Advisor, Food Processing and Marketing – Washington DC, United States

Action Against Hunger is seeking a skilled Food Processing and Marketing Advisor for the upcoming five-year, USAID-funded Feed the Future Global DASHED Activity. This role is crucial in enhancing the technical and business capacities of food processors to ensure the production and marketing of safe, nutritious foods. Based in Washington, D.C., this position involves significant international travel and is anticipated to start in 2025.

Purpose:

The Food Processing and Marketing Advisor will guide the development and implementation of strategies to strengthen the food processing sector as well as to implement effective social marketing campaigns. This role includes fostering innovation, improving market linkages, and enhancing food safety practices to boost the competitiveness and sustainability of food processors to meet consumers’ preferences and needs.

Engagement:

This position will engage with a broad network of stakeholders including government agencies, private sector partners, and local communities to promote best practices in food processing and marketing. The advisor will also facilitate partnerships and dialogues that enhance market access and regulatory compliance for food processors.

Delivery:

The advisor will oversee the implementation of project activities related to food processing and marketing, ensuring they align with both local needs and international standards. This involves designing interventions, monitoring their execution, and adjusting strategies based on performance data and stakeholder feedback.

Essential Job Duties

• Lead the development of food processing and marketing strategies, ensuring they are innovative, sustainable, and aligned with global food safety standards.

• Provide expert advice on modernizing food processing technologies and marketing techniques to enhance product quality and market reach.

• Develop an incentive framework to ensure alignment of project goals and stakeholder motives.

• Coordinate with local and international experts to facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity building among food processors.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with all project stakeholders to ensure cohesive strategy implementation and maximize impact.

• Collaborate with the integration and prioritization of gender equality, protection and inclusion across all facets of project implementation.

• Collaborate with efforts to craft and implement a strategy to engage local stakeholders, ensuring their insights and expertise are integrated into project planning and execution.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Manage a team dedicated to food processing and marketing initiatives, providing direction and support to ensure strategic objectives are met.

Fiscal Responsibility

Manage budgets related to food processing and marketing activities, ensuring efficient use of resources and compliance with funding regulations.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Food Science, Business Administration, or a related field.

• At least eight years of experience in food processing and marketing, particularly in developing countries.

Required Skills & Experience

• Demonstrated expertise in developing and implementing food processing strategies.

• Strong understanding of market dynamics and consumer behavior in the food sector.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills, capable of managing diverse teams and projects.

• The candidate must have at least five years of field experience.

• Fluency in English; proficiency in additional languages beneficial for field operations.