Project Team Leader – Tef Market Development Project

Term of Employment:  Project – initially one year with possible extension

Duty Station(s):              Addis Ababa

Required Number:        One

Salary & Benefits:          Competitive

Application Deadline:   February 14, 2016

BACKGROUND:

The Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development. The Agency does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions that address the systemic bottlenecks. The Agency reports to a Transformation Council chaired by the Prime Minister and whose co-chair is the Minister of Agriculture. 

The programmatic focus of the Agency responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Transformation Council. Within the Agency, issues are divided into three different groups:  Production and Productivity which includes Inputs and Crop Protection, Livestock, Research and Extension, Mechanization and Rural Finance; Agribusiness and Markets including Market Support Services, Market Infrastructure, Commercial and Contract Farming, Domestic and Export Market Development, and Cooperatives Development; and Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Growthincluding Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Land Management, Gender Equality and Nutrition, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, and Planning and MLE. Across the programs, the ATA engages public, private and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models.

OUR CULTURE

We have an exceptional team of employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results.  Our culture is one where talented individuals are committed to doing their best and work together to achieve excellent results. 

At ATA, 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, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training.  We recognize our most valuable assets are our people and are committed to providing our employees with the tools and training necessary to achieve their career goals. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Tef Market Development project features two components aimed at improving the domestic tef value chain while also ensuring that Ethiopia benefits from the increasing international popularity of tef. The first component, Tef Domestic Market Development, has been established to ensure that Farmer Cooperative Unions and agricultural Primary Cooperatives can play a larger role in domestic urban marketing of tef. In this area, the Tef Market Development Team Leader will primarily be responsible for working with selected cooperatives to target and pilot new wholesale and retail channels for domestic tef sales while improving the overall efficiency of their tef procurement, handling, marketing, and distribution activities. S/he will work with the ATA Senior Management, FCA, ATA regional offices, Union managers, and other key stakeholders to develop and implement a model allowing cooperatives to access urban retail and wholesale markets.

The second component, Tef International Market Access (TIMA), has been established to ensure that Ethiopia benefits from the increasing popularity of tef in the international market. In this area, the Tef Market Development Team Leader will primarily be responsible for identifying the potential for tef in the international market and helping develop and streamline efficient export procedures and policies. S/he will work with the ATA Senior Management, MoA, MoT, the TIMA steering committee, commercial farmers, international buyers, and other stakeholders to develop and implement a model to permit limited export of tef products by commercial farmers without adversely affecting domestic supply, while also emphasizing and promoting local value addition.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Assume overall responsibility for the implementation of the Tef Project, working with multiple partners

• Establish a foothold in the growing tef market and widely promote an “Ethiopian tef” brand in the international market

• Engage stakeholders across the Agricultural system (government, business, cooperatives, commercial farmers etc.) to foster effective linkages and promote local value addition for tef before export


• Identify gaps and recommend ways to ensure the quality of tef is as per the export standard set by the Ethiopian government and is sufficient to meet buyers’ quality demands


• Support commercial farmers and government stakeholders in executing the tef export license process; design and help implement any necessary changes to the export licensing process


• Through field visits and consultations, work with selected Unions and their Primary Cooperatives to improve their collection, storage, marketing, and distribution operations in the domestic tef markets


• Help Unions design and launch tef retail operations in target urban markets by identifying market requirements and problem-solving for challenges that arise while also improving market linkages for the Unions’ existing wholesale channels

• Serve as the leader of the TIMA and Tef Domestic Market Development project teams, responsible for the overall direction and management of the project; mobilize needed financial, human or organizational resources for project execution

• Identify synergies between the domestic and export components and promote collaboration

• Manage the performance of the project; setting key performance indicators, milestones and targets; engage stakeholders to creatively solve problems and overcome obstacles to achieve desired results


• Critically assess capacity gaps hindering the effective implementation of the Tef project and develop approaches for improving capabilities as required


• Integrate the tef project with other ATA programs and projects to achieve synergies and outcomes that impact the broader agricultural system


• Draw and document lessons and experiences from the project and contribute to the development of an institutionalized knowledge base for the ATA


• Regularly report to the Senior Director of Agribusiness and Markets and CEO on progress, challenges and constraints of the work

• Minimum of Master’s degree in Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, Economics or related field

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in Agricultural / Agribusiness sector with international experience and significant understanding of value chains and the Tef sector, of which at least 5 years in a leadership or managerial role

• Knowledge of the international marketing system

• Deep understanding of Ethiopia’s agricultural system, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and informal actors operate within the system

• Experience in creating partnerships at the national level and (preferably) at international level

• Practical experience in piloting, implementing, and scaling up solutions at the local level

• Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operational activities

• Experience in working with public and private sector partners

• Demonstrated track record of success with program design, performance management, learning systems, and monitoring & evaluation

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


• Ability to build relationships with all kinds of people


• Highly facilitative and collaborative leadership style


• Excellent adaptive problem-solver in a challenging environment


• Excellent analytical skills


• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Amharic are essential.  Fluency in one additional Ethiopian language is a plus.

Closing date: Feb 14, 2016