Program Manager

Department: Commercial

Job Grade: D2

Reports to: Commercial Director

JOB PURPOSE:

The Program Manager will provide strategic leadership in implementing and scaling Food and Agriculture projects across Tanzania. The role is responsible for mobilizing and supporting thousands of smallholder farmers, youth, women, and Ag-MSMEs through transformative interventions, driving financial inclusion, productivity, and market access. The Senior Program Manager will serve as a key pipeline builder for Equity Bank Tanzania, ensuring robust beneficiary acquisition and integration into sustainable agri-food ecosystems.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the strategic design, implementation, and monitoring of large-scale agribusiness and food systems programs, ensuring alignment with EBTL's national and regional objectives.
• Mobilize, recruit, and conduct sensitization forums for target participants, partners, and value chain actors, including smallholder farmers and Ag-MSMEs, with a focus on youth and women.
• Oversee the enrolment of targeted beneficiaries into Equity Bank and related financial products, ensuring achievement of project-set targets and timelines.
• Deliver advanced training on financial education, agribusiness management, good agricultural practices, climate-smart agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and adoption of digital technologies and mechanization.
• Support farmers and other value chain actors to improve technical, financial, and entrepreneurial skills, increasing productivity and profitability.
• Facilitate access to Equity Bank’s financial services, handholding beneficiaries to utilize bank products and services according to their financial needs.
• Organize and coordinate regular farmer group meetings, mentoring, and coaching to enhance capacity, track project interventions, and promote ecosystem participation.
• Respond to farmer queries on agribusiness and financial services, supporting informed decision-making and business growth.
• Prepare comprehensive weekly, monthly, and quarterly status reports for senior management, including analytical and critical data for program monitoring and evaluation.
• Organize, coordinate, and execute project activities (e.g., field days, exchange visits, value chain meetings) as per the project work plan and targets.
• Represent EBTL in agriculture, engaging with Equity staff, local partners, and stakeholders at branch and national levels.
• Collaborate with the monitoring and evaluation team to collect high-quality data, track program impact, and ensure timely reporting on commercial and program targets.
• Undertake any other business activities as required by organizational needs.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES AND DELIVERABLES

Financial

• Combined Revenue in deposits, loans, income, client accounts and Portfolio at Risk (PAR) metrics.
• Support growth of Food & Agriculture loans and deposit portfolios within the region.
• Ensure strong and sustainable agribusiness pipeline development through advisor-led interventions.
• Number of farmers reached/ trained, MSMEs reached/ ecosystems and partners onboarded/activated.
• USD in secured grant funding and derisking facilities (blended finance instruments and guarantees).
• Number of funding and strategic formal partnerships.

People

• (Size of Team – staff component of up to 13, up to 5 Direct Reports, 1-3 Matrix Reports).

Processes

• Pillar Procedures and Policies, Audit and Compliance requirements, Adoption and Adherence to ALL EBTL Policies, Procedures and Regulations, Code of Conduct.
• Systems – ERP, PowerApps.

Customers/Clients

• Smallholder farmers, farmer groups, cooperatives, and Agribusiness MSMEs.
• Anchor partners, off-takers, and value chain actors.

KEY DECISIONS MADE BY THE JOB-HOLDER (NOT RECOMMENDATIONS) AND HOW OFTEN

• Identification of strategic partners and escalation of programme risks.
• Approve weekly Regional Manager activity plans and partner onboarding decisions (weekly).
• Allocate regional budgets across counties and interventions (monthly).
• Authorize field training schedules and demonstration events (bi-weekly).
• Sign off monthly/quarterly regional reports and data submissions to national M&E (monthly/quarterly).

COMPLEXITY EXPECTED IN THE ROLE (E.G. MULTIPLE COUNTRIES, CROSS-FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, DELIVERING THROUGH OTHER THIRD PARTIES, E.G.)

High degree of complexity – multiple internal and external counterparts, several countries, cross-functional responsibilities, team management, program design and execution, stakeholder and partnerships relationship management.

CRITICAL RELATIONSHIPS/STAKEHOLDERS/CONTACTS

• Internal: Own Team, Commercial Units in the Banking subsidiaries, Shared/ support services units, ExCo, Board.
• External: Funding partners, Farmers, MSMEs, Farmer Organization leadership and other private sector agriculture ecosystems.

QUALIFICATION, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

Academic Qualifications and Certifications

• Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Economics, or a related field; business/finance courses with agriculture program exposure are an added advantage.
• Highly motivated and results-oriented professional with at least 10 years of progressive experience in agribusiness, agricultural production, MSME development, and extension services.
• Demonstrated expertise in agronomic principles, agribusiness management, and market linkages, with a proven ability to drive sustainable growth and innovation.
• Proven track record in conducting farmer and MSME training, developing business plans, and facilitating access to finance and markets for smallholder farmers and Ag-MSMEs.
• Committed to empowering rural communities and fostering economic development through sustainable agricultural practices.

Required Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in agribusiness program management, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles (e.g., leading large-scale projects, managing multi-million USD budgets, or overseeing national and regional program portfolios).
• Extensive practical experience in agricultural production and management, including implementation of sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices.
• Deep understanding of agronomic principles, seed selection, fertilizer application, irrigation management, and on-farm demonstrations.
• Strong experience in MSME development, including facilitating access to microfinance, credit guarantee schemes, and government grants.
• Experience in managing agricultural development projects, including planning, implementation, and monitoring.

Key Technical Skills & Leadership Competencies

• Ability to evaluate and solve complex challenges at an enterprise level.
• Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting using statistical software and agricultural technology (e.g., GPS, GIS, farm management systems).
• Experience in developing and implementing agribusiness development programs that enhance market access and profitability.
• Strong skills in facilitating connections between farmers, processors, distributors, and markets.
• Proven track record in providing business development services to MSMEs, including financial analysis, business planning, and market access facilitation.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in creating and delivering digital training programs and leveraging digital tools for program delivery.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Application Process:

If you believe you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the criteria given above, please submit your job application cover letter along with a detailed resume, copies of the relevant certificates and testimonials in a single PDF file format, quoting the respective Job title or Ref no. in the subject field to TZRecruitment@equitybank.co.tz by Saturday 19th April 2026.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Equity Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversity of individuals, ideas, perspectives, insights and values, and what they bring to the workplace.

By submitting your application, you consent to Equity Bank Tanzania Limited collecting and processing your personal data strictly for recruitment, selection, and, where applicable, employment purposes. Equity Bank Tanzania Limited will process your personal data in accordance with the Data Protection and Privacy Act, Cap 97, and its Data Privacy Policy. Your personal information will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality and will not be shared with unauthorized third parties, except where disclosure is required by law or regulatory obligation.