Consultant – Client Engagement, Support and Adoption

Consultant – Client Engagement, Support and Adoption

Company Overview

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Our solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. Through novel partnerships, The Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes, ensuring they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis. We are proud to be part of CGIAR, a global research partnership dedicated to a food-secure future.

Position

We are seeking a dedicated National Consultant to serve as our Client Engagement, Support, and Adoption Coordinator. In this pivotal role, you will be the central point of contact between our clients – the users of our cutting-edge AI-powered tools, Ona and Sikia – and the expert Tatu team. Your leadership will ensure seamless coordination of field campaigns and pilots, robust client support, and effective technology adoption in diverse field conditions. You will be instrumental in establishing robust systems, workflows, and quality standards that drive the widespread impact of our innovations.

Employment Type

• Full-time Consultancy
• Duration: 8 months, with potential for extension based on performance and project needs
• National Consultant (locally recruited position)

Location

• Arusha, Tanzania

Salary & Benefits

• Competitive Consultancy Fee: A total value of USD 16,000 for the 8-month engagement, paid in scheduled installments linked to key deliverables.
• Impactful Work: Contribute directly to global food security and sustainable agricultural transformation through AI innovation.
• Professional Growth: Opportunity to expand your expertise in client engagement, project coordination, and technology adoption within a dynamic, multidisciplinary international research environment.
• Networking: Build relationships with key stakeholders, research institutions, and partners across the Global South.

Compensation

The total consultancy fee of USD 16,000 will be disbursed upon successful completion and acceptance of key deliverables:

• Deliverable 1: Inception Report and Workplan (Month 1): Defines consultancy approach, engagement plan, and 8-month workplan.
• Payment: USD 4,000 (25%)
• Deliverable 2: Implementation Report (Month 3): Evidence of client engagement and support, including workflows, tools, and early lessons learned.
• Deliverable 3: Performance and Costing Report (Month 5): Reports engagement performance, trends, refined tools, and a comprehensive cost framework.
• Deliverable 4: Final Report (Month 8): Comprehensive overview of results, client feedback, insights, and strategic recommendations, including finalized tools and systems.

Accommodation & Facilities

• Accommodation and daily living expenses are not explicitly provided as part of this consultancy fee. Consultants are responsible for their own housing and related costs.

Job Description

Artificial Intelligence presents unprecedented opportunities for high-quality data collection globally, yet its benefits have often bypassed the Global South due to cost, complexity, or lack of local adaptation. Tatu, formerly the Artemis project, bridges this gap by leveraging AI solutions specifically tailored for these contexts. Representing the convergence of people, AI, and plants, Tatu is a critical bridge between research, innovation, and impact. Our multidisciplinary team of 30+ experts focuses on enhancing crop breeding to develop varieties better adapted to climate change, diseases, and consumer demands.

As the Consultant for Client Engagement, Support, and Adoption, you will drive the successful implementation and scaling of our flagship products, Ona and Sikia. Ona is a smartphone-based computer vision phenotyping tool, developed with Gates Foundation support, which works with the Bruno field tool to image entire breeding plots in under 30 seconds, providing same-day, high-precision data. Sikia, based on NLP research, utilizes Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and Vision-Language Models (VLMs) to capture conversational and visual farm data, outputting insights on farmer preferences and crop performance, with expansion into African languages and offline deployment underway. You will manage client relationships, coordinate pilots across East Africa and beyond, develop robust support systems, and lead adoption strategies to ensure these technologies deliver their full potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage client engagement strategies across all Tatu campaigns and pilots, ensuring consistent and high-quality interactions.
• Refine, apply, and iterate on the Ona Client Engagement Checklist to standardize client interaction processes.
• Provide timely and insightful weekly status updates on all client engagements and project progress.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, fostering strong relationships and facilitating effective communication.
• Coordinate seamlessly with internal Tatu teams to resolve client issues and technical challenges efficiently.
• Collaborate closely with breeding teams to ensure the smooth integration of Tatu’s technologies into existing workflows.
• Systematically document client feedback, challenges, and lessons learned to inform product development and service improvements.
• Monitor and actively support the successful execution of Sikia pilots, gathering crucial data and insights.
• Establish and optimize internal customer support workflows, covering intake, triage, escalation, tracking, follow-up, and closure processes.
• Develop comprehensive frameworks, templates, and service standards to ensure consistent and high-quality customer service delivery.
• Track and analyze support performance metrics across all client engagements, identifying trends and areas for improvement.
• Proactively identify gaps in current service delivery and propose innovative solutions and improvements.
• Represent Tatu effectively with external stakeholders and partners, enhancing our visibility and collaborative network.
• Support market validation and scoping activities to identify new opportunities and assess market needs for Tatu products.
• Conduct targeted outreach initiatives and meticulously document expressions of interest from potential clients and partners.
• Assess distinct client segments and potential use cases for Ona and Sikia, informing tailored engagement strategies.
• Conduct thorough cost assessments for client engagement, customer service operations, and system maintenance.
• Develop a comprehensive cost framework, including staff time, travel, hardware/software, and communication expenses.
• Provide expert budgeting and service model recommendations to ensure sustainable and scalable operations.

Required Skills & Experience

• Education: Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences, Business Development, Education/Adult Learning, or a closely related technical field.
• Client & Stakeholder Coordination: Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience in stakeholder coordination, client monitoring, and successful technology adoption, preferably within agricultural research or development contexts.
• Customer Support & Capacity Development: Minimum of 3 years of experience in customer support, service delivery, capacity development, or adult learning.

Frontend Knowledge

• Not directly required for this client engagement and support role.

Additional Technical Skills

• Exceptional Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Interpersonal Acumen: Excellent interpersonal skills to build rapport, manage expectations, and foster collaborative relationships with clients and internal teams.
• Coordination Proficiency: Proven proficiency in utilizing coordination tools such as checklists, trackers, and shared drives for efficient project and client management.
• Organized Problem-Solving: Highly organized with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, capable of navigating complex challenges in field conditions.
• Performance Tracking & Framework Development: Demonstrated ability to track performance metrics and develop robust service frameworks to enhance operational efficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in field coordination or implementing digital tools within agricultural settings.
• Familiarity with digital agriculture tools, AI/ML applications, or data-driven decision-making processes in agricultural contexts.
• Experience working with international development organizations or research institutions in the Global South.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking an individual who thrives as a central nexus, driving impactful technological adoption and fostering robust client relationships. You possess a dedicated, proactive mindset and a deep commitment to ensuring our cutting-edge AI solutions are effectively utilized in challenging field conditions. You are a natural at establishing clear systems, structured workflows, and high-quality standards that scale. Your ability to integrate diverse teams, document insights meticulously, and champion user feedback will be critical. If you are passionate about leveraging technology for global impact, demonstrating strong ownership over client success, and contributing to engineering excellence through process and user experience, you are an ideal candidate for this role.

Work Environment

You will be based in Arusha, Tanzania, operating within a dynamic and collaborative international research environment. Your role will involve managing 10-20 client engagements across East Africa and potentially beyond, connecting you to diverse agricultural contexts and communities. You will be an integral part of the Tatu team, a multidisciplinary group of 30+ experts spanning product development, Machine Learning, field operations, user design, and scaling. This environment fosters innovation, teamwork, and a shared mission to transform food systems.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to identify individuals who are passionate about our mission and possess the skills to excel in this role. After an initial review of all applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further evaluation. The process typically involves interviews to assess your experience, technical competencies, and alignment with our values.

How to Apply

To apply for this transformative consultancy, please follow these instructions carefully:

• Visit our careers page: The Alliance Jobs • Use the specific reference number for your application: Ref: RFC: CONSULTANT – CLIENT ENGAGEMENT, SUPPORT AND ADOPTION
• Prepare your CV and application letter as a single document, named in the format: Last name, First name.
• Submit your application directly through our portal: Apply Here

• Important Notes:
• The Alliance does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process.
• We will not request any bank information.
• Email applications will not be accepted.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• Application Deadline: 15th May 2026

Bonus Skills (Nice to Have)

• Fluency in additional East African languages, particularly Swahili.
• Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software or advanced client management platforms.
• Background in agricultural research methodologies or data collection techniques.
• Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple client engagements simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

Join Us

Step into a role where your expertise directly contributes to a global mission of sustainable transformation. At The Alliance, we leverage cutting-edge AI and multidisciplinary collaboration to create solutions that transcend traditional boundaries. If you are driven by innovation, committed to empowering communities in the Global South, and ready to make a tangible impact on food security and environmental resilience, we invite you to join our Tatu team. This is more than a consultancy; it's an opportunity to shape the future of agriculture with human-centered technology.