About the Role
As CPO, you will play a pivotal role in translating ambition into results. You will oversee Agriterra’s programme portfolio, with particular focus on our largest and most strategic initiatives, ensuring that our work continues to empower cooperatives and agricultural organisations worldwide. Beyond programme oversight, you will address structural organisational challenges, create the conditions for success, and strengthen Agriterra’s capacity to deliver lasting impact.
About Agriterra
Stichting Agriterra was founded almost 30 years ago by Dutch farmer cooperatives and has over the years evolved into an organisation partnering and supporting farmer cooperatives and organisations worldwide. Agriterra assists them with advice and training through peer-to peer support in combination with locally based experts. Agriterra is organised with a head office in Arnhem, the Netherlands, and has a network of country offices spread over Africa and Asia; employing approximately 200 staff members. Agriterra is financed via donor-granted projects and programmes. For more information, visit our website www.agriterra.org.
Main responsibilities:
You will be accountable for overall programme performance and impact at portfolio level with particular focus on the largest and most strategic programs. The main focus of the CPO is to flag risks in the implementation of our project portfolio, and to address these in collaboration with the regional teams. The CPO identifies structural organisational challenges and supports initiatives to strengthen Agriterra’s capacity for project delivery in each of the countries we operate. You report to the CEO. A few key areas of focus are:
Lead for Impact
- Drive the performance and impact of Agriterra’s global programme portfolio.
- Provide strategic oversight of key programmes and ensure alignment with organisational objectives.
- Identify portfolio-wide risks and opportunities, proactively developing mitigation and improvement strategies.
- Deliver consolidated programme reporting to management, the supervisory board, and external stakeholders.
Inspire and Develop People
- Lead, coach, and mentor Regional Managers, Country Managers (where applicable), and the Programme Coordinator.
- Foster a culture of continuous learning, and shared accountability, where staff at all levels feel confident to ask questions, take initiative, learn from mistakes, and deliver on what was agreed.
- Create an environment in which employees can thrive, grow professionally, and achieve their full potential.
- Combine analytical sharpness with curiosity, approaching under performance adequately and constructively, and work collaboratively with the people concerned to develop improvements they genuinely own.
- Ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations across the programme organisation.
Drive Strategic Change
- Champion organisational learning, innovation, and programme excellence.
- Lead the continuous evolution of programmes and institutional processes, ensuring relevance and effectiveness in changing contexts.
- Collaborate with the management team to develop and refine Agriterra’s organisational strategy.
- Translate strategic ambitions into regional and operational priorities, supporting teams in delivering the multi-annual plan.
Represent and Position Agriterra
- Act as a senior ambassador for Agriterra in the Netherlands and internationally.
- Represent Agriterra's work with authority and depth, speaking and reporting knowledgeably about the relevance and progress of our projects, and Agriterra's position within the wider landscape of international development.
- Build and strengthen strategic partnerships that contribute to Agriterra’s long-term success.
- Promote Agriterra’s mission, vision, and expertise in national and international forums.
- Advocate for the interests of cooperatives and agricultural organisations in emerging and developing economies.
What do you offer?
You are a strategic leader with a passion for international development and organisational excellence. You combine strong analytical skills with the ability to inspire people, build partnerships, and navigate complexity. You thrive in an international environment and are motivated by creating sustainable impact for farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs worldwide. Furthermore, you bring:
- Academic working and thinking level. A completed university master's degree in relevant field.
- 5 years of experience in similar position in the context of international development programming. Experience in strategic planning and implementation, quality narrative and financial reporting, programme/project management, thorough knowledge of project cycles, budgeting and financial management. Extensive work experience in developing countries. Experience with management of staff in multi-locations. Demonstrated ability to work in and lead a diverse multi-skilled team.
- Experience in and affinity with the agricultural sector and the agricultural business community. Introduced into relevant networks such as cooperatives, agricultural organisations, chain parties, business, government, international organisations.
- Fluent in Dutch and English (speaking and writing), French is an asset.
- The position is based in the Netherlands, but frequent international travel will be required in this role.
- Competencies: Strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, people development, performance management, excellent communication skills, and sound decision-making.
What do we offer
At Agriterra, you will have the opportunity to shape programmes that strengthen farmer organisations, improve livelihoods, and contribute to sustainable agricultural development across the globe. You will join a purpose-driven organisation where innovation,collaboration, and impact are at the heart of everything we do. The salary will be based on experience and ranges between EUR 6.000 and 9.000 gross/month.
If you are ready to lead transformational change and help build resilient agricultural organisations worldwide, we would love to hear from you.
Interested?
Send an email with your CV and cover letter to vacancy@agriterra.org to the attention of Jasper Spikker, CEO, with the job title ‘CPO’ in the subject of the mail. If you require further information, do not hesitate to contact us via the same e-mail address.
An assessment is part of the selection process. Local Applicants Only.