COP/Program Manager, African Alliance for Improved Food Processing, Ethiopia

Reports to:  Country Director-TechnoServe, Ethiopia

Location:  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 

I. TechnoServe Background:

TechnoServe is an international, non-profit economic development organization founded in 1968 out of a conviction that a vibrant private sector is an essential foundation for economic growth and poverty reduction.  TechnoServe undertakes targeted, catalytic technical assistance and other programming to increase the competitiveness of entrepreneurs, businesses and industries that in-turn provide sustainable employment, inclusion of the poor and increased incomes.  TechnoServe operates in 25 developing countries with over 1000 employees.  A substantial portion of our work is in agriculture, enhancing farm productivity and commodity quality and addressing gaps in processing and other agribusiness capacities.  Our programs increase smallholder access to new technologies, aggregation and storage mechanisms, markets, critical information and finance.  TechnoServe also undertakes structured programs to identify and support high potential entrepreneurs in various sectors through leadership mentoring networks, formalization support, access to capital and development of sustainable business services such as accounting, finance, marketing and human resource management.

II. Program Description:

TechnoServe seeks a Program Manager (PM) for a potential USAID-funded alliance for improved wheat processing in Ethiopia. This program will be implemented in partnership with Partners in Food Solutions (PFS), a collection of some of the world’s leading food companies lending their expertise to support technology transfer to African food processors. The overall goal of the program is to increase the availability of nutritious wheat based products to the Ethiopian population. The objective is to improve the capacity of wheat processors to improve quality, nutrition and availability of wheat based products; with a primary emphasis on supporting the Government of Ethiopia’s push towards eventual mandating of fortified flours. TechnoServe and PFS will replicate a delivery model they are already implementing in other African countries.
This position is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with extensive internal travel and occasional regional travel. The PM will liaise closely with the broader regional team within the TechnoServe/PFS alliance and will also work closely with the local USAID mission and other key stakeholders in the wheat value chain.

III. Position Discription:

Principal Duties and Responsibilities
• Establish and maintain program management and implementation systems, including a work plan with clearly defined milestones and performance monitoring plans
• Provide guidance and oversight to field teams across the country, including food technology specialists, business advisors, M&E team, stakeholder liaison, finance and admin staff
• Ensure program is implemented with sound managerial, technical, financial, human resources, and overall programmatic practices;
• Ensure robust M&E plan is implemented
• Lead communications with partners on all aspects of program delivery
• Liaise with USAID, PEPFAR and other key stakeholders to ensure alignment and to represent the program’s interests
• Liaise with regional program manager and participate in regional knowledge sharing activities
• Manage a regional budget and monitor country budgets to ensure spending rates are on target;
• Produce narrative and financial reports for internal and external consumption;
• Ensure that all processes and activities adhere to corporate policy, legal and contractual obligations, and corporate and donor standards;
• Ensure that program targets are achieved;

IV. Required Skills & Experience:

• Advanced degree in Agricultural Economics, Business Administration or other relevant field
• At least 5 years relevant project management experience (e.g., international SME development programs, USAID project management, private sector agro-processing)
• Experience living and working in sub-Saharan Africa (Ethiopia experience preferred)
• Strong market orientation, entrepreneurial and innovative thinker
• Experience leading and managing high caliber multicultural teams, preferably some experience with managing remotely (e.g. field-based teams)
• Previous successful experience mentoring and building capacity of  staff
• Results-oriented, with demonstrated experience in achieving project targets
• Experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary, and challenging field operations in developing countries, Africa preferred
• Demonstrated skills in problem solving, consensus building, and coordination of diverse stakeholders
• Knowledge of USAID regulations and procedure strongly preferred
• Verbal and written fluency in English; Amharic an additional advantage
• Demonstrated capacity to produce high quality reports and proposals

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TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women are encouraged to apply.