Food Processing, Safety, and Quality Specialist - Livestock

Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture (TA)

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Project Summary: 

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is a subcontractor on the RTI-led consortium implementing the USAID-funded Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture (TA) project. The purpose of the USAID/Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture activity is to increase access to healthy diets, particularly for women and children, by improving competitiveness, inclusiveness, and resilience of the Ethiopian food and agriculture system.  This program is the core component of a suite of food and agriculture activities funded by USAID. As such, TA must collaborate intensively with other USAID-funded projects working in the food and agriculture sector.

TA will build on previous USG-funded activities to sustainably improve access to healthy diets for all in the targeted communities using a food systems lens. Acknowledging that economic transformation tends to bring new malnutrition challenges, TA will support transformation of the food systems so that a healthy diet is increasingly easy to access. TA will also support the food and agriculture systems to become more sustainable, resilient, and responsive, increasing its long-term capacity to adapt to change, shocks, and stressors. Finally, TA will facilitate increased public-private partnership and collaboration to spur a more favorable policy environment for private sector investment, sustainable and resilient food systems, and innovation that serves the population’s economic and dietary needs.

Position Summary:

The Food Processing, Safety, and Quality Specialist - Livestock will report directly to the Senior Food Environment Manager, with regular consultation to other technical staff as needed. The Food Processing, Safety, and Quality Specialist - Livestock will assess needs and build capacity of the public and private sector for adoption and effective execution of food safety and quality protocols, along with business development support needs relevant to the agriculture and food processing sector.

The Food Processing, Safety, and Quality Specialist - Livestock will also be responsible for contributing to the planning and implementation of activities focused on improving the productivity and competitiveness of food system actors (livestock-based food). The scope of these activities will include a range of nutritious food commodities (such as eggs, milk, meat, fish) and income food commodities.

Primary Responsibilities:

Primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Private Sector Partnerships:

• Coordinate activities with food processors, to build capacity, promote awareness, an develop reform actions to optimize implementation of improved food safety and quality practices (e.g., HAACP, ISO, GAP, traceability systems) that can e extended through various implementation platforms

• Support activities that improve direct supply chain linkages with producers through mechanisms such as out grower contracts, quality-based payments, commodity-based production, cold chain logistics, traceability, aggregation, and product development

• Engage market actors with a focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to develop, adapt, and/or promote the adoption of GHP, GAP, and food safety and quality practices

• Support food system enterprises and staff to document, record, and implement quality control and quality assurance systems and achieve appropriate certifications

• Collaborate with the gender, youth, and social inclusion team to facilitate inclusion of women and youth in agribusinesses and food processing

• Manage relationships with assigned clients (e.g., food processors, associations, cooperatives, etc.) through regular communication and technical assistance

Public Sector Partnerships:

• Work with the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA), Ethiopian Conformity Assessment (ECA), and the Ethiopian Standards Authority (ESA) to achieve goals for national compliance with food safety assurance programs for animal- and plant-based food processors

• Work with industry leaders and key officials within the Government of Ethiopia (GOE) to increase efficacy in the rollout of labelling requirements, identification efforts, and other traceability initiatives contributing to food safety and quality assurances

• Work wit the GOE and food processing sector operators and industry associations to increase farmer, agribusiness, wholesaler, retailer, and consumer awareness of food safety and quality standards

• Support the increase of connectivity between Ethiopian government agencies and the global industry platforms, including the Global Food Safety Initiative Emerging Market Program

• Liaise with stakeholders, such as the government, private sector, and other donor-funded programs working directly or indirectly on food safety and quality

• Support the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team on food safety activities, real-time data collection and other duties as needed

• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as required (assigned by supervisor)

Job Requirements

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree in food processing, food science and post-harvest technology, food engineering, or food processing related fields

• A minimum of eight (8) years’ of professional experience including at least five (5) years of experience working with private agro-processing entities on food processing, food safety and quality, especially with animal-sourced food

• Solid understanding of Ethiopian and international food processing standards, regulations, and requirements

• Strong leadership, and interpersonal skills, including proven ability to work with a government agency, private enterprises in the food production and marketing sectors and influence change

• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with government personnel, stakeholders, NGO partners, and international donor agencies

• Strong communication, writing and oral presentation skills in English and Amharic

• Ability to work as a team member and prioritize tasks and work at times without direct supervision

• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office)

• Fluency or professional proficiency in English and Amharic, including strong writing and oral presentation skills

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• Work experience with the private and agri-food processing companies related to animal sourced foods

• Extensive working experience on a foreign donor-funded development program in Ethiopia

• Experience developing partnerships with the private sector, government, local and international private actors

• Experience working on food safety and quality issues

• Ability to extensively travel in rural Ethiopia.

Project Implementation Partners:

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multi-sectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders of the on- and off-farm workforce, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work is helping foster stronger food systems, reduce malnutrition in all its forms, build resilience and engage the next generation of food security leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya. 

Land O'Lakes Venture37 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping communities around the world build economies by strengthening agriculture from farm-to-fork, helping businesses grow, and linking farmers to markets. Since our start in 1981, we have been leveraging nearly 100 years of expertise in dairy, animal nutrition, crop inputs and agricultural insights from our close affiliate, Land O’Lakes, Inc., a farmer-owned agribusiness committed to fulfilling its purpose of feeding human progress.

Our team is made up of nearly 350 employees who are committed to market-led approaches, and passionate about collaborating locally to create lasting inclusive economic growth. By unlocking the potential of agriculture for the last 36 years, the lives of more than 3 million people have been transformed through nearly 300 programs in more than 80 countries.

How to Apply

Register using the following link CLICK HERE

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls will be accepted.

Land O'Lakes Venture37 will never ask you for personable identifiable information, and we will never request money or payment during the recruitment or employment process.

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is an equal opportunity employer and an organization striving to help global communities thrive through agriculture. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status, among other factors. Our culture values a diversity of voices. So, bring us your unique experiences, your workstyle, and your dreams — they’ll only make us stronger.