Background

The Hailemariam & Roman Foundation (HRF) is a non-profit international NGO established by the Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn & the Former First Lady of Ethiopia, H.E. Mrs. Roman Tesfaye. It strives to support the efforts of government, communities and partners in bringing socioeconomic transformation in Ethiopia and the broader continental Africa.

With its programmatic focus areas- maternal & child health and nutrition, climate smart conservation and ecotourism, agricultural transformation, and economic empowerment of women and youth, synergizing each other, the foundation envisions seeing “A healthy and economically empowered community in a well-conserved environment.” Geographically, its support focuses on areas with the highest disparities where the foundation could add value.

Roles and responsibilities of the Chief of Programs for Agricultural Transformation/transforming agricultural production and value chain

The Chief of Programs for Agricultural Transformation/transforming agricultural production and value chain/ will report to the Deputy CEO of the foundation and shall have the following roles and responsibilities: 

 Lead the Agricultural Transformation program at the Hailemariam & Roman foundation, to this end:

• Develop and coordinate execution of the agricultural transformation program of the Hailemariam & Roman foundation 

• Identify and pursue partnership with grant giving partners in the agriculture program area that support transforming production and value chain.

• Prepare quality grant proposals related to Agricultural Transformation program for grants making from multiple donors

• Routinely provide insight in the form of briefings, memos and speeches on topics related to agricultural transformation in Ethiopia and Continental Africa

• Closely work with the Lead of Advocacy to produce agriculture related messaging and insights to support the advocacy work of the founders

• Effectively work with finance and operations staff in charge of managing grant funds related Agriculture Transformation program interventions

Manage a newly obtained project grant to support the pastoral and agro-pastoral (PAP) production and value chain transformation of the low-lands of Southern and Southwestern Ethiopia, from the on-set up-to the project’s completion, to this end:

• Establish a technical working group, with members coming from in-house and from partnering organizations to provide technical support in the design and implementation of   the project.

• Liaise with developmental partners in coordination with other team members of the Hailemariam & Roman foundation to engage and align with the funding partner providing a technical perspective, bringing work-experience of transformative PAP production and value chain development in low-land intervention areas in Ethiopia

• Lead project implementation in collaboration with local-level leadership in project areas

• Guide and support the Agriculture Transformation program officer and field officers’ during the implementation of the project, with their respective responsibilities

• Lead the collection and analysis of base-line data to understand the situation on the ground in project areas

• Organize workshops and conferences in project areas, including high-level advocacy events where high-level officials as well as community leaders will participate

• Manage capability building activities, such as trainings to local level officials, community leaders and service providers in project areas

• Liaise  with crop-livestock – agribusiness value chain actors including micro finance institutions

• Dully supervise project implementation with supervisory visits, frequent calls, emails and letters to local implementing stakeholders

• Regularly provide the Hailemariam & Roman Foundation’s internal MEAL team with reports, data and progress updates and involve in regular monitoring to ensure appropriate handling of the project

• Collaborate with the Hailemariam & Roman Foundation’s finance team in collecting records and justifications of expenses, as well as ensuring timely utilization and staying within the project’s budget

• Undertake other agricultural transformation related activities of the foundation as deemed necessary.

Salary and benefits: Salary based on the Foundation’s scale with pension benefits and income taxes according to the applicable Ethiopian laws.

Duration of contract: for a period of one year with the possibility of extension.

Vacancy number:  HRF- HO-007/2023

Job Requirements

Educational

•  An advanced degree (Masters or Ph.D.) in Agriculture Sciences, Livestock Sciences, food security, and related fields

Work Experience

•  At least 10 years’ demonstrated relevant work experience in development programs, including 6 years’ experience in managing large donor-funded projects

• Experience in supervisory role - leading, designing, and implementing Climate-Smart Agriculture Transformation initiatives mainstreaming gender and youth

• Proven experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple donors and writing high-quality reports.

Competencies

• Excellent English verbal, written and presentation skills;

• Detail-oriented and deadline-driven with strong organizational skills, and ability to work in a dynamic and agile environment with changing requirements and priorities;

• Strong cross-cultural, interpersonal, management, diplomacy, and collaboration skills in highly complex structures involving multiple teams and stakeholders;

• Ability to meet deadlines under extreme pressure, build consensus, engage a variety of stakeholders, and work with diverse groups of people;

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

• Experience in design and application of statistical software for large scale program or research data will be an added advantage.

How to Apply

send your CV and cover letter to the email address: b.hailemariam@haileromanfoundation.org or deliver a hard-copy of your CV and cover letter in person at Hailemariam & Roman Foundation head-office located next to American Embassy on Algeria Street.  The deadline to apply is December 15th, 2023.