ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY

Position:   Project Manager - Institutional Support for Seed Systems in Ethiopia (ISSSE)

Term of Employment:   One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station(s):              Addis Ababa

Required Number:         One

Salary & Benefits:          Competitive

Application Deadline:   December 04, 2024

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Project Manager’s primarily responsibility is to effectively deliver the Institutional Support for Seed Systems in Ethiopia (ISSSE) Project. The Project Manager will also be responsible to coordinate the overall project activities and provide support to input director on problem solving, implementation and stakeholder coordination, and develop capabilities within project Teams and colleagues under the input Director’s oversight. This position will report directly to the input Director at the Head office. The Project Manager will embed a culture of rigorous analytics, problem solving, and program and project management within Program Teams.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

•  Lead the ISSSE projects: Provide oversight to projects identified across the seed system and its regulatory environment, from concept stage to execution. Train and up-skill Analyst(s) and/or other team members to lead work-streams. Besides, the followings are expected to be implemented.

• Analyse, validate, prioritize, planning and implementation of

•  National Agriculture Research (NARS) Effectiveness for sustainable supply of EGS.

• Policy, Legal and Regulatory Environment.

•  National Quality Assurance mechanism

• Develop and maintain overall work plan for the project and corresponding budget on an annual and quarterly basis; monitor project and update/adjust accordingly.

• Support and monitor in establishing an autonomous and semi-commercial seed units within research institutes for EGS production and supply.

• Support and strengthen seed technology research in the NARIs strengthened.

• Assist to ensure operation of an effective and impartial release and protection system (Plant Variety Release, Protection and Seed Quality Assurance).

• Contribute for Seed Quality Assurance through capacity building (both hardware and software).

•  Support the partners in accelerating enactment of the New Seed Proclamation and develop implementing regulations National Policy, Legal, and Regulatory Framework through physical and soft skill capacity building.

• Manage and follow up sub-grants and contractual obligations of sub-grantees, both physical and technical progress.

• Prepare action plan, implement, and project performance reports periodically as per needed.

• Facilitate and organize different workshops (e.g., training, consultative meeting, review meeting, desk review meeting and etc) by engaging different key stakeholders such as expertise, higher officials etc.

• Coordinate and manage to regularly update the required data as per KPI indicators in IPM.

• Strongly work with partners and other key stakeholders toward the achievement of the project’s outcomes and internally collaborate with ACC’s projects.

• Assist and work closely with the CC and directors to understand the vision and needs of programs and ensuring the vertical outputs/outcomes.

• Engage, motivate, coach, monitor project’s staff members and critically evaluate, staff members of the team.

• Approves request and plan of direct report.

• Perform administrative tasks as required.

•  Conduct performance evaluation of physical and staff members.

• Review/approve leaves, ISSSE team’s plan, performance goals/targets, budgets, reports, procurement, travel.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

•  A minimum of master’s degree having at least in, Agricultural economics /Agribusiness and value chain development, Seed science, Agronomy, or related fields.

• At least 10 years’ experience on seeds system program such as quality seed production and supply, seed quality assurance mechanisms, seed quality standards

• Very good knowledge/skill on the existing seed policy/proclamation/laws/directives, phytosanitary system, and seed standards

• Experience of the agricultural research sector is preferable.

• Strong capabilities in problem solving, project and stakeholder mapping, analysis, and management.

• Strong experience of managing work programs, donor supported projects, teams as well as liaising with senior decision-makers.

• Exceptional ability to communicate consistently, clearly, and effectively with a range of stakeholders in a cross-cultural environment.

•  A proven ability to lead, inspire, coach, and develop others, including people from different backgrounds and culture.

• Experience in developing grant proposals and very good skill in quality report writing as per donor standard.

• Excellent proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint tools.

•  Fluency in English and Amharic, written and spoken, is essential.

How to Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

• We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) CV (maximum 3 pages), at THIS LINK and include “Application for Institutional Support for Seed Systems in Ethiopia (ISSSE) Project Manager” in the subject line.

• Also, please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application form.

• Women are highly encouraged to apply.

• NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.