State Helpdesk Officer - Kano

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture seeks suitable Nigerian nationals for the position below at the Institute’s Headquarters in Kano.

Position:       State Helpdesk Officer

Contract:       1-year renewable contract

Location: Kano

Closing Date: 21 September 2026

DUTIES

·       Operate the state-level program help desk (in person, by phone and/or through other designated channels), responding to enquiries from prospective and enrolled participants, community members and partners in a timely and courteous manner.

·       Provide accurate information on program eligibility, application procedures, training schedules, Youth Agribusiness Park access, and available support services (finance linkage, starter kits, mentorship).

·       Receive, log and route participant and community feedback, questions and complaints (including safeguarding-sensitive concerns) to the appropriate focal point, in line with the program's complaints and feedback mechanism and safeguarding procedures.

·       Support outreach and community sensitization activities to raise awareness of the program, particularly among young women, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced youth.

·       Maintain an organized, up-to-date log/database of enquiries, referrals and resolutions for reporting and continuous improvement purposes.

·       Support monitoring of relevant local policy, regulatory and market developments affecting youth agribusiness in the state, and flag emerging issues to the State Field Coordinator and PMO.

·       Assist with registration, attendance tracking and basic support during training sessions, cohort enrolment and Youth Agribusiness Park events.

·       Coordinate with the State Training Officer, State Admin and Logistics Officer, and other state team members to ensure participants receive consistent and accurate information.

·       Prepare periodic summary reports on help desk activity, common enquiry themes, and feedback trends for the State Field Coordinator and PMO.

·       Uphold IITA's safeguarding, confidentiality and code-of-conduct standards in all interactions with participants and the community.

·       Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor

Requirements

QUALIFICATION

Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in Social Sciences, Communications, Development Studies, Agriculture or a related field with a minimum of 2 years of experience in customer service, community engagement, front desk operations or a similar public-facing role, preferably within an NGO or development program is required.

COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate must have:

·       Excellent interpersonal, listening and communication skills, with fluency in the local language(s) of the state/district and English (or French/Krio as applicable in Liberia/Sierra Leone).

·       Good working knowledge of the local community, culture and context, including sensitivity to the needs of young women, persons with disabilities and displaced persons.

·       Basic computer literacy (Microsoft Office) for recording and reporting enquiries.

·       Patience, discretion and a strong customer-service orientation, with the ability to handle sensitive or difficult conversations professionally.

·       Willingness to travel locally within the state/district, including to Youth Agribusiness Parks and community locations.

·       Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.

·       Strong verbal and written communication skills.

·       Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

·       Strong organizational and record-keeping skills.

·       Ability to manage multiple tasks and work under pressure.

·       Good problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

·       High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism.

·       Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and digital communication tools

Benefits

REMUNERATION

We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed cover letter and curriculum vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format to IITA website: https://apply.workable.com/iita/#jobs no later than Two Weeks from the date of this publication.

IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce, particularly welcoming applications from women. While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.