AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

At CARE, we seek a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and people live with dignity and security.

This has been our vision since 1945, when we were founded to send lifesaving CARE Packages® to survivors of World War II. Today, CARE is a global leader in the movement to eradicate poverty. In 2016, CARE worked in 94 countries and reached 80 million people with an incredible range of life-saving programs. We also put women and girls at the center of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We seek dynamic, innovative thinkers to further our mission. If you share our core beliefs: poverty is an injustice; poverty is solvable; and together, we have the power to end it, join us.

CARE South Sudan is seeking an experienced Agribusiness Development Manager to be responsible for a Consortium Agribusiness programme where CARE is the lead agency. The Agribusiness Development Manager oversees a very exciting and diverse programme including value chain development, agribusiness facilitation, engagement of the private sector, and micro-finance institutions, improving production among value chain enterprises and managing a learning agenda for CARE South and the consortium.

The Agribusiness Development Manager identifies, designs, and develops activities to support value chains identified by the South Sudan Agribusiness Development Programme. He/she analyzes and strengthens value chains, provide support to agribusinesses through their producer organizations, community forest groups, and value chain enterprises and establishes private sector market linkages.

The Agribusiness Development Manager will support the achievement of the project’s agricultural production, agro-industry and marketing objectives, principally through leading the project’s capacity building strategy with project staff and entrepreneurs in these areas; overseeing efforts that lead to increased and improved linkages between farmer groups, business service providers such as micro-finance institutions, government and the private sector; and managing the monitoring and evaluation component. The Agribusiness Development Manager coordinates and represents CARE and the consortium in various forums including with relevant Government Ministries, the private sector and updating the donor on the performance of the programme.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Develop detailed Monitoring and Evaluation system to measure profitability and relevant business indicators of targeted value chain enterprises
• Monitor the M&E indicators and documents key qualitative and quantitative changes. Oversees the data collection and monitoring of field activities of consortium members
• Coordinate the work of Project Managers for the two consortium partners to ensure that M&E systems produce data that will be used to develop reports in line with donor reporting schedule
• Ensure that work plan activities are consistent with the project objectives
• Identify markets and supply chain relationships, focusing on market opportunities, and sustainable, demand-driven, solutions.
• Develop, execute and facilitate training for project staff and entrepreneurs, ensuring all training materials meet branding, marking, and gender requirements.
• Provide technical support for the establishment of a marketing database to keep farmers, consumers and buyers informed of the prevailing market prices of various agro-industrial products and commodities

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agricultural economics or related field. Master’s degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in production, post-harvest handling and marketing, working on complex projects with national-level stakeholders, private sector organizations and nongovernmental organizations
• Previous experience working with the private sector, producer organizations and smallholder farmers along the agricultural value chain for an international NGO preferred
• In-depth knowledge of principal value chain activities, especially production and post-harvest management
• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain development and present value chain approaches
• Knowledge of productivity and quality improvement technologies and developing and implementing farmer training programs
• Proven ability to successfully implement programs aimed at increasing the competitiveness and inclusiveness of value chains
• Demonstrated creativity, willingness to innovate, think systemically and design catalytic approaches to intervening
• Excellent critical thinking skills and sound judgment
• Ability to communicate, negotiate, advice, persuade, or resolve issues that are highly complex or sensitive in nature
• Proven experience of managing consortia preferably in the agribusiness sector
• Strong written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to write required documents in a clear, concise, well-organized manner
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to listen and help others understand complex ideas
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, e-mail)
• Fluent in English, both oral and written
• Proven ability to manage deadlines, work independently with minimal supervision, submit high-quality work plans, prioritize workload, and multi-task in fast-paced environment
• Ability to travel to field sites, at times for extended periods

**Note: The filling of this position is subjected to the approval of funds. This project is scheduled to end on January 31, 2023.

To apply for this position, please visit our website at https://chp.tbe.taleo.net/chp02/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=CAREUSA&cws=52&rid=4056

Our diversity is our strength; we encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences, particularly women, to apply.

CARE USA is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you’d like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click here.

The closing date for this posting, if listed, is approximate. Job postings may be removed from CARE's career website at any time.