Ethiopia Senior Tree Expansion Research Officer (Fixed-Term)

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips 5.5 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa's farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase their income and assets on supported land by more than 35 percent, while permanently improving their resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 9,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.

In Ethiopia, we engage farmers in agroforestry and community-based seed multiplication to increase farmers’ incomes and make farming systems more resilient. Engaging with local actors at every step but bringing innovative ideas from outside, we are making rural farming more market-friendly and environmentally sustainable.

The farmers we work with in Ethiopia have planted more than 30 million trees, produced over 1500 metric tonnes of improved teff seed, and improved the futures of nearly 200,000 community members. Our permanent team numbers over 180 with nearly 1,000 rural seasonal staff supporting them. Our country headquarters are in Addis Ababa and we have a large program office in Bahir Dar, plus several smaller field offices.

About the Role

The Senior Tree Expansion Research Officer supports the Ethiopia Trees Program's expansion through desk research, primary data gathering, field verification scoutings, and evidence generation to identify and assess potential expansion opportunities across Ethiopia.

The role synthesizes geographic, agricultural, environmental, market, and stakeholder information to support strategic expansion decisions and operational readiness. The officer will participate in field scouting visits with the expansion team to validate desk research findings and gather additional insights.

Responsibilities

Data Collection & Research

Conduct desk research to identify and assess potential program expansion areas across regions, zones, and woredas.

Collect, analyze, and synthesize agricultural, environmental, demographic, socioeconomic, market, and government data to support expansion planning.

Review secondary data from government institutions, research organizations, development partners, and other credible sources to generate evidence-based insights.

Monitor demographic, agricultural, environmental, market, and policy trends to identify opportunities and potential risks for program expansion.

Develop and maintain databases, trackers, and research documentation to support expansion planning and operational readiness.

Verify, clean, and analyze research and field data to ensure quality, accuracy, consistency, and usability.

Support the development and continuous improvement of expansion assessment tools, scoring frameworks, research methodologies, and analytical processes.

Field & Stakeholder Verification of Data

Participate in field scouting and assessment visits to validate desk research findings and collect additional information.

Engage with government offices, development partners, local stakeholders, and other relevant actors to verify data, assumptions, and findings.

Assess key expansion criteria, including agroforestry suitability, water availability, land suitability, market potential, operational feasibility, scalability, accessibility, and implementation risks.

Identify data gaps and discrepancies and coordinate with relevant stakeholders to obtain and validate additional information.

Integrate field observations and stakeholder feedback with secondary data to strengthen expansion assessments and recommendations.

Reporting & Collaboration

Prepare clear and evidence-based assessment reports, analytical summaries, and recommendations to support expansion decisions.

Present research findings and recommendations to relevant teams and stakeholders and contribute to expansion planning discussions.

Collaborate with the expansion team and relevant technical and operational teams to translate research findings into actionable expansion plans.

Maintain clear documentation of research findings, field validation results, assumptions, and recommendations to support decision-making and future reference

Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

Support engagement with government institutions, community representatives, development partners, and other relevant stakeholders during expansion assessments and field scouting activities.

Coordinate information gathering, stakeholder consultations, and validation activities to support expansion planning and decision-making.

Identify collaboration opportunities that strengthen expansion planning, field implementation, and operational readiness.

Prepare high-quality assessment reports, presentations, briefing materials, and regular progress updates for internal and external stakeholders.

Document research findings, field observations, lessons learned, stakeholder feedback, and key decisions to support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate research findings and stakeholder insights into actionable recommendations and expansion plans.

Track assigned activities and maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation related to expansion research, assessments, and planning.

Perform other research and operational support tasks as assigned to advance the Tree Program’s expansion objectives.

Support the recruitment of field staff

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for . For this role specifically, you will have:

Education

Bachelor's degree required.

Candidates with academic backgrounds in Forestry, Agroforestry, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Geography, Rural Development, Watershed Management, or related fields are preferred.

Experience

2 years or more of relevant professional experience in forestry, agroforestry, agriculture, natural resource management, landscape restoration, rural development, field innovation, government relations, or related fields.

Experience conducting research, data collection, expansion assessments, market assessments, or strategic planning.

Experience working with government institutions, development partners, or community stakeholders.

Experience supporting field assessments or validation exercises is an advantage.

Willingness to travel to rural and remote locations for field scouting and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.

Excellent data gathering, analysis, and report writing skills.

Ability to synthesize complex information into practical recommendations for decision-making.

Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.

Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Ability to useMicrosoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Experience using digital data collection tools is an advantage.

Languages

Can communicate in English.

Fluency in Amharic.

Proficiency in Afaan Oromo is preferred

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Benefits

Health insurance, paid time off

Contract Duration

1