🌾 DIRECTOR OF IRRIGATION OPERATIONS — GREENBELT AUTHORITY (GBA)

📍 Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
💼 Job Type: 3-Year Renewable Performance-Related Contract
About GBA
Greenbelt Authority (GBA) is a Statutory Corporation established under the Greenbelt Authority Act No. 23 of 2017 — the engine driving the nation's agricultural and economic transformation. Its core mandate is to unlock the country's land and water resources through large-scale commercial irrigation, moving beyond subsistence farming to create a resilient, food-secure, export-driven economy.

About the Role
This role provides overarching technical leadership and operational oversight for all irrigation infrastructure, scheme operations, agricultural production, land management, and commercial agro-processing. The Director is pivotal in transitioning GBA from a subvention-dependent entity to a fully self-sustaining, commercially viable authority.

🎓 Academic & Professional Requirements
👉 Bachelor's Degree in Irrigation Engineering, Civil Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Land Management, or a related field
👉 A Master's Degree in a related field
👉 Full registration with a recognized professional body strongly preferred

💼 Work Experience
👉 Minimum 8 years of post-qualification experience at senior management level, public or private sector
👉 Hands-on experience in agricultural irrigation, major hydraulic infrastructure development, or managing large-scale commercial irrigation projects — a distinct advantage

💡 Core Competencies & Knowledge Base
👉 Demonstrable ability to lead multidisciplinary teams (engineers, agronomists, land experts) toward unified strategic targets
👉 Strong commercial acumen with a proven track record shifting operations toward revenue-generating models
👉 Exceptional negotiation, stakeholder management, and Board-level reporting skills
👉 Technical proficiency with modern management systems (GIS, AutoCAD, project management software, ERPs)
👉 Uncompromising ethics, with zero tolerance for corruption or procedural non-compliance

⚡ Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:
👉 Develop, implement, and enforce operational policies and SOPs
👉 Partner with Planning and Investment divisions on business turnaround strategies toward full commercial autonomy
👉 Formulate multi-year technical master plans and annual budgets
Operational Division Oversight — lead 4 core divisions:
👉 Infrastructure Development — design, construction, and maintenance of hydraulic infrastructure (dams, pump stations, pipelines, networks)
👉 Land Administration — land acquisition, surveying, allocation, and titling per statutory frameworks
👉 Agricultural Production & Business Development — modern agronomic practices, yield optimization, high-efficiency farming
👉 Agro-Processing & Marketing — value-addition, post-harvest technology, market linkage strategies
Governance & Stakeholder Engagement:
👉 Ensure all activities comply with Board directives and government policy
👉 Serve as the primary technical authority representing GBA to Government, development partners, investors, and communities

🎁 Remuneration
An attractive salary and benefits package commensurate with the seniority of the role.

📩 How to Apply
Submit your application under confidential cover with a detailed CV, copies of academic certificates, contact details, and names of three (3) traceable referees, by post or hand-delivered to:
The Comptroller of Statutory Corporations
P.O. Box 30061, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Physical Address: Capital Hill, GOCH-7, Ground Floor
⏰ Deadline: September 4, 2026

GBA is an equal opportunity employer. Women and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged and invited for interviews.