Waste to Value (Circular Economy) Manager

TechnoServe is seeking a Waste to Value (Circular Economy) Manager based in Lagos, Nigeria, responsible for leading circular economy initiatives that transform food processing waste into valuable products. The role involves establishing waste-to-value hubs, negotiating supply agreements, and promoting sustainable practices, with a focus on empowering young entrepreneurs, particularly women and persons with disabilities. Regular travel to project implementation states is required.
Job Title: Waste to Value (Circular Economy) Manager


Reports to: Program Director
Location: This position is based in Nigeria with regular travel to the ten project implementation states (specific base location TBD)


About TechnoServe
Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe's work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.


The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development.


But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they can access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.


Job Summary The Waste-to-Value (Circular Economy) Manager will lead the implementation of circular economy initiatives, focusing on transforming food processing waste into valuable products to create economic opportunities for young entrepreneurs, with particular attention to women and persons with disabilities (PWD). This role includes establishing waste-to-value hubs, negotiating supply agreements, promoting regenerative practices, and ensuring sustainability models align with climate-smart approaches.


The manager will collaborate with processors, communities, and partners to minimize food loss, maximize value addition, and foster inclusive business models in targeted value chains such as soybean, sesame, tomato, and ginger. This position requires deep expertise in circular economy principles, strong negotiation skills, and a demonstrated commitment to gender equity and disability inclusion. The ideal candidate will have proven experience establishing supply agreements, implementing waste valorization projects, and working with marginalized communities.


Primary Functions & Responsibilities


1. W2V Strategy Design & Partnership Development

Strategic Rollout: Lead the design and implementation of gender-inclusive W2V strategies, prioritizing waste streams (e.g., black soldier fly production, composting, bio-fertilizers) with the highest market potential.
Partner Attraction: Proactively identify and attract private sector partners, investors, and technology providers to the W2V ecosystem.
Inclusion: Ensure the meaningful participation and leadership of youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) across all waste-to-value and circular economy initiatives.

2. Supply Agreement Negotiation

Formalization: Negotiate and secure formal waste supply agreements with cooperative, medium, and large-scale processors to move from informal collection to structured supply chains.
Incentive Structures: Create and pitch incentive structures that encourage processors to formalize waste supply relationships with project-supported entrepreneurs.

3. Inclusive Enterprise Support

Barrier Reduction: Develop and pilot innovative approaches to reduce entry barriers for women and PWDs, focusing on pooled resources and local aggregation to minimize travel and intermediary exploitation.
Financial Facilitation: Link W2V entrepreneurs with financial institutions, seed grants, and microcredit to support business formalization and growth.

4. Market Linkage & Offtake Development

Offtake Brokering: Identify and secure purchase orders with industrial buyers (e.g., feed manufacturers, seasoning companies) to demonstrate the commercial viability of waste-derived products.
Market Intelligence: Develop systems to help entrepreneurs understand industrial demand, pricing trends, and quality specifications.

5. Community Engagement & Safeguarding

Social License: Work with traditional/religious leaders and community groups to build support for women’s economic empowerment and address cultural restrictions.
Income Control: Ensure women maintain control over their earnings through direct mobile money payments and targeted safeg