Title: Agriculture and Market Systems Lead

Reports to: Chief of Party

Level: Experienced

Job Location: Adventist Development & Relief Agency, Port Sudan, Sudan

Travel: Up to 50%

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is a global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that demonstrates God’s love and compassion. ADRA works with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change through empowering partnerships and responsible action.

The successful candidate must understand, respect and honor the mission, purpose and identity of ADRA.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY

ADRA International is seeking an Agriculture and Market Systems Lead for an anticipated USAID–funded Feed the Future activity in Sudan. The activity aims to improve food security, increase the income of smallholder farmers, and support broader economic growth by increasing agriculture and livestock productivity; enhancing efficiency of productive resources (land, water); and introducing modern production practices. The activity will also ensure farmers have access to quality inputs, technologies, information, credit, and financial services, and that they meet market quality standards. ADRA has implemented humanitarian and development activities in Sudan for 40 years with funding from major international donors, including USAID. As Agriculture and Market Systems Lead, your strategic vision, leadership, and adaptive management will deliver results while expanding ADRA’s position as a leader of economic growth programming in Sudan. You will be responsible for technical oversight and management for the three objectives of the activity: enhancing resilience and livelihoods; increasing food security through sustainable agricultural production; and strengthening agricultural value chains, market linkages, and agribusiness.

This position is contingent upon receipt of funding and requires donor approval.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

PRE-REQUISITES

Required

• Master’s degree in business, agriculture, agribusiness, agronomy or related field
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in technical and managerial roles, with increasing responsibility leading to senior level expertise. USAID/other internationally funded project management experience is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, agriculture and market systems Development programs intended to improve household food security, nutrition, and resilience through increased agricultural productivity, market linkages, and inclusive, agriculture-led economic growth.
• Demonstrated experience working with, and addressing barriers within, agricultural market systems, input and output markets, seed systems; as well an understanding of behavioral constraints (regulatory, cultural, operating environments) to implementing agriculture interventions.
• Demonstrated experience creating effective private sector linkages that create sustainable win opportunities for the businesses and activity participants. Understanding of improved agricultural production and productivity, input and output marketing technologies, integrated pest management, climate smart agriculture, conservation agriculture, irrigation post-harvest handling, and/or market information systems.
• Prior experience connecting value chain stakeholders with financial institutions for access to credit and other financial services.
• Experience working in Sudan preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to network and engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge and familiarity with USAID funding and award compliance.
• Written and spoken command of English. Arabic language is strongly preferred.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES

• Leading and Supervising – Provides others with a clear direction; motivates and empowers others; recruits staff of a high caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching; sets appropriate standards of behavior; give regular feedback.
• Presenting and Communicating Information – Speaks clearly and fluently; expresses opinions, information, and key points of an argument clearly.
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts – Works strategically to realize organizational goals; sets and develops strategies.
• Planning and Organizing – Sets clearly defined objectives; plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances; identifies and organizes resources needed to accomplish tasks; manages time effectively; monitors performance against deadlines and milestones.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide leadership, management, and supervision of the technical team focused on agricultural production, agribusiness, market linkages, and value chain development to achieve activity objectives and outcomes.
2. Provide technical guidance and oversight of agriculture and inclusive agriculture-led growth programming to improve food, nutrition, and economic security through agricultural production and household resilience.
3. Manage activity interventions and livelihood strategies/approaches that lead to livelihood resilience and diversification, market linkages, and private sector engagement.
4. Ensure that national, donor, and global production and market standards are adhered to through activity reviews, site visits and dialog with private sector stakeholders
5. Create initiatives for inclusive agriculture and market systems development that create opportunities for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
6. Develop tools for successful implementation, monitoring and reporting of related interventions
7. Develop/update technical strategies, standard and protocols relating to the activity
8. Document and report on any learning or best practices identified during the activity interventions
9. Manage collaborating, learning, and adapting approaches that apply learning and best practices that promote adaptive activity management, collaboration with the government of Sudan, and other USAID and donor activities.
10. Prepare relevant technical reporting and planning documents as needed.
11. Communicate with the activity team and ADRA International team any successes and issues that arise during the execution of the activity.
12. Perform other duties as assigned.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

TRAVEL

Up to 50% domestic and international travel required. Must have the ability to travel at short notice if necessary. Travel within Sudan dependent upon security conditions.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

MENTAL/EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to work in a fast-paced and customer service-oriented environment; to perform duties under pressure and meet deadlines in a timely manner; to work as part of a team as well as to complete assignments independently; to take instructions from supervisors; to exercise problem-solving skills; and to interact with co-workers, supervisors, network employees, donors and the public in a professional and pleasant manner.

_______________________________________________________________________________

APPLICATION

Qualified national and international candidates are encouraged to apply.