Reports to: Chief of Party
Location: Tanzania
Travel: International up to 10%, Domestic up to 30%
I. TECHNOSERVE BACKGROUND: TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.
II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: USAID/ Tanzania is planning a new, multi-year value chain strengthening program for Tanzania that seeks to increase the competitiveness and inclusiveness of the horticulture subsector, while improving the nutritional status of Tanzanians by:
- Scaling improved technologies and practices that lead to the increased productivity of smallholders, including large numbers of women and youth, in targeted commodities;
- Scaling market system models able to reach large numbers of direct and indirect beneficiaries, including vulnerable populations, while increasing trade for targeted commodities; and
- Strengthening the overall capacity of the industry.
The program will employ a facilitative value chain approach, a market system approach to development which focuses on end market demand and identifies leverage points to catalyze the dissemination of innovative technologies, practices and market system models. Interventions will encourage the adoption and scaling of innovations at the firm and/or farmer level, innovative business models at the market system/value chain level, and a more broad-based distribution of benefits all along the chain, including at the level of the producer/ smallholder.
III. Position Description: Under this proposed program, the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will oversee and provide technical leadership on market analysis, strategy and intervention design, as well as negotiations with lead firms and other partners. S/he will also lead and supervise several component leads and oversee implementation of market interventions, striving for programmatic excellence in achieving the program's objectives. S/he will support the Chief of Party with overall program delivery including shared oversight of human resources management, logistics, operations and compliance with donor requirements, as well as support liaisons with program stakeholders. Specific responsibilities are outlined below; position is contingent upon successful award of donor funding.
Strategic Leadership and Program Management
- Oversee operations of program and staff to ensure programmatic excellence.
- Support cross-cutting learning, leveraging insights across program components and from the broader TechnoServe portfolio.
- Support dedicated component leads to develop robust and realistic work plans that build upon the project logical framework and proposal with clear sequencing, achievable timeframes, recognition of critical dependencies and clear accountability.
- Ensure program adequately leverages existing TechnoServe resources and technical expertise to ensure that it is executed to TechnoServe's high quality standards using or building upon our Good Project Standards
- Conduct quarterly program reviews and propose modifications to strategy in response to changes in markets and enabling environments
- Coordinate with the Tanzania Senior Management Team to ensure sufficient resources are mobilized in a timely way that allows achievement of targets.
- Maintain frequent communication with Country Director to ensure program activities, status and effectiveness are well-understood, drawing in the Country Director or other senior staff for problem-solving or other engagement as needed.
Monitoring & Evaluation
- Understand all reporting requirements (donor as well as internal to TechnoServe)
- Ensure program systematically integrates project monitoring, learning and evaluation into management decision-making and work planning; assure that teams are monitoring not only their execution of activities and achievement of outputs but also regularly assessing progress toward outcomes and goals and adapting strategies as needed to ensure they are reached
- Review data being gathered and make suggestions for course correction to country and program leadership, as necessary
Reporting, Compliance, Budget Management
- Support preparation of narrative reports for submission to the donor
- Ensure that program expenditures and activities are in compliance with donor budgets and requirements, TechnoServe policies, and local laws.
- Develop and keep current a risk log for program, working closely with Country Director and Senior Agriculture Portfolio Manager
- Ensure the technical and financial reporting requirements both within the organization and to other stakeholders are fulfilled in a timely, accurate and professional manner.
Stakeholder Management
- Support component leads to manage relationships with local stakeholders including local/district government, local NGOs and others to ensure that we work as a collaborative partner and communicate effectively particularly around project start-up and exit.
- Lead interaction with important stakeholders at national and international level, ensuring that communication is consistent and aligned with TechnoServe Tanzania's overall strategic plan
- Liaise with TechnoServe experts from other agricultural value chain development programs to understand approach and business model that has had success in driving scalable impact
- Build relevant financial partnership structures with banks, MFIs, impact investors and other funders to help programs achieve scalable sustainability and improved quality
Consultant Management
- Support program staff to develop consultants and Volunteer Consultants scopes of work, interview and shortlist candidates. Also manage Project Consultants and Volunteer Consultants where relevant.
IV. Required Skills & Experience:
- Holds a Masters degree or equivalent in Business, Finance, Economics, Agricultural Economics or other business related fields;
- 7+ years of experience in developing and implementing market systems and/or market-led value-chain interventions in agricultural / rural markets and/or in relevant support markets (e.g. inputs, transport, financial services, etc.) as well as basic understanding of production systems; horticulture sector experience strongly preferred;
- Understanding of Tanzanian agriculture and private sector challenges and opportunities; experience working in a sub-Saharan African context, with Tanzanian experience strongly preferred;
- Experience working with agri-businesses;
- Demonstrated knowledge of business and ability to write a business case about an economic opportunity preferred;
- Proven experience engaging and equitably integrating women and/or youth strongly preferred;
- Strong leadership and managerial skills and demonstrated capability of effectively managing large teams;
- Project management experience, with proven success in implementing large international donor projects; USAID experience preferred
- Demonstrated ability to plan, monitor and quality assure. A familiarity with M&E frameworks is required but in-depth expertise is not essential.
- Excellent communication and soft skills, including strong presentation, networking and facilitation skills.
- Strong analytical abilities;
- Highly desirable: experience and strong understanding related to climate smart agriculture, including addressing issues of climate change and resilience; gender mainstreaming/ women's economic empowerment; and/or rural access to finance;
- Fluent in English as well as in Kiswahili.
V. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: All applications should be informed that this opportunity is dependent upon successfully securing funding for this program. Qualified and interested applicants should submit a single Word-formatted document consisting of cover letter, resume and salary history to jobs@tns.org . Please identify the position for which you are applying in the subject line. Only applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be considered or contacted. Applications will be considered as received. No phone calls please
Please also submit this Candidate Self-Identification Form. The form is voluntary but the information helps us to track our diversity goals. If a reasonable accommodation is needed for the recruitment process, please contact a member of our recruitment team at 202-785-4515 or jobs@tns.org.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER OF MINORITIES, FEMALES, PROTECTED VETERANS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES