RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
International Resources Group (IRG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Engility Corporation is seeking aValue Chain Specialist for the USAID Somalia Growth, Enterprise, Employment and Livelihoods (GEEL) Project. This project will promote inclusive economic growth in South Central Somalia, Somaliland, and Puntland and aims to strengthen the business enabling environment through access to finance and policy and regulation support; promote enterprise development through business development services; improve production, employment, and incomes in select agricultural value chains; and increase participation by women and youth in the economy as entrepreneurs, employers, and employees.
The Value Chain Specialist is part of the GEEL IDIQ Senior Management Team and will work closely with the other key personnel under Task Order 01 - “IDIQ Management” and to operationalize all aspects of the implementation of technical activities under GEEL Task Order 02 – “Agriculture Value Chain Services.” He/she will be required to oversee staff and activities under Task Order 02, “Agriculture Value Chain Services” and to work with various Somali stakeholders, including private sector firms, associations and cooperatives, community groups, government officials and other development partners.
- The Value Chain Specialist is responsible for managing the project’s outcomes and ensuring that all targets and deliverables related to agriculture are met according to the schedule outlined in TO-2 and the GEEL work plan. He or she will provide strategic vision and oversight to these program activities;
- S/He will provide technical expertise and manage technical staff focusing on areas such as agribusiness, enhanced agricultural production, post-harvest handling, storage, and processing, improved food safety and security, improved market linkages, business development, new product marketing and branding and regional trade facilitation and capacity building of agricultural grantees;
- S/He will advise on the development and collection of relevant end market research as well as provide analysis on the information and supervise the broad dissemination of the information to Somali stakeholders and potential investors;
- S/He will work with project team members to organize trade missions, competitiveness events, value chain working group platforms and broader stakeholder forums;
- S/He will assist the project technical teams in designing methodologies used for identifying measures that can be taken with companies, businesses, cooperatives, associations, and other intermediaries, to improve their performance, sales, production and competitive pricing;
- S/He will advise the M&E team as needed in capturing all the anticipated benefits from value chain interventions;
- S/He will participate in the development of EOIs, RFPs and APS under the “Value Chain Competitiveness Fund” (VCCF);
- S/He will be a permanent member of the selection committee overseeing the VCCF mechanism.
MINIMUM TANGIBLE QUALIFICATIONS:
- At least a Master’s degree in business, economics or a related field, such as agriculture; or a Bachelor’s degree with five additional years’ experience;
- Minimum eight years’ experience in agribusiness in developing countries (or 13 years if proposing key personnel with a Bachelor’s degree);
- Prior experience working in or on fragile or post-conflict states;
- Experience managing staff and other resources to achieve results;
- Direct, hands on private sector experience desirable;
- Ability to work collaboratively with and lead negotiations and reach a consensus among several private and public sector stakeholders such as farmers cooperatives and exporters;
- Knowledge and understanding of HAACP, ISO, Global GAP and other internationally accepted food safety standards necessary for international export highly desirable;
- Established relationships with and/or substantive knowledge of international agribusiness firms is advantageous;
- Experience working with HV fruits and vegetables for export markets is highly desirable;
- Experience working collaboratively with host country governments, the local private sector, and implementers of other donor-funded activities;
- Excellent oral and written English language communication skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Oral and written Arabic or Somali language communication skills.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please use the following link: https://careers-engility.icims.com/jobs/14635/value-chain-specialist---m...
