Senior Specialist, Agriculture and Food Security at Chemonics International

• The Agriculture & Food Security Practice aims to facilitate inclusive market system development while improving nutrition outcomes and climate-smart agriculture practices. The practice works with smallholder farmers and non-farm market system actors to reduce risks, improve production practices, and increase trade by assessing the market system, identifying constraints, facilitating market-based solutions to improve agriculture productivity, and using social behavior change communications to effect change.
• Our regional portfolio includes fourteen projects spanning a wide range of technical sectors. West and Central Africa and Haiti’s robust new business market is equally diverse and promises plenty of opportunities to those willing to take on new and exciting opportunities. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

• Foster professional relationships with key clients, implementing partners, and industry experts within the sector, including USAID/Washington bureau officers
• Conduct and share research on USAID trends and agriculture and food security sector policies, and other potential clients, partners, and competitors
• Foster and support initiatives and activities with other technical practices at Chemonics, to highlight or develop corporate capability in cross-sectoral approaches
• Promote Chemonics’ approaches and results, expands Chemonics’ relationships with clients and industry actors, and captures information on leading industry thinking and best practices through participation in associations, communities of practice, and industry events
• Provide daily management and oversight to Chemonics’ Indefinite Quantity Contracts, as assigned
• Review and provide comments and inputs to project or proposal technical documents as requested
• Demonstrate strong technical knowledge and expertise representing Chemonics at external events within the industry, and serving as a reliable technical resource for project teams
• Liaison with Strategic Communication and Outreach (SCO), Practice Support Department (PSD) Editorial Support and Production (ESP), and Project Management Units (PMUs) to capture, update, and maintain information on Chemonics’ technical solutions, for internal and external distribution
• Track and annually collects company development achievement indicators related to technical sector
• Support new business development for mission-based, USAID/Washington-based, and other donor programming in assigned practice by providing technical input and guidance to proposal teams, connecting Chemonics to candidates and partners within the industry, and playing a direct role in proposal development as needed
• Serve as acting director as needed and contributes to meetings on directors’ behalf, as necessary
• Delegate, supervise, and evaluate performance of assigned staff. Communicates clear performance goals and standards and ensures staff receives regular constructive performance feedback, prompt resolution of problems, and time and opportunity to grow and develop in key competency areas
• Promote staff development and builds technical depth across the company through coaching, mentoring, and facilitating professional development opportunities in the technical sector
• Foster and demonstrate a workplace inclusive of creating opportunity, serving others, building trust, innovation and exceeding expectations
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as required

Qualifications:

• Minimum of eight years of technically relevant work experience required
• Minimum of one year of supervisory experience required
• Bachelor’s degree in international development, agriculture, food security, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred
• Knowledge of USAID and industry trends in the technical discipline
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to effectively lead meetings, give presentations, and network within the industry
• Willingness to travel and work abroad
• Strong analytical skills demonstrated leadership skills, and ability to take initiative
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and mentor staff
• Ability to travel and work abroad in less developed countries for at least 4 to 8 weeks a year