apply is hiring a Head of Forest Protection (Ghana)

Project Context and Scope

We are working with a coalition of multinational corporates and partners who have dedicated significant funding to strengthen the sustainability of key commodity supply chains from West Africa.

The initiative brings together multinational companies and partners, working across the entire supply chain — from cooperatives and intermediaries, to traders, off-takers, and major buyers. It is the most ambitious international initiative to-date in scale and impact for commodity supply chains from the region.

Foundational work for the initiative is taking place in Europe and operational activities are primarily based in West Africa.

The coalition is seeking a Snr Data Architect expert to lead the design of a trusted, integrated data ecosystem that connects sustainability programs with commodity procurement, enabling better incentives, improved farmer livelihoods, and stronger, more transparent supply chains.

You will be driving the following sector-shaping solutions:

• Link sustainability and business outcomes: Show how investments in farmers and communities translate into actual commodity supply and quality.
• Empower farmers and cooperatives: Provide continuity in data so farmer performance and progress can be tracked over time, helping them access support, incentives, and fairer opportunities.
• Support effective incentives: Enable companies to design payment and reward structures (e.g. results-based financing, upfront support) that are transparent, fair, and evidence-based.
• Increase efficiency and trust: Reduce duplication, improve data quality, and establish shared standards across stakeholders.
• Unlock innovation: Move beyond static reporting toward continuous learning, advanced analytics, and AI-driven insights.
• Strengthen governance: Build a system that is neutral, harmonised, and sector-wide, allowing multiple actors — even competitors — to collaborate around shared sustainability goals.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will help scope, design, and build the roadmap for this new system.

The initial phase is a 3-month engagement to shape the foundation of a sector-wide data infrastructure that supports both sustainability and commercial outcomes. There is a high possibility of extension once the initial scoping & design is completed.

Core:

• Map the current data landscape: Document how data is collected, stored, and used across cooperatives, traders, NGOs, buyers, and other stakeholders.
• Identify pain points and opportunities: Highlight duplication, inefficiencies, and structural challenges while identifying areas for integration and improvement.
• Define system requirements: Translate diverse stakeholder needs into clear business and technical requirements for a new data system.
• Engage with stakeholders: Work with cooperatives, NGOs, traders, and buyers to gather input and build alignment.
• Support field engagement: Collaborate with West African partners (in English and ideally French) to ensure local data realities are reflected in system design.

Strategic & advisory:

• Design system architecture options: Develop and evaluate potential solutions (e.g. bespoke build, vendor RFP, or integration of existing tools) and outline trade-offs.
• Create an implementation roadmap: Propose phased pathways for system development, including governance and scalability considerations.
• Advise on governance and standards: Recommend approaches for data quality, interoperability, farmer identifiers, and long-term system sustainability.
• Bridge sustainability and procurement data: Design ways to connect program outcomes with commodity flows to enable incentive models.
• Provide strategic guidance to leadership: Share best practices in data management and advise on building an industry-wide data ecosystem.

• Essential
• 5+ years’ experience in designing and implementing data system architecture.
• 8-10+ years' experience in engineering, data science, or related field.
• Prior CTOs / Tech leads with experience in either agriculture, big data, and/or an understanding of (West) African culture are highly encouraged to apply.
• Proven track record in multi-stakeholder data governance, access control, and interoperability.
• Proficiency in API integration and data exchange standards.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional communication skills with senior international stakeholders, e.g. corporate CEOs
• Business/Native Fluency in English.
• Desirable
• Experience with Agri-commodity supply chain, sustainability, or field-level data collection systems.
• Understanding of GIS, traceability, or certification systems.
• Proficiency in French

Contract Details

• Commitment: 70–100% (25–40 hrs/week), approx. 3 months with potential extension.
• Location: Remote with potential for travel as required.
• Start date: Negotiable

Opportunity

This job offers unique opportunities for personal development and impact.

• The Initiative is the most ambitious Initiative to-date in scale and step-change impact
• Working collaboratively with many senior international industry partners
• Developing a new data system that aspires to become a flagship solution in the commodity supply chains

Why Apply

This role offers a unique opportunity to design a flagship data system for a high-impact initiative, working alongside a passionate, multidisciplinary team. You will help shape a solution that drives systemic change and sets a benchmark for digital infrastructure in complex, collaborative ecosystems.