Zambia Trial Supervisor (Fixed-Term)

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips 5.5 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa's farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase their income and assets on supported land by more than 35 percent, while permanently improving their resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 9,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.

One Acre Fund runs a pilot program in Zambia’s Central Province. Our Zambia pilot is exploring ways we can help farmers improve harvests on larger plots of land, which are common in the country. Our office in Zambia is located in Kabwe, the capital of the Central Province.

About the Role

Seeking a field-based Trial Supervisor to run agronomic trials end-to-end, from plot setup and farmer coordination to season-long data collection, generating the on-farm evidence that shapes our practices and drives more impact per farmer.

Responsibilities

Field Trial Setup & Protocol Adherence

• Coordinate directly with selected smallholder farmers to establish trial plots, execute baseline soil sampling, and enforce strict adherence to trial protocols throughout the season.

Agronomic Management & Farmer Engagement

• Guide participating farmers on experimental agronomic practices, deliver technical instructions clearly across varying literacy levels, and build strong community trust.

Digital Data Collection & Reporting

• Collect high-quality mobile field data—from baseline through harvest measurements—using digital tools like KoboToolbox or CommCare while conducting routine data integrity checks.

Farm Boundary Mapping & Operational Logistics

• Utilize GPS mapping applications to establish accurate trial boundaries, manage independent field travel across multiple rural sites, and report trial progress to Product Innovations leads.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• Certificate or Diploma in Agriculture or a closely related field.

• Valid motorbike license (Class A or A1).

• Strong track record in field trial execution, agronomic management, and ensuring strict adherence to trial protocols.

• Demonstrated ability in farmer engagement, trust-building, and guiding farmers through seasonal trial expectations.

• Proficiency in digital data collection tools (e.g., KoboToolbox, CommCare, or ODK), conducting data quality checks, and timely field reporting.

• Excellent communication skills and fluency in local languages spoken by farmers in assigned trial areas.

• Practical experience using GPS tools/apps to accurately map farm trial plot boundaries is preferred.

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Kabwe, Zambia

Benefits

Health insurance, paid time off

Contract Duration

10 months

Eligibility

This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Zambia.

Application Deadline

13 January 2027. Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @ address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.