The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, which is a key contributor to the country’s GDP, exports, and workforce. The ATI’s work is cantered on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFs) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability. 

The ATI works to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia by conducting policy and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support and capacity building, coordinating. 

platforms to better integrate partners and projects and designing and directly leading several innovative/pilot interventions. The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. In addition, the ATI collaborates with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. The Institute plays a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision-making in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.

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 team work 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. 

Program and position summary 

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) has launched the Energizing Women and Youth in Agri-Food System (EWAS) project to tackle unemployment and promote green energy in the agricultural value chain, focusing on young women. ATI integrates youth employment, gender equality, climate-smart practices, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture across its programs to create sustainable job opportunities and build resilience. ATI currently works with over 3 million smallholder farmers, including 540,300 women and youths, through its Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) and digital agriculture programs. Additionally, the ADEY program also creates jobs for women and youths in ACC regions and Somali by improving access to markets and strengthening MSMEs. Leveraging ATI's experience, EWAS project aims to create over 4,100 jobs for young women by establishing enterprises in three value chains namely grain milling, horticulture collection centers, and honey processing, supporting through capacity-building, skills development, and provision of essential equipment.

The Senior Technical Expert II (STE-II) will leverage strong expertise in electromagnetically systems, particularly in agricultural value addition machinery such as cold storage, milling machines, and honey refining equipment and solar power systems. This role involves providing technical guidance and overseeing the implementation of EWAS project interventions at the federal level, ensuring timely and high-quality results. Key responsibilities include strategic planning, execution, and monitoring, as well as facilitating the procurement, installation and calibration of essential machinery for enterprise establishment. The STE-II will report directly to the project team leader at the head office and collaborate closely with ACC project leaders and ADEY’s senior project officers, primarily engaging with regional senior project officers under the guidance of the project team leader, ACC's director, and the regional senior director.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Align project plans with the priorities of ATI and stakeholders to effectively manage the EWAS project 

• Actively engage in supervision, monitoring and technical backstopping, review, and frequent reporting to ensure proper implementation as per the projects annual plan.

• Assist the team leader in project management, annual planning, budgeting, and providing all necessary assistance.

• Optimize resources to make projects cost effective. Effective resource Management 

• Collaborate with beneficiaries to understand their needs and integrate their feedback into project planning and implementation.

• Support the team Lead as per the team lead instruction 

• Work closely with consultants, suppliers, contractors and other implementing partners on the design, management of the EWAS project

• Conduct design review, Initiate final designs review bill of quantities and specifications for electromechanical works.

• Prepare different Terms of references (ToRs) for procuring goods, services and installation works 

• Initiate payment certificates for design, supervision, supply, and installation services.

• Coordinate data collection and analysis on electromechanical works, and other relevant data necessary as needed to successfully implement the project.

• Develop specifications for all machinery and equipment needed for the enterprises, collaborating with other technical and project team members to ensure alignment with the project's outlined scope.

• Provide technical expertise in the selection, installation, and maintenance of machinery needed for grain milling, honey processing enterprises and horticulture collection centers and also for the solar power system 

• Conduct training sessions and capacity-building activities for beneficiaries and project staff on the operation and maintenance of value addition equipment, including grain milling machines, horticulture collection centers, honey refining machines, and solar power systems.

• Ensure both technical and financial standards are maintained to meet government/ATI and partners/donor audit requirements 

• Ensure the effective utilization of all machinery, equipment, tools, and resources distributed under the project according to the established plan.

• Deliver timely and effective upward reporting to the directorate 

• Establish consistent and efficient communication and reporting with team members, regional staff, and key stakeholders from public, private, and development partner sectors to ensure effective project management

• Integrate and ensure implementation of young women-centric approach in the project.

• Ensures that electromechanical requirements take account of gender-specific needs.

• Closely work with ADEY other ACC project teams. 

• Assume other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Job Requirements

Required Qualification, Competencies and Experience:

• Minimum master’s degree in electrical/mechanical/electromechanical engineering and other related fields, with 8 years of relevant experience in delivery-focused roles in public, private, or development sector organizations.

• Experience in green energy projects, particularly in solar power generation systems.

• Experience in providing implementation guidance and technical oversight on regional level projects

• Experience in supporting transportation, installation and calibration of processing machinery 

• Extensive experience in implementing and managing donor-funded projects focused on the establishment of youth and women-based enterprises

• Very good experience on stakeholder mapping, analysis, and management.

• Experience in strategizing and addressing programmatic and operational issues.

• Very good experience in business plan development, business advisory and entrepreneurship development.

• Experience in dissemination and institutionalization of best practices and lessons with implementing partners.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high-performance, teamwork, accountability, and results

• ​Experience in green energy project is a plus.  

• Inclination towards participatory management (at team and beneficiary level), capacity to implement and experience of participatory planning methods

• Desire of improving the lives of smallholder farmers.

• Willingness to undertake frequent field visits.

• Strong Communication skills (writing, speaking, composing, presenting, etc).

• Proficiency in oral and written English and Amharic.

• Proficient in using Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

  Safeguarding risk level

  •         The role holder will have frequent or intensive contact with program participants as he/she will be responsible for implementing and monitoring program activities.

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 in both the subject line of your cover letter and the Outlook email subject line. Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.

Women are highly encouraged to apply 

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.