The Agriculture Project Specialist (FSN-11) is located in the Integrated Development and Emergency assistance (IDEA) office and provides technical support for natural resources management and private sector engagement in the agriculture sector and leads the Mission and IDEA office on agricultural development and food security issues in regard to the Feed the Future Strategy. S/he engages with host government officials and other partners working with donor institutions, private sector actors, and NGO organizations to advance the Mission’s agricultural led economic growth utilizing a market systems approach that is conservation-friendly and environmentally-sound. S/he provides expert advice on agriculture market systems, conservation-enterprise and value chain development, and linkages between food security, sustainable agricultural development, and natural resource management interventions. The position includes leadership responsibilities, in terms of providing strategic vision for the office through the agricultural lens, enhancing team cohesion, and coordinating the work of other professional staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The overall responsibilities of the Agriculture Project Specialist are to provide technical expertise and professional guidance to USAID/Madagascar and the U.S. Mission as a whole in the broad area of environmentally sustainable agricultural development. In particular, s/he will bring in his/her knowledge of the national context, history, and policies in Madagascar to improve USAID/Madagascar’s strategies and interventions. Additionally, s/he is expected to have a network of the agriculture key actors in Madagascar, and to use them so that USAID/Madagascar has the best outcomes. The position requires a depth of technical expertise and program management skills that will allow him/her to provide leadership on these and other policy issues, meeting and collaborating on a regular basis with senior officials and partners working with USAID and Embassy Antananarivo, other donor organizations, USAID contractor and grantee organizations, professional organizations, Government of Madagascar (GOM), NGOs, international organizations, and the private sector. His/her management decisions require the ability to identify, assess, understand, and systematize complex issues as they relate to Madagascar’s broader economic, political, and cultural realities that can lead to important changes or adaptations in relevant national policies.

The Agriculture Project Specialist serves as the Mission’s technical specialist and resource person on sustainable agriculture market systems. S/he represents USAID in donor groups where s/he is responsible for ensuring the coordination of USG and other donor policies and investments and coordinates closely with the USAID/Southern Africa Regional Mission, USAID/Kenya and East Africa Regional Mission, and USAID/Washington.

REQUIREMENTS

Offers will be initially screened by the Human Resources Office to determine whether they have met the minimum qualifications below. A list of qualified offers will be referred to the evaluation committee for further consideration and screening.

a. Education:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university (or equivalent), in the areas of agriculture, agribusiness, natural resource management, or related field.

2. Prior Work Experience:

At least five years of work experience in the areas of agriculture, agribusiness, and/or natural resource management in an international development setting, with a minimum of two years of this experience working in task-oriented teams.

3. Language Proficiency

Language proficiency equivalent to level IV (fluent) in English, French and Malagasy are required.

d. Job Knowledge:

The Job holder must demonstrate an understanding of agriculture development as a means to improve poverty, nutrition, resilience, and biodiversity outcomes. It is also critical that the Job holder is able to easily engage donors, international partners, private sector, government, and other stakeholders involved in agriculture development. In addition, the Job holder must have a strong knowledge of Madagascar and an understanding of the development agenda of the country. Knowledge of communication approaches is required.

5. Skills and Abilities:

The Job holder will demonstrate strong problem-solving skills involving complex or conceptual problems, particularly in the areas of agriculture development and food systems. Similarly, strong analytical and critical thinking skills are needed. The Job holder must be a team player and be able to develop and maintain positive working relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders both within the Mission and outside with private sector, donor and GOM representatives. Job holder must be computer literate with advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point packages and familiarity with social media (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc.).

The Job holder must have experience, technical skills, training and/or competencies in using market-based systems approaches to achieve agriculture development and humanitarian outcomes.