Technical Director

Description

• FTF Premier-Oholo (PRO) is a joint collaboration between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). PRO targets enhancing agribusinesses in the Nacala Corridor through leveraging value-adding opportunities that attract private investment. It employs a facilitative market systems development approach, focusing on bolstering agro-processing and service delivery capacity. PRO objectives include increasing profitability, improving market access, enhancing financing, and promoting economic opportunities for women and youth. With an $8.2 million co-investment facility and adaptive strategies, the program aims for steady growth which is resilient and responsive to market disruptions. The PRO project anticipates impacting 112,000 producers, women, and youth, increasing their income and fostering a more competitive, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable market system, and the reduction of poverty and enhancement of food security through the growth of small, medium and large enterprises
• The Promoting Innovative and Resilient Agriculture Market Systems (PREMIER) project is the component of PRO that supports the goals and objectives of Feed the Future (FTF), the U.S. Government’s initiative to reduce poverty, fight hunger, increase smallholder incomes, and improve nutrition. Premier seeks to: incentivize responsible private investment; improve access to finance (including through matching grants and partnering with finance institutions); engage relevant actors to favourably influence the policy environment; facilitate market-based technical assistance to foster entrepreneurship (especially for youth and women); and build capacity and incentives for firms to diversify products and services and expand market share – all with the end goal of expanding job opportunities and increasing agriculture-based incomes in northern Mozambique

Duties

• The Technical Director (TD) is the most senior technical member leading the FTF PREMIER/PRO team, overseeing six Portfolio Managers (PMs), and is responsible for leading the technical implementation of PREMIER/PRO activities. The TD manages the pipeline of agribusiness clients to ensure smooth operation and synergies among the FTF PREMIER/PRO portfolios. The TD directly oversees and assists the PMs to accomplish their work; the PMs are responsible for managing relationships with clients and related local delivery partners to reach project objectives for inclusive supply chains, food processing, route to market distribution, business development services, and access to finance. Specific examples of TD tasks include:
• Support the development of the workplan to ensure an integrated vision among the FTF PREMIER/PRO objectives
• Offer technical assistance and guidance as appropriate to achieve FTF PREMIER/PRO program targets
• Support recruitment and contracting of long- and short-term staff and consultants as needed
• Represent the project at public events on request of project leadership
• Serve as direct supervisor for six project personnel, pending finalization of organizational chart and management plan
• Work with portfolio managers to address any operational challenges or provide any support necessary
• Manage the budget for respective program work streams, ensuring that operational plans are aligned with program budgets
• Create a favourable environment for reflection, strategic thinking, innovation, and creativity and promote the spirit of teamwork
• Maintain communication with project partners
• Plan, organize and participate in project meetings, workshops, seminars, and stakeholder events

Requisites

• A master’s degree in agricultural development, agricultural economics/marketing, agribusiness, or a related field
• Five (5) years of experience or more as the technical manager for donor-funded value chain, M4P, and/or Market Systems Development projects integrating inclusion issues
• Demonstrated success using facilitation in at least one of the following: the USAID value chain approach, M4P, or Market Systems Development approach, which led to greater competitiveness and inclusiveness in markets
• Fluency in English and demonstrated experience with conducting market systems and value chain analysis and developing work plans are desired
• Excellent oral, written, collaboration and interpersonal skills

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Indicate the source of this job post: emprego.co.mz
• The TD is based in Nampula, Mozambique, and reports to the FTF PREMIER/PRO Chief of Party and to the DAI Project Manager and is supported by the DAI Market Systems Development (MSD) Advisor