Program Officer, Fertilizers at AGRA

Reporting to the Regional Head, East & Southern Africa (E&SA) Team, the Program Officer, Fertilizers role aims at catalyzing local production of appropriate fertilizers and/or their distribution through support to local companies that are providing appropriate blends and leads in extending grants to support the establishment and training of agro-dealers in AGRA-focused countries.This position is on a three (3) year renewable contract and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya with travel at approximately 50% per month.

****Specific responsibilities will include:****

• Developing and overseeing a grant portfolio for the agro-dealers program, that will train and expand the presence of agri-input dealers across target countries;
• Collaborating with the Program Officer, Agricultural Finance, in the design and implementation of innovative financing arrangements to provide credit and working capital to agro-dealers;
• Providing leadership for the development of digitized rural input distribution maps for rural areas, in each country of intervention;
• Developing and implementing a strategy for building the institutional capacity of agro-dealers and creating a viable agro-dealers associations at district, national and regional levels;
• Working with donors and governments in the design and implementation of ‘smart subsidies’ for agricultural inputs for poor farmers; and
• Working with the Program Officer, Seeds to jointly design and implement strategies for disseminating quality seeds of improved crop varieties and fertilizers.

****Key qualifications, knowledge and experience required:****

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, MBA or related field. A relevant Doctorate degree is preferred;
• A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience with special focus on agribusiness, agricultural marketing or finance with at least five (5) years’ of research and development experience;
• Ability to negotiate positive medium and long-term changes within the agro-dealer development networks;
• Excellent knowledge of regulatory and other institutional frameworks relating to fertilizer production, quality control and distribution;
• Sound knowledge and understanding of effective curriculum development and pervious experience in Africa will be an advantage; and
• Ability to communicate and translate fluently between English and French is highly desirable.

****For more information on these positions, applicants can visit****www.agra.org

An attractive remuneration package commensurate with the respective position’s responsibilities will be negotiated with the successful candidates. If you believe you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria for any of the above roles, please submit your application with a detailed CV, stating your current position, current remuneration and e-mail and telephone contacts and quoting the respective reference number on your application letter.

HOW TO APPLY:

To be considered, your application must be received by ****21 September 2015**** addressed to:

The Director

Executive Selection Division

Deloitte Consulting Limited

Deloitte Place, Waiyaki Way

Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya

Email: agra@deloitte.co.ke

Tel: +254 20 423 0000