related professional associations, is an added advantage.
Experience
At least 5 years in a managerial or national coordination role.
Proven experience managing multi-state or nationwide field operations.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
Experience working with government agencies, development partners, NGOs and pastoralist communities.
Experience in the livestock, dairy, beef, poultry or animal health sectors is highly desirable.
Technical Competencies:
Livestock production and management
Animal health and disease control
Pastoral systems and rangeland management
Programme and project management
Community mobilisation
Stakeholder engagement
Business development
Monitoring and evaluation
Budget management
Data analysis and reporting
Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word and PowerPoint)
Digital field data collection tools
Behavioural Competencies:
Strategic thinking
Leadership and team development
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Negotiation and influencing skills
Relationship management
Problem-solving and sound decision-making
Results orientation
Planning and organisational skills
Integrity and accountability
Cultural awareness and adaptability
Resilience and ability to work in diverse environments.