Job Description

WHO WE ARE

At Trees for the Future (TREES), we believe farmers have the power to transform the world. For over 30 years, we have been a global leader in agroforestry training, partnering with farming families to build vibrant economies, sustainable food systems, and thriving ecosystems. Through our signature Forest Garden Approach—a proven nature-based solution—farmers restore their land, plant thousands of trees, and grow diverse crops, breaking cycles of climate change and generational poverty. By reclaiming their agency, farmers are creating new possibilities for their families, communities, and the environment. Active in Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda, TREES has planted over 350 million trees to date. Joining our passionate, collaborative team means empowering farmers to lead lasting change for people and the planet.

TREES embarked on its mission in Tanzania in 2015, strategically focusing on five pivotal regions across the mainland: Mwanza, Simiyu, Singida, Tabora, and Iringa. Throughout this journey, we have collaborated with farmers across 11 District Councils, empowering them with the resources and knowledge necessary for sustainable environmental and agricultural practices. Through these efforts, we significantly contribute to sustainable food security, environmental conservation, thriving ecosystems, and the reduction of poverty at the household level. By adopting the Forest Garden Approach, farmers are leading the charge for sustainable development and creating brighter futures for their communities.

Learn more at trees.org.

THE ROLE

The Central Nursery and Seedbank Manager will lead the strategic development, establishment, and management of Central Tree Nurseries (CTNs) and Seed Bank systems to ensure a consistent, reliable supply of high-quality, diverse, and climate-resilient seedlings for distribution to farmers. The role will focus on strengthening seed systems, improving nursery operations, and ensuring that production aligns with program targets, seasonal demands, and ecological suitability.

This position plays a critical role in defining and operationalising high-quality Forest Gardens by ensuring the availability of appropriate species, maintaining genetic diversity, and upholding rigorous quality standards across the seed-to-seedling value chain. The manager will work closely with program, technical, and field teams to integrate nursery and seedbank operations into broader program delivery, while also building the capacity of staff and farmers involved in seed collection, processing, storage, and nursery management.

In addition, the role will be responsible for establishing standard operating procedures, monitoring systems, and quality assurance mechanisms to ensure efficiency, traceability, and compliance with organisational and environmental standards. The manager will also contribute to innovation and continuous improvement in nursery and seed systems to enhance productivity, sustainability, and impact.

This position will report to the Senior Manager – Program Operations

Applicants must be legally authorised to work in Tanzania.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

• Oversee all daily operations of a central tree nursery, including seed sourcing, propagation, potting, irrigation, and hardening of seedlings.
• Ensure nursery and seed systems directly support quality outcomes (species mix, survival, productivity, farmer adoption).
• Work closely with program teams to align inputs (seedlings, seeds) with desired long-term impact.
• Lead annual planning and budgeting for CTN and seed bank activities.
• Translate technical strategies into clear, actionable plans for field teams.
• Coordinate closely with programs, MEL, and operations teams to ensure seamless implementation.
• Ensure timely procurement and logistics for nursery and seed operations.
• Establish and track KPIs for nursery performance and seed systems.
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure quality, consistency, and adherence to standards.
• Document lessons learned and supported adaptive management.
• Plan and track seedling production, ensuring the right species, right quantities, and right quality are available for field planting schedules.
• Manage nursery staff and seasonal laborers, providing training and ensuring adherence to safety protocols.
• Liaise with field teams and community partners to align nursery outputs with field planting demand.
• Contribute to defining and operationalizing quality standards for Forest Gardens in Tanzania.
• Ensure high standards for seedling health and survival rates, incorporating environmental best practices (e.g., composting, water efficiency).

RESPONSIBILITIES

Central Tree Nursery (CTN) Systems Strengthening

• Lead the establishment, improvement, and management of Central Tree Nurseries (CTNs) in alignment with TREES standards.
• Ensure production of high-quality seedlings (timely, diverse, and climate-resilient species) to meet program scale targets.
• Develop and enforce nursery quality standards, protocols, and performance benchmarks.
• Monitor key indicators such as germination rates, survival rates, species diversity, and distribution efficiency.
• Provide technical leadership and ongoing support to nursery teams and farmer managed nurseries.
• Collaborate closely with the central office technical forestry staff and consultant(s) on implementing improved CTN procedures.
• Identifying and solving CTN production and process issues

Seed Bank Development and Management

• Establish and operationalize a national seed bank system to support Forest Garden scaling.
• Adapt, improve and implement TREES protocols for seed sourcing, certification, processing, storage, and distribution.
• Ensure availability of diverse, locally adapted, and climate-resilient seeds aligned with farmer needs and ecological zones.
• Maintain seed traceability systems and inventory management tools.
• Supporting the maintenance and growth of the seed collector network
• Strengthen partnerships with government (e.g., TFS, TARI), research institutions, and private sector for sustainable seed supply.

Training, Capacity Building

• Design and deliver Training of Trainers (ToTs) for staff, lead farmers, and partners on nursery management, seed systems and quality standards practices and data collection
• Develop practical training materials aligned with field realities.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to ensure consistent application across sites.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with government agencies (e.g., forestry, agriculture), Research institutions and Private sector.
• Represent TREES Tanzania in technical forums related to restoration and seed systems.
• Regular reports on progress, challenges, and achievements for management and donors

Promote Learning & Adaptation:

• Facilitate organisational learning by documenting and sharing lessons learned and best practices.
• Organize review meetings and workshops to foster continuous improvement.
• Advocate for best practices and adaptive management.
• Assist in the dissemination of evaluation findings to relevant stakeholders.
• Organizing reflection and feedback meetings with project beneficiaries
• Work with communication department to design IEC materials and program dissemination pack.

Produce Reports and Reporting:

• Prepare high-quality, evidence-based reports (quarterly, annual).
• Develop success stories, case studies, and social media content from findings.
• Communicate results and insights to program teams, management, and donors.

WHO YOU ARE

• An enthusiastic advocate for TREES’ mission and values. You are passionate about improving livelihoods through agroforestry. You centre farmers in every decision, ensuring projects drive real impact for communities and the environment.
• You are a strong and capable technical trainer. You demonstrate strong leadership by designing and delivering comprehensive training programs for field staff on all communications and advocacy systems and applications, and ensuring their proficiency.
• You are a communication ninja. Your strong communication skills and relationship-building abilities make you an effective team member who looks for ways to relay information so it sticks and is easily understood.
• A detail-oriented executor with a systems mindset. You understand what details matter, and you get them right. You look for ways to make systems simple, efficient, and user-friendly. You can turn a vision into tactical next steps.
• An adept problem solver. You overcome obstacles in your work by identifying them, adapting to new information, and proactively devising solutions. You take action before being asked and hold yourself accountable when you set goals.
• A Mult-functional professional: As a versatile professional, you possess a unique blend of skills that allows you to craft engaging narratives, capture stunning high-resolution photographs, and efficiently coordinate and manage events from start to finish. This diverse skill set establishes you as a dependable partner in any project or collaboration.
• Very creative and think outside the box: Your creativity knows no bounds; you have a remarkable talent for transforming abstract concepts into tangible outcomes. Your innovative thinking and ability to approach challenges from unconventional angles enable you to bring ideas to life in captivating and impactful ways.
• Persuasive and able to work with different cultural settings: Skilled in persuasion and adaptively able to engage with diverse cultural environments, demonstrating a strong understanding of various social dynamics and communication styles unique to each culture. This ability not only enhances collaboration but also fosters meaningful connections across different backgrounds

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, Agroforestry, Environmental Science, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in agroforestry, nursery systems, or landscape restoration.
• Proven experience in establishing or managing nurseries and/or seed systems.
• Experience working with smallholder farmers and community-based programs in Tanzania.
• Strong understanding of the Tanzanian policy and institutional landscape (e.g., TFS, TARI, NCC).
• Have a high degree of integrity and accountability.
• Excellent communication skills, especially written communications and group facilitation skills.
• Experience in providing remote support or willingness to learn effective remote facilitation and support skills.
• Excellent report writing.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili.
• Ability to travel frequently and, troubleshoot in remote areas and converse with smallholder farmers.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND BENEFITS

TREES is an International Organisation that strives to be the best home for staff who want to make an impact on the lives of the farmers we serve. We believe that the diversity of our staff contributes to excellence. TREES values collaboration and teamwork that fosters increased engagement and innovation for professional growth.

We offer a multicultural, collegial work environment, along with a competitive salary, medical insurance, and paid time off, for our Country Staff.

APPLY

If this opportunity speaks to you, please apply with 1) a cover letter that explains why TREES’ work excites you and why this role is a fit for you, and your current monthly gross salary and 2) your resume by COB 22 May 2026 Ensure that both documents are shared as PDF or Word documents. We review applications on a rolling basis.

Trees for the Future is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, or other characteristics or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

We embrace and value diverse skill sets and backgrounds. We are a community of leaders who are proud to represent many different nationalities, races, ethnicities, socio-economic statuses, religions, genders, and other identities. Our diversity as a community is our strength, driving our ability to be empathetic, visionary, and effective leaders.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.