Vacancy Announcement

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY

Position: Agri Inputs-Output Marketing Advisor

Term of Employment: Full time

Duty Station(s):  Addis Ababa

Required Number:   One

Salary & Benefits:  Competitive

Application Deadline:  September 03, 2021

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) is a strategy and delivery-oriented government agency created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATA envisions that, by 2025, smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability, contributing to Ethiopia’s achievement of middle-income country status.

The agency focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources (MoA), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate the development of high-priority commodity value chains in clearly defined geographic clusters, through the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) Initiative.

Our major activities include conducting strategic and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects, and designing and directly leading a number of implementation projects. Our headquarters are in Addis Ababa, and we have regional offices in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private and development sectors partners across the country.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great teamwork to achieve excellent results. 

At ATA, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training, and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Delivery Unit will focus on four areas:

1. Planning and execution effectiveness;
2. Tracking, reporting and escalation;
3. Problem solving and light analytical support;
4. Technical support.

Within the Delivery Unit, the Agri Inputs-Output Marketing Advisor for Market Development Program will report directly to State Minister, MoA, who is the Owner for the Systemic Intervention Sub-Deliverables on which the Agri Inputs-Output Marketing Advisor will be focusing.

The Advisor will bring the requisite technical skills and expertise, as well as implementation experience, to effectively support all four focus areas of the Delivery Unit described above. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Planning and execution effectiveness;

• Provide technical input and overall support to ensure effective annual planning, budgeting and target setting activities for all Sub-Deliverables

Tracking, reporting and escalation;

• Undertake regular follow-up and monitoring of all activities of the Sub-Deliverables, engaging with relevant Activity and Task Owners to ensure activities are on track and reporting through internal tracking system and other tools is timely and accurate.
• Support data collection for timely and accurate reporting.
• Produce and submit quality reports timely as scheduled or on-demand when necessary.
• Identify and escalate challenges around implementation and reporting, as well as solutions options and recommendations, to Sub-Deliverable Implementing Coordinator and/or Owner, as appropriate.

Problem solving and light analytical support;

• Identify critical technical issues directly related to Sub-Deliverable design and/or implementation
• Analyze and develop solution options and recommendations for these critical issues, and engage with relevant staff within the Ministry and external partners to align on adjustments required
• Proactively engage other DU staff and/or external partners for heavier or more analytical problem-solving support where needed.

Technical support;

• Contribute to ToRs, concept notes, studies, workshops, and training materials, directly related to Sub-Deliverable and areas of technical expertise.
• Provide other technical advisory and input needed for effective Sub-Deliverable implementation.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum MSc. (Ph.D. degree preferred) in Cooperatives Business Management, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Economics, Economics, Agribusiness, or related areas.
• Minimum of 10 years experience in a senior role in government, non-government, international, or private sector organizations.
• Specific experience in planning, prioritizing, sequencing, managing, problem-solving and reporting on the implementation of both programmatic and operational activities.
• Deep understanding of Ethiopia’s agricultural sector, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and non-government organizations operate in the system
• Self-starter with strong motivation, ownership and commitment to drive transformation
• Deep understanding of Ethiopia`s Cooperatives and International Cooperatives Context as well
• Highly results-oriented and delivery focused, with the ability to strengthen the accountability of others
• Exhibits an innovative and high-performance mindset and culture and can perform at a high level under pressure and in challenging environments
• Promotes data-driven and evidence-based problem-solving, and timely, effective decision-making
• Demonstrates leadership, vision, and ability to motivate and inspire others
• Can act as a champion for change and can effectively support change management efforts
• Strong team player with excellent relationship building and management skills, ability to promote dialogue and communicate clearly and confidently, and a network of professional contacts
• Proactively seeks and acts on feedback to drive own development and contributes to others’ development through active coaching and sharing knowledge and best practices
• A strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service.
• Fluency in English and Amharic

How to Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) CV (maximum 5 pages) at the website

Note: Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application. Women are highly encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.