Integrated Landscape Management / Geoportal Advisor

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. Driven by a vision of a better world where all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably, SNV strengthens capacities and catalyses partnerships that transform agri-food, energy, and water systems. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises. With 60 years of experience and a team of approximately 1,600 people, we support our partners in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia, tailoring our approaches to different contexts to achieve large-scale impact and create more equitable lives for all.

Our CARE principles—Committed to Impact, Adaptive to Context, Respecting Differences, and Expertise in Practice—are at the heart of who we are and the work we do. These principles are embedded in our vision, mission, and strategy, which serve as our compass guiding us towards 2030.

Project Background

The Dutch government, through its Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS), has funded a ten-year “Soil Values” programme (2024-2033) in Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Mali. The project is implemented by IFDC (lead of consortium), SNV, and Wageningen University, together with several leading knowledge partners (https://ifdc.org/projects/soil-values/). Soil Values project aims to support the large-scale adoption of proven soil health technologies and approaches, ensuring social inclusion, that improve soil fertility on 2.0 million hectares of arable land for 1.5 million smallholder food producers in 40 watersheds.

The programme seeks to sustainably improve soil health to boost agricultural productivity and resilience, particularly for smallholder farmers in the Sahel, including marginalised groups. It focuses on three main areas: promoting agroecology, developing inclusive markets and finance, and fostering supportive institutional environments. SNV is responsible for integrating community and landscape approaches, combining local knowledge with nature-based and external solutions to improve soil fertility and water conservation through participatory, community-driven watershed management.

Job Description

We are currently recruiting for a Integrated Landscape Management / Geoportal Advisor 

Contract: National contract – initial three‑year assignment with the possibility of extension

Location: Abuja

Position Overview

As Lead Integrated Landscape Management / GeoPortal Advisor, you are leading Soil Values inclusive landscape approach across 4 countries in the Sahel. By doing so you contribute to the component 2 – INTEGRATE – of Soil Values project. Capitalizing on the landscape assessments and ILM guidance provided SNV, IWMI, IFDC and other knowledge partners across several river basins, you drive a strategic agenda which engages partners and stakeholders towards next-stage landscape transformation on the following topics:

1. Implement ILM planning pilots in one or two watersheds in each country, using the SNV/IWMI inclusive ILM guide developed in 2025 to support participatory landscape planning and the identification of soil health investments.
2. Analyse the situation in the watersheds with input from watershed-level stakeholders and the maps in the Geoportal to understand their challenges, needs and demands, creating the enabling conditions to implement sustainable agroecological and integrated soil fertility practices.
3. Creating the enabling environment for implementing integrated soil fertility management in 40 community watershed or intervention areas and agreeing on a pipeline of investments with regional programs such as FSRP and ACReSAL to ensure that watersheds can implement the ILM plans.
4. Co-develop of an ILM plan with watershed communities with integrated and inclusive land-use plans and policies, after which you will build partnership at landscape level and ensure to present it to FSRP and ACReSAL for co-funding.

Together with the FSRP and ACReSAL field teams, you facilitate the ILM process to strengthen their capacity to guide and implement potential solutions. During the process, you pay special attention to climate-resilient aspects of the solutions and conflict management on natural resources, such as land, water, pastures, and forest. You make yourself familiar and further develop facilitation methods described in the Inclusive ILM guide to ensure that women, youth, pastoralists, and other vulnerable groups contribute to the discussions and that the solutions chosen also to address their specific problems.

You are a trustworthy experienced sparring partner and leader for internal colleagues and external stakeholders. As you are an organized, strategic thinker on integrated landscape management and a committed team player you are able to juggle multiple, competing priorities and lead teams both through guiding and coaching. You can manage change and are able to gain commitment as you are able to connect to different people with different backgrounds. You can make the link between the consortium partners ideas and the needs of our regional and national partners. Working in a results-oriented, flexible, cooperative and hands-on manner, you are committed to SNV and your team’s targets. As a though leader on landscapes management, you are sensitive to all the different countries we operate in and are able to gain trust with every team(member) across the 4 countries. You share our view in committing to diversity, equity and inclusion, and advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our work.

You are heading the management of the team of Soil Values Geoportal consisting of GIS experts and software developers, and report directly into the Multi Country Project Manager of SNV. You own the GeoPortal product vision & roadmap by setting outcomes, maintaining the backlog, and running prioritization around clear personas. Enforce stakeholder alignment by translating policy and partner needs into actionable user stories; facilitate decisions; keep a crisp decision log. You communicate results and KPIs to the broad stakeholder partners. The position is a full-time position and requires extensive international travel.

Duties & Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the Integrated Landscape Management / GeoPortal Advisor will include the following:

• You carry the end responsibility for the Soil Values Landscapes approach. You are excellent at leading your team in taking ownership from idea to impact, execution and delivery.
• You will convene at the highest level at a regional, national and landscape level, to build partnerships on landscape and systems transformation.
• You drive the impact across the ILM and GeoPortal by steering on innovation, delivery, and partnerships with key partners.
• You work directly with the GeoPortal team members, MEL advisors and country coordinators, a team of multiple nationalities and professional backgrounds.
• You are responsible for the expansion and maintenance of the GeoPortal and contributing to the further strategic development of Soil Values.

To be considered for this role, you are expected to bring:

• University degree (master’s degree) in the field of rural development (agriculture, livestock, pastoralism, economy, sociology) or related field. Advanced knowledge on Geography, Geoinformatics, GIS, or related fields is a plus
• 10 years of relevant working experience in a leadership role in the private sector, government agency or knowledge organization of which at least 5 years in a senior leadership position
• 10 years of experience in integrated spatial planning, community-based watershed development, climate-smart agriculture, natural resource management, and/or agroecology/regenerative agriculture
• 5 years of working in consortiums, with good communication skills, experience working with public administration and local implementing partners (local authorities, land commission, civil society)
• Deep knowledge, interest and expertise in sustainable landscape development, international and specifically to natural resource management (i.e. soil, forest, water) linked to drylands and savannahs, land conflicts, and the reality of developing & fragile economies
• You have a strong senior network in West Africa as well as in governments and multilateral partners, preferably also in knowledge institutes and civil society
• Results-oriented skills and attitude as well as a commitment to working with local partners and in remote and fragile areas
• Willingness to extensively travel in the region, at least 25% of your time (also in fragile and conflict areas)
• Fluency in English and French both written and spoken is required. Excellent intercultural leadership, teamwork, coaching, communication, networking and organizational skills

Additionally, we value  

• 3–5 years in Product Management/Ownership delivering GIS data or mapping platforms to production.
• Strong understanding of geospatial products or spatial data platforms. Command of data governance licensing, metadata, data quality, role-based access, plus privacy/sovereignty basics.

• Type of contract: national contract, full time
• Initial contract duration: 3 years with possibility of extension
• Location: Abuja, Nigeria, with regular travel to other countries.
• Expected start date: May 1, 2026

Working at SNV 
At SNV we challenge and inspire and offer continuous growth. We offer meaningful opportunities to shape the future, expand your skills, and collaborate with a vibrant, global network of experts. At SNV your contribution matter, and your development is our priority.

We are home to 57 cultures working in 22 countries, with about 95% of our team members holding the nationality of the respective countries we work in. We promote (international) career development. Our workforce consists of a mix of both people with longstanding tenure, willing to share their institutional knowledge, as well as people with external backgrounds and experience. All with an inquisitive view and united in ‘ONE SNV’ working towards our purpose.

Together, we are committed to the effective and efficient stewardship of resources and maximising positive, lasting impacts. Our ability to deliver results rests on our robust foundation of experience, technical knowledge, evidence and learning; our commitment to strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships; and the relationships and trust of those we work alongside.

At SNV, inclusivity is at the heart of our ethos. We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and uphold a policy of non-discrimination based on factors such as disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and more.

Application and Selection Process

How to apply 

If you meet the key requirements and feel inspired by this opportunity, we warmly welcome your application. Please submit your CV and motivation letter by April 9, 2026 via Smart Recruiters.

To ensure a focused and respectful recruitment process, we kindly ask that you apply only if you meet the essential qualifications and are available to work in the specified location.

If this role isn’t the right fit but you’re interested in joining SNV in the future, we invite you to follow us on LinkedIn and our career page Vacancies | SNV to stay updated on new opportunities that match your profile.

Reference and vetting check

At SNV, our belief in the CARE principles — Commitment to impact, Adaptive to Context, Respecting Difference and Expertise in Practice — shapes how we work with each other and every interaction we have with our colleagues, partners, and the communities we serve. These values guide how we welcome new team members, ensuring our workplace remains a place of trust, safety, and dignity for all.

As part of our commitment to a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace, we carry out reference and background checks for all determined positions, with particular attention to safeguarding. You will be invited to provide the contact details of [two] referees, and we will only approach them once you have given your permission. We handle this process with care, empathy, and strict confidentiality, using the information solely for purposes related to your application and the role you have applied for.

SNV is committed to safeguarding and to protecting children and adults from all forms of harm, with zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, or any other form of misconduct. As part of creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive working environment, all staff, consultants, and partners are expected to uphold SNV’s safeguarding, child protection, ethical standards, and CARE principles. In line with these commitments — and as a participant in the Inter‑Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS) — SNV will request a Statement of Conduct from your previous employer(s), covering any substantiated findings of misconduct, to ensure a recruitment process that safeguards and protect the communities we serve.