Project Summary:

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is preparing for an anticipated USAID/DRC Feed the Future Resilient Food Systems Activity with a potential procurement release early in 2025. The purpose of the project is to increase the income and nutritional status of the targeted population through an inclusive and sustainable food and market systems-oriented approach that facilitates agriculture-led growth and utilization of nutritious food in the DRC. The Activity will build upon past and ongoing investments from USAID, the Government of the DRC, and other donor partners to incentivize private sector investment, promote market-oriented climate smart technologies, and strengthen the resilience of smallholders.

Position Summary:

The DCOP-Kongo Central leads a multidisciplinary team that ensures successful activity implementation across the Kongo Central portion of the ZOI by providing technical guidance at the component level. S/he will ensure cohesiveness with the technical team and the necessary operational efficiencies required to implement sound technical strategies and achieve indicator goals.

The position will be based in Kongo Central, DRC.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Oversee technical and operational requirements of the Kongo Central office to achieve results.
• Cultivate strong, productive working relationships with local government officials, other USG implementing partners, other development partners and their activity implementers, the private sector, and civil society organizations active in Kongo Central.
• Serve in active leadership roles related to HDP and agriculture-related coordination platforms and functions in the region when opportunities arise.
• Assist the COP in the supervision of all technical, monitoring and evaluation, financial and administrative activities and in accordance with donor rules and regulations in Kongo Central.
• Collaborate with the COP to ensure coherent and effective communication within the team and to relevant stakeholders. This will entail close coordination with V37 programs and monitoring and evaluation teams for input and coordination with finance and grants management teams for the delivery of internal and external reports and communication materials.
• Serve as the focal point for project reporting (collecting and consolidating information from the team members, etc.).
• Ensure gender equality and socially inclusive approaches are integrated into programming and effectively implemented; regularly identify learnings, refining the design as needed to improve social inclusion across project activities.
• Ensure that an effective climate of collaboration is promoted and maintained within the various project components, its implementing partners, and other stakeholders in the project intervention zones in Kongo Central.
• Serve as Acting Chief of Party when required.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in agriculture, agronomy, natural resource management, international development, rural development or a related field plus eight years of work experience in agriculture, agribusiness, or food systems/value chain development projects preferred; or a Masters in agriculture, agronomy, natural resource management, international development, rural development or a related field plus six years of work experience in agriculture, agribusiness, or food systems/value chain development projects preferred;
• Prior experience as COP, DCOP or similar position managing 10 or more staff in a complex, multidisciplinary activity preferred;
• A successful record of leading similar activities supporting food security and nutrition, organizational strengthening, resilience, and food systems development;
• Demonstrated experience engaging the private sector or leveraging private capital to advance mutual goals, in facilitating the establishment of job-creating enterprises and in advancing business enabling environment reforms is preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to establish productive relationships with senior government officials, the business community/private sector, other donors and development partners, and civil society organizations;
• Excellent French and English written and oral communications skills; and
• Familiarity with USAID and USG policies and regulations.

The position described above is contingent upon activity award.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls will be accepted.

Land O’Lakes never requests money or payment from candidates for any position type. Please report any such requests to Land O’Lakes.

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is an equal opportunity employer and an organization striving to help global communities thrive through agriculture. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status, among other factors. Our culture values a diversity of voices. So bring us your unique experiences, your workstyle, and your dreams — they’ll only make us stronger.

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