CURRENT VACANCY IN ETHIOPIA FOR RICE VALUE CHAIN SENIOR SPECIALIST

Job by MEDA-Mennonite Economic Development Associates
Posted: 09.16.2016
Closing Date: 09.25.2016
Category: Accounting and Finance, Business and Administration
Location: Bahirdar
Career Level: Senior Level (5+ years experience)
Employment Type: Full time
                                           Salary:
 
Job Description

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) is a Foreign Charity established in 1953 specializing in business solutions to poverty. MEDA uses innovative approaches, market linkages, investment finance and business development services to improve profits for individuals and micro/small and medium size enterprises along selected value chains

Overview:
The Rice Value Chain Senior Specialist provides technical support in developing the rice value chain, coordinates the implementation of EMERTA project rice activities and manages the rice-related team. The Senior Specialist will simultaneously design rice value chain activities and promote rice-related business growth. He/she will build strong relationships with many players in rice and will use these relationships, to help business owners improve business performance, to improve delivery of business services to facilitate inclusion in the rice sector, and ultimately, improved business opportunities for those in rice. The Rice Value Chain Senior Specialist will provide key support to the Project Implementation Manager. He/she will lead the team’s focus on promoting opportunities for women at all levels of the rice value chain and increased environmental awareness by rice stakeholders.

MEDA seeks an outgoing, skilled candidate to lead its rice sector activities. The position is collaborative in nature; the incumbent will work closely with other EMERTA staff: Finance Service Specialists, Marketing Specialist, Micro/Small/Medium Enterprise Service Specialist and partners to conduct ongoing constraints analysis and identify stakeholders able to take advantage of innovations, and thus effect rice value chain improvements. Innovations include new ways of working with suppliers, adoption of new technologies-particularly those that protect the environment, development of new products, and enhanced marketing approaches. The Senior Specialist will research and design activities using best practices, utilizing private sector approaches, to provide technical support to value chain clients with the goal of increasing environmental awareness and inclusion of women at all levels of the value chain.

MEDA seeks a communicative and dynamic person to fill this role to be based in Bahir Dar, Amhara Region.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
    Ensure that activities are implemented according to a well-defined set of program protocols and tools.
     Serve as expert in rice value chain constraints analysis, assessing threats, strengths and opportunities to the rice value chain, and in particular to participating rice value chain clients. Develop within the rice value chain clients, new partnerships capable of supporting on-going constraints analysis.
     Assist with monitoring and evaluation to ensure timely donor reporting on rice components of project activities.
     Provide leadership, expert advice and build core capacities of the rice business development specialist and key partners in developing innovative business services, new business partnerships, and market oriented information systems.
     Responsible for supporting participating financial and non-financial institutions to increase understanding of opportunities within the rice value chain and develop services that meet the needs of market actors.
     Assist with development of manuals, portfolio reviews and acquisitions, and serve on task forces or committees as required in the promotion of opportunities in the rice sector.
     Work with public institutions and research institutions, entrepreneurs, cooperatives, business community to build sector-wide, mutual benefits on the rice value chain, including reduction of transaction costs, reduced waste, risk reduction, increase in market and employment opportunities.
     Provide key input into the use of tools to strengthen incentives to sector growth: innovation grants, loan guarantees, capacity building.
     Manage the rice team at field to include mentoring, coaching and supporting staff for personal and professional growth and conduct performance evaluations.
     Manage and supervise the use of project budget and expenditure, ensuring that project resources are used effectively and efficiently.
     Perform other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor

Reports to:  Project Implementation Manager          

Terms of employment: One year with very high possibility of extension

Job Requirements

Qualifications:

    Essential: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Investment Finance or Marketing, or other relevant discipline.
    Six (6) years of experience demonstrating success in business consulting, investment finance, marketing or private sector entrepreneurship.
    Excellent oral and written communication in English and Amharic, including report writing
    Deep understanding of Ethiopia’s economic and business environment
    Computer skills: Microsoft Office Applications, specifically Excel and Word and Access
Desired:
    Agricultural Markets and/or Value Chain development
    Experience in environmental management, particularly related to agricultural practices
    Development of Business Services, finance and financial services
    Knowledge of production (Agriculture), including quality control, market standards, and/or product development

Core Competencies:
    Results oriented and sound decision making
    Demonstrating accountability and commitment
    Ability to communicate effectively and work within a team
    Ability to gather information, assist with research
    Build relationships and ability to bring people together
    Managing and improving team performance

Number Required: 1

How to Apply

Note: Only qualified candidates will be screened and a written test/interview which measures the capacity of the applicant will be given.
Those who satisfy the above requirements can send application letters and CV through the following email address only: gaster@meda.org
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU STATE THE JOB POSITION ON THE SUBJECT OF YOUR EMAIL.
Application Deadline: 5:00PM, September 25, 2016