Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency Vacancies in Ethiopia

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency Senior Director-Strategic Services Vacancies in Ethiopia

Senior Director-Strategic Services

Internal Vacancy Announcement

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency

Position: Senior Director-Strategic Services

Term of Employment: One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa

Required Number: One

Salary & Benefits: Competitive

Application Deadline: March 31, 2017

Background:

The Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development.

The Agency does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions.

The Agency reports to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and is Secretary to the Transformation Council chaired by the Prime Minister.

The programmatic focus of the Agency responds to a core set of needs identified by the Agricultural Transformation Council, chaired by the Prime Minister.

Within the Agency, issues are divided into four different pillars: Production and Productivity which includes Inputs and Crop Protection, Livestock, Research and Extension, Mechanization and Rural Finance; Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Growth including Sustainable Irrigation and Watershed Management, Sustainable Land Management, Gender and Nutrition, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation,

Targeted Livelihood Support, Biodiversity and (temporarily) Planning and MLE; Agribusiness and Markets including Market Services, Commercial and Contract Farming, Domestic & Export Market Development, and Cooperatives; and Enhanced Implementation Capacity which includes ICT for Agricultural Services, Private Sector in Agriculture, and Organizational and Human Resource Capacity**.

In addition, the** Agricultural Commercialization Clusters Initiative is another critical focus area for the Agency. Across the programs, the ATA engages public, private and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great team work to achieve excellent results.

At ATA, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training.

We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

Position Summary:

The Senior Director, Strategic Services will have primary responsibility for leading the knowledge intensive processes critical for the ATA to realize its strategic objectives. The Senior Director of Strategic Services will ensure that the strategic services team at the ATA (PMU, Project Management, Communications, Partnerships and over time Core Analytics) are seamlessly coordinated and integrated in order to contribute to making the ATA overall a high-performing organization.

This position will report to the CEO and form part of the Senior Management of ATA. The position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Essential Duties:

Directly manage the team of strategic service professionals and ensure that top talent is continually recruited, developed, retained and highly engaged

Ensure excellent levels of service quality and a progressive approach to improving the quality of services delivered

Ensure that the strategic service units have collaborative relationships with the client

(program and project) teams.

When necessary and appropriate strategically embed services personnel into client teams to deliver the highest levels of service

Proactively identify new types of strategic services or new approaches in which to deliver existing services that will improve the effectiveness of the client teams

Support client training requirements so that client teams are able to develop their own service capabilities

Ensure that the ATA’s planning and reporting process is robust and effectively reports on the Transformation Agenda and Agricultural Commercialization Cluster (ACC) Initiative in a timely manner and meets the needs of the ATA and stakeholders

Support the development and management of a new Project

Management team within the ATA to provide support to internal projects and related external activities

Oversee the management of the Agency’s engagement with strategic partners and donors to proactively address the emerging needs of the ATA

Ensure that the ATA’s communication function effectively shares information on the Transformation Agenda and the ACC as well as the specific roles played by the ATA

Develop the capacity to oversee and effectively support the Core Analytics team which provides strategy and evidence based analytical support to both internal and external facing partners

Required Qualifications:

Minimum Master’s level in Business Administration, Business Management, Public Administration, organizational development or related field

At least 12 years’ experience in one or more of the strategic services areas at ATA (e.g. analytics, performance measurement, partnership) or similar field in government, international agency or private sector, of which at least 6 years worked in a leadership, senior or management role (preferably as Chief Strategy Officer, Strategy Advisor, or similar position in government, international agency, or private sector)

Track record driving results through data intensive and analytical services

Proven client facing skills and experience with managing the expectations of internal client organizations

Experience in building a strong team to whom significant responsibilities are delegated

Excellent written, presentation and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills

Flexibility, adaptability, and culturally sensitive

Fluency in English is required and Amharic is a plus

Good working knowledge of communications systems

Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary, diverse staff, and multi-sector environment

Strong team player, highly energetic, self-motivated, goal-oriented and committed to shared goals

Excellent adaptive problem-solver in challenging environment

Strong set of personal values, including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service

Ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment with emphasis on high-performance, accountability and results

Ability to work under pressure, long work hours, and high workload

Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks

Ability to work both independently and as part of a team /spa

How to apply:
Application instructions

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to send (i) a cover letter, (ii) CV (maximum 5 pages), and (iii) a completed ATA Application Form, which can be downloaded at http://www.ata.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Application-Form2.pdf.

Please note that CVs, cover letter and other application materials WILL NOT be considered unless accompanied by a fully completed ATA Application Form. Also, please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application form.**

Please email (i) cover letter, (ii) CV (maximum 5 pages) and (iii) the completed application form to Recruitment@ata.gov.et and include “Application for Senior Director, Strategic Services” in the subject line.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

NB. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.