Ethiopia: Director- Livestock Program

Vacancy Announcement

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY

Position: Director- Livestock Program

Term of Employment: Fixed

Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa

Required Number: One

Salary & Benefits: Competitive with comparable positions for international staff

Application Deadline: March 21, 2016

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 that address the systemic bottlenecks. The Agency reports to a Transformation Council chaired by the Prime Minister and whose co-chair is the Minister of Agriculture.

The programmatic focus of the Agency responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Transformation Council. Within the Agency, issues are divided into four different groups: **Production and Productivity* which includes Inputs and Crop Protection, Livestock, Research and Extension, Mechanization, Rural Finance & Agro-Processing Value Addition; Agribusiness and Markets including Market Services, Market Infrastructure, Commercial & Contract Farming, Domestic and Export Market Development, and Cooperatives Development; Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Growth including Sustainable Irrigation & Watershed Management, Sustainable Land Management, Gender Equality and Nutrition, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, and Planning and MLE; and Enhanced Implementation Capacity which includes ICT, Private Sector, and Organizational and Human Capacity. 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 employees with highly competent and 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 Director of the Livestock program will primarily be responsible for mapping out and addressing the key bottlenecks in the priority components of the livestock sector – from research and development to value addition and marketing for domestic and international markets. In line with the GTPII strategic direction, the livestock program during the GTPII period will focus on, but not limited to, addressing systemic bottlenecks in three program areas, namely Feeds & Feeding, Animal Health and Genetic & Breed Improvement. The Director will work with key stakeholders in addressing prioritized systemic constraints along the livestock value chains including federal level institutions, regional bureaus, research centers, cooperatives, farmer unions, commercial livestock farmers, traders, wholesalers, agri-businesses and others and develop linkages to farmers/livestock keepers to improve the ease of market transactions, to decrease market dysfunctions, and to increase small holder farmer income.

The ATA seeks to recruit a Director for the Livestock Program who demonstrates clear passion for improving the lives of smallholder livestock keepers/farmers and pastoralists and a thorough familiarity with key issues of the livestock sector both in the domestic and key international markets, a good understanding of livestock development models, linkages with the rest of the economy and their alignment with major national economic development strategies. S/he would ideally possess knowledge of Ethiopia’s livestock sector and extensive knowledge of its structure, governance, and marketing. S/he would likewise possess the entrepreneurial ability to visualize transformation, to mobilize stakeholders across systems, to be innovative and to drive practical change on the ground.

The Director will report directly to the Senior Director for Production and Productivity and be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Serving as the leader of the Livestock Program team, with responsibility for the overall direction and management of the Program.

· Engaging stakeholders across the priority livestock value chains (government, private sector, non-governmental organizations, universities, research centres, cooperatives, farmers unions, farmers, donors, etc.) to identify and prioritize actions to improve all components of key areas in the livestock value chain.

• Working with stakeholders to design and then implement high-priority interventions to bring about lasting transformation of the smallholder livestock production towards greater market orientation and commercialization.
• Supporting ATA and other stakeholders to mobilize needed financial, human or organizational resources for project execution.
• Managing the performance of the interventions designed to strengthen the value chain of key selected areas; setting key performance indicators, milestones and targets; engaging stakeholders to creatively solve problems and overcome obstacles in order to achieve desired results.
• Critically assessing capacity gaps hindering the effective implementation of interventions designed and developing approaches for improving capabilities as required.
• Integrating the livestock program interventions with other ATA programs to achieve synergies and outcomes that impact the broader agricultural system.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree/PhD in Agriculture, Animal Science, Animal Breeding or related subjects.
• 10-15 years in a senior program leadership role in government, international agency or private sector.
• An understanding of the livestock sector dynamics in Ethiopia as well as key countries, with a preference for solid knowledge in the Ethiopian livestock sector, particularly the relevant national strategic directions as set out in the GTPII and the Livestock Master Plan.
• Good track record of working with and for smallholder livestock keepers, research institutions, public institutions at various levels, non-governmental organizations and other partners.
• Understanding and experience in developing livestock value chains, particularly in Ethiopia and in developing countries, and addressing obstacles that hinder the strengthening of key components including the adoption of new technologies by smallholder livestock keepers in mixed crop-livestock as well as pastoral systems.
• Practical experience in implementing solutions at the local level.
• Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operation activities.
• Experience in creating public-private partnerships in livestock value chains.
• Demonstrable track record of success with program design, performance management, learning systems and monitoring & evaluation

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 athttp://www.ata.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Application-Form21.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 toRecruitment@ata.gov.etand include“Application for Director- Livestock Program**” in the subject line.**

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

NB. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Application Deadline:March 21, 2016