Cost Consultant at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Cost Consultant

Location: Ibadan, Oyo
Employment Type: Full Time

Scope of Work
The Consultant will be required to:

• Review Existing Costing Practices:

  • Assess the current methodologies used for costing services within the Unit.
  • Identify gaps and areas for improvement.

• Develop a Comprehensive Costing Model:

  • Identify and classify cost elements, including fixed, variable, and indirect costs.
  • Develop a framework for capturing costs related to:
    • Land rental at all IITA farms
    • Land preparation
    • Planting.
    • Irrigation management.
    • Pest, disease, and weed control.
    • Harvesting and post-harvest processing.
    • Farm labor,
    • Equipment use, and maintenance.
    • Overhead costs (e.g., administration, utilities).

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Consult with scientists, BIP, farm managers, finance personnel, other CG centres, and other stakeholders to ensure the model aligns with user needs.
• Incorporate feedback into the costing framework.

Develop Chargeback Mechanisms:

• Propose a transparent pricing structure for services rendered to scientists within IITA and external collaborators.
• Include considerations for subsidized rates for internal users and competitive rates for external users.

Capacity Building:

• Train relevant staff on implementing and maintaining the costing model.
•  Provide tools and templates to support ongoing cost tracking and reporting.

Report Preparation:

• Deliver a detailed report documenting the costing framework, methodologies, and recommendations.
• Present findings to IITA leadership and stakeholders.

Deliverables
The Consultant will deliver:

• An inception report detailing the approach, methodology, and work plan.
• A comprehensive costing model tailored to the Unit’s operations.
• A chargeback pricing structure for internal and external users.
• Training materials and capacity-building sessions for relevant staff.
• A final report summarizing findings, methodologies, and recommendations.

Duration of the Assignment:

• The assignment is expected to take three months from the start date.

Reporting and Supervision:

• The Consultant will report to the Head of Farm Management and Breeding Operations and will work closely with the IITA Finance Department and IITA Scientists.

Requirements
Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Advanced Degree in Finance, Accounting, Agricultural Economics, or a related field.
• Professional certification in accounting or financial management (e.g., CPA, ACCA, MBA).
• At least 10 years of experience in costing, financial modeling, or agricultural operations.
• Proven experience in developing costing frameworks for agricultural or research organizations.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and training skills.
• Familiarity with the operational context of research institutions and breeding programs is an asset.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note
Interested candidates should submit the following:

• A cover letter outlining their suitability for the role.
• A detailed CV highlighting relevant experience.
• A proposed work plan and fee structure.