Position:                                    Communications Officer

Term of Employment:               Four Months

Duty Station(s):                        Hawassa Coordination Office

Required Number:                    One

Application Deadline:               September 8/2024

BACKGROUND

The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) was established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify systemic bottlenecks, conduct studies, and provide recommendations, provide implementation support, manage projects, create linkages and coordination among activities and agricultural development programs. The Institute 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 that, to be the leading center of innovative solutions to catalyze and contribute to the transformation of Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030 where smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

ATI provides a unique 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 teams with the tools, training, and mentorship necessary to achieve their career goals.

The programmatic focus of the Institute responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and other sectors along commodity value chains. Across the programs, the ATI engages public, private, and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity, and test innovative models. Currently, ATI is tasked to coordinate the revised Agriculture and Rural Development policy agendas of the sector and such sectoral-level delegation requires high-level expertise in the policy areas and skillets in coordination and networking with multiple stakeholders.

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 mentorship necessary to achieve their career goals.  

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Position holder is responsible to facilitate and build relationship between SATC and the four Regions to establish smooth, collaborative and supporting working environment among the key stakeholders. 

The Communications Officer will, together with respective Teams, coordinate and organize different events/forums that involve key stakeholders aimed for discussing common agendas, sharing experiences, socializing ATI projects/project implementation approaches, etc. 

The position holder will report to the Senior Director based in Hawassa.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Closely work internally with respective Directors and Project Officers to plan, decide, and externally communicate with stakeholders.

• Understands the context and the interest of key stakeholders and recommend different modalities/approaches that help to enhance and strengthen relationship with major stakeholders such as Regional Bureau of Agriculture (RBOA), Regional Bureau of Trade and Industry RBOTI, Regional Bureau of Job Creation, etc. in all four Regions.

• Works with the relevant Project Teams to develop and distribute information about the products produced in the Regions and connect with the market, consumers, factories, 

• Plans and works with those concerned to provide Input by establishing network with Input suppliers, importers, wholesalers, exporters.

• Identify key stakeholders and enhance relationships to create sustainable market linkages for horticulture products/banana, avocado, vegetable products, etc.

• Assist in the development and implementation of communication plans of the Center. 

• Develop content for events organized at the SATCs and share to HQ Communication Team to upload into ATI Hub.

• Liaises with the head office on human resource operations and support on critical Admin activities as instructed by the SD.

• Perform other related activities assigned by the supervisor.

Job Requirements

Required qualifications, competencies, skills, training, and experience:

• Bachelor or Master degree in related field of study with 4 years or 2 years relevant experience respectively preferably in a generalist corporate communications role

• Field of Study in public relations, journalism, international relations, media relations or related fields of study. 

• Self-motivated, organized, team-player, capable of working under pressure to meet deadlines. 

• Effective communication skills both in written and verbal

• Experience dealing with government bodies, development agencies, media, and the general public.

• Experience and ability to work and coordinate diverse stakeholder and organizing/facilitating events. 

• Strong organizational skills

• Proficiency 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) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to using THIS LINK

It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your application email.  Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application. Women are highly encouraged to apply. 

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.