Director Product Development and Commercialization

Adelko Consulting Services, a global Executive Search firm, has been retained by AATF, to source outstanding candidates for the Director Product Development and Commercialization (DPDC) position.

## ABOUT AFRICA AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION

AATF is an international not-for-profit organization that facilitates, and promotes public/private partnerships to access, develop, adapt and deliver appropriate agricultural technologies for sustainable use by smallholder farmers in Sub Saharan Africa.

AATF works with African governments, private and public technology owners and developers, NGOs, seed companies and African farmers to identify and access technologies that will address farmers’ key problems and enhance their productivity. AATF is a registered charity under the laws of England and Wales and has host country status with the Government of Kenya. The Foundation depends on the ongoing support and collaboration of different partners and investors to meet its objectives.

Please visit the AATF website at https://www.aatf-africa.org/ for further details.

## DIRECTOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION

Under the direct supervision of the Executive Director, the DPDC will lead the strategic design, development, and commercialization of agricultural technology programs and products, ensuring innovations move efficiently from research to farmer adoption and deliver measurable impact across Africa.

The DPDC will assist and advise the Executive Director in achieving the organization’s strategic objectives by providing leadership in the operational management, market deployment and sustainable commercialization of agricultural technologies and products. The DPDC will ensure effective transition of innovations from development to market, driving scale, impact and long-term sustainability.

## KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

**Program Strategy and Development**

- Scout and identify new agricultural technologies and initiate the drafting of relevant concept notes.
- Provide technical leadership in Ag Biotech product development, regulatory compliance, biosafety, and stewardship.
- Ensure efficient monitoring and implementation of AATF’s interventions and projects.
- Ensure effective and efficient strategic direction toward the access and delivery of appropriate innovative agricultural technologies.
- Provide technical backstopping so that staff can better identify technical problems and assist project partners in solving them.

## Commercialization & Scaling

- Lead the design and execution of AATF commercialization strategy aligned to institutional goals.
- Provide strategic oversight for transitioning technologies from research and development to market deployment.
- Provide strategic leadership in the design, execution, and scaling of commercially sustainable models across multiple African countries to drive rapid market penetration, ensure long-term adoption of technologies and products, and deliver measurable development impact.
- Identify, develop, and manage strategic technical partnerships with seed companies, private sector actors, governments, and development partners to collaboratively drive the commercialization, scaling, and sustainable uptake of agricultural technologies and products.

**Partnership & Stakeholder Management**

- Develop, foster and maintain liaison with partners and stakeholders (advanced technology providers in the private and public sectors and AATF’s network of partners).
- Strengthen coordination and alignment across multidisciplinary teams and strategic partnerships to enhance collaboration, efficiency, and results delivery.
- Promote a high-performance culture focused on results, accountability, and collaboration.

**Portfolio & Performance Management**

- Provide technical backstopping to the Executive Director by advising him/her on new opportunities and representing him/her if required, in the technical working groups and networking forums.
- Support the design and strategic development of the projects by providing technical backstopping, capacity building and guidance to the Projects Managers on project implementation.
- Provide technical backstopping to the Board of Trustees by preparing and presenting technical reports, advising on priority areas and new technologies and guiding on new projects ideas.

**Leadership & Organizational Contribution**

- Providing overall leadership and technical supervision in implementing and reviewing the AATF’s project portfolio, the project’s strategic planning and project cycle fulfilling, including the establishment of the priority activities required, coordination with stakeholders & partners, the elaboration of guidelines, if necessary.
- Represent AATF in high-level strategic engagements with governments, private sector partners, donors, regional and international institutions to advance agricultural technology development and commercialization objectives and strengthen institutional partnerships.

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