Position:                          Senior Technical Expert I – Project Management Specialist

Term of Employment:   One year with a possibility of extension

Duty Station(s):              Addis Ababa

Required Number:         One

Application Deadline:    September 25, 2023

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) is a strategy and delivery-oriented government Institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATI envisions to be the leading centre of innovative solutions for the transformation of Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030.

The Institute focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture (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, Sidama, South-West, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private, and development sector 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 ATI, 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 project management specialist is responsible to standardize Project Management practices in the Institute with a guidance from the PMER director. The specialist will support the project staffs/teams and build their execution capacity to ensure that all the projects under the Agricultural Commercialization Cluster (ACC) initiative and other ATA-led projects implemented in the Institute are delivered on time, on budget and achieve the targeted results.   

The incumbent will work very closely with the PMER staffs, project teams and concerned Government Ministries/Bureau/offices to ensure utilization of standard project management processes and techniques thereby increasing the execution and delivery capacity of the project teams.  

This position will report directly to the PMER Director. The specialist sits within the Chief Operations Office (COO) Vertical and Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) department, which strives to standardize project/program/portfolio management practices in the Institute and elevate project management skill of ATI project teams that drive the impact and effectiveness of the ATI’s and partners’ work with smallholder farmers.

 ACCOUNTABILITY:

The project management specialist is accountable for the institutionalization of the project management principles and disciplines in the Institute. Besides, he/she will also be accountable/contribute for the following areas:

• Project’s integration management principles practices at the regional level

• Enhancement of staff’s capacity building related to project management.

• Design and implementation of project management systems, processes, and tools

• Monitor compliance with ATI’s project management standards

• Organize concept initiation, projects kick-off, evaluation, and closure.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Responsibilities of the specialist include, but are not limited to:                               

Standardize Project Management practices in the Institute

• In close collaboration with the PMER director, coordinate the Project Management functions.

• Support the design and implementation of project management systems, processes, and tools

• Monitor compliance with project management standards, policies, procedures, and templates set by the Institute.

• Provide feedback on the improvement of processes and tools by arranging sessions

Support the Institute staffs and build their execution capacity

• Undertake regular capacity need assessment with respect to Project Management Skills and implement tailored capacity enhancement interventions.

• Facilitate the development of problem-solving skills the projects team.

• Develop an approach to enhance the capacity of ATI strategic partners in best project management practices and techniques.

• Regularly seek feedback from ATI and partner project teams for improvements to Project Management tools, training, and support.

• Facilitate concept initiation, project kickoff, case studies/assessments, project closure/transition, evaluation and project status update meeting 

Ensure Projects Integration at the Head office and regional level

• Organizing and identifying priority projects that are aligned with the Institute strategic plan/objectives.

• Facilitate the sharing of resources, methodologies, tools, and techniques.

• Link projects with common or related activities and facilitate the transfer of learnings/experience among projects at different levels.

• Lead in generating, documenting, sharing and application of project/program learning from programs/ projects implemented by Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute

• Coordinating communication across programs and projects

• In place project data management systems, protocols, tools, and policies and follow their implementation.  

Others

• The specialist is responsible for additional assignments assigned by immediate supervisor/s to meet PMER functions.

Job Requirements

• MBA/MSC in project management, Agricultural Economics, economics, Business Administration, Development Studies, or other relevant disciplines with relevant professional training in Project Management. At least six years of work experience in a related background.  

• Proven track record of project management and project team experience working with, national government, regional organizations, private sectors, CSOs, NGOs, and other key stakeholders;

• Experience in guiding and supervising multi-disciplinary project teams;

• Experience in leading communication efforts of programme or entity with a special focus on the agricultural sector

• Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals

• Ability to capture, develop, share, and effectively use information and knowledge.

• Strong understanding of public and development sector issues and organizational culture, and ability to effectively liaise with senior and mid-level leadership in government organizations.

• Understanding of the Agricultural Sector and its various challenges and possibilities with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and non-government organizations operate.

• Self-starter with strong motivation, vision, ownership, and commitment to drive delivery.

• Exhibits an innovative and high-performance mindset and culture, and can perform at a high level under pressure, with high workload, and in challenging environments.

• Highly results-oriented and delivery-focused, with the ability to strengthen the accountability of others.

• Promotes data-driven and evidence-based problem-solving, and timely, effective decision-making.

• Can act as a champion for change and can effectively support change management efforts.

• Strong team player with excellent relationship-building skills, ability to promote dialogue and communicate clearly and confidently.

• Proactively seeks and acts on feedback to drive own development and contributes to others’ development through active coaching and sharing knowledge and best practices.

• Strong knowledge and skills in Microsoft Office Suite, and various program/project management and data and reporting systems.

• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty, and desire to be of service

• Fluency in English and national working language required.

How to Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

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

It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter.

Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.