Senior Project Officer-Senior Soil Fertility Expert

Term of Employment:   Project – one year with possible extension

Duty Station(s):               SNNPR-Hawassa

Required Number:         One

Salary & Benefits:           Competitive

Application Deadline:     July 10, 2016

 

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian 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 Natural Resources and the Transformation Council. Within the Agency, issues are divided into four different groups:  Production and Productivity which includes Inputs and Crop Protection, Livestock, Research and Extension, Mechanization, Rural Finance & Agro-Processing Value Addition; Agribusiness and Markets including Market Services, Market Infrastructure, Commercial & Contract Farming, Domestic and Export Market Development, and Cooperatives Development; Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Growth including Sustainable Irrigation & Watershed Management, Sustainable Land Management, Gender Equality and Nutrition, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, and Planning and MLE; and Enhanced Implementation Capacitywhich includes ICT, Private Sector, and Organizational and Human Capacity. 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 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 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, 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 mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The ATA, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and several other stakeholders has launched the Ethiopian Soil Information System (EthioSIS) project. EthioSIS is designed to analyze and map the country’s agricultural soils with the ultimate objective of producing a soil information database and using the information for increasing agricultural production and productivity through the use of customized fertilizers, among others. EthioSiS is also expected to play a vital part by generating up-to-date and complete  information about the fertility status of the country’s agricultural soils, and through that, contributing vital information for improving soil fertility management and fertilizer strategies in Ethiopia.

The main areas of responsibility of the Senior Project Officer-Soil Fertility Expert (SPO) will be providing expert advice on the implementation of soil fertility mapping results including fertilizers, lime, and other related soil management practices as well as support extension communication on the subject matter to the SNNPR Bureau of Agriculture. The SPO will have a guiding role to the soil fertility experts in the region including assisting in making decisions regarding strategies and actions necessary for revising the fertilizer advisory service in the region. The incumbent is expected to provide comprehensive advice in soil health related matters (system, people, processes) for sustainable management of soil resource information. Furthermore, the expert will provide hands-on support to integrate the activities of regional soil laboratories, build, train and guide regional soil fertility team to strengthen regional capacity.

The ideal SPO is expected to possess a passion for improving the lives of small-holder farmers, deep familiarity with Ethiopia’s agricultural system and extensive knowledge of soil systems and fertility. S/he would likewise possess the entrepreneurial ability to visualize transformation, to mobilize stakeholders across the system and to drive practical change on the ground.  S/he will also possess an understanding of soil fertility, soil mapping, geo-referencing and relevant project management expertise.  Understanding of spatial analysis and fertilizer recommendation is a plus.

This position will officially report to the Regional Bureau of Agriculture but will also have strong contact with ATA’s Soil Health and Fertility Program staff and EthioSIS project. The SPO shall also maintain working relationship with ATA Regional Branch Office Director.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

·

·         Ensure smallholder farmers in the region have access to customized fertilizers.

·         Build capacity of soil fertility staff based at regional, zonal and woreda levels through organizing training of trainers programs in soil health and fertility management and the role of customized fertilizers.

·         Assist the Bureau of Agriculture in the development of fertilizer packages, extension manuals, leaflets and posters related to soil health and fertility management.

·         Assist in the establishment of georeferenced soil information database and soil museum in the region.

·         Assist in the harmonization of methodologies employed in the region with that of EthioSIS to generate soil resource information in the region.

·         Assist in building the capacity of GIS experts in the regional agriculture system to conduct digital soil fertility mapping and interpret, map the information.

·         Assist in input and product quality checks by the blended fertilizer manufacturing plant(s) in the region.

·         Technically support future fertilizer blending plants establishment initiatives in the region.

·         Technically assist in the implementation of full package demonstration and scaling up initiatives in the region including monitoring implementation at grass roots level, co-organizing field visits, etc..

·         Prepare performance reports on periodic basis and submit to relevant offices.

·         Prepare project proposals and concept notes when necessary.

·         Participate in relevant workshops and conferences and present soil fertility initiatives being implemented in the region.

·         Perform additional duties assigned by the head of the Regional Bureau of Agriculture.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

·         Minimum  Master’s (Ph.D preferred) in soil chemistry, soil fertility, GIS and or related fields

·         At least 6 years (for Master’s) of experience in soil fertility management and mapping activities

·         Good experience in soil fertility project management

·         Deep technical knowledge, scientific know-how and practical experience to improve soil fertility mapping and soil fertility management.

·         Knowledge in converting soil fertility data to impact national fertilizers purchase decision.

·         Experience in soil fertility technology demonstration, analysis and reporting.

·         Good experience in statistical soft wares and computations.

·         Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operational activities.

·         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 challenging environment

·         Excellent analytical skills

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

·         Fluency in English is essential. Fluency in Amharic and/or other Ethiopian languages is highly desired.

Closing date: Jul 10, 2016

be considered unless accompanied by a fully completed ATA Application Form.  Also, please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application form.

Please email (i) cover letter, (ii) CV (maximum 5 pages) and (iii) the completed application form to

NB. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.