Ethiopia: Livestock Production and Marketing Team Lead, PARA - Ethiopia

This position is fully contingent on funding.
About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara - and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and participating public. Mercy Corps has a growing portfolio of programs in Ethiopia that focus on food security; agriculture and livestock market systems development; maternal and child health and nutrition; youth economic productivity; resilience and humanitarian response. In Ethiopia, some of our donors include USAID, SIDA, DFID, and WFP.

General Position Summary

The Livestock Production and Marketing Team Lead will lead component 3 of the Pastoral Areas Resilience Activity program (PARA), a $56.9 million dollar program focused on stimulating increased production, productivity and marketing through more competitive livestock and livestock products markets. The individual will work closely with the Chief of Party,Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Team Lead, the Diversified Economic Opportunities Team Lead, the Nutrition Team Lead and the Collaboration Learning and Adaptation (CLA) Team Lead and other stakeholders to intensify livestock and fodder production while increasing livestock and crop marketing. S/he will engage closely with counterparts from other donor funded programs and the private sector actors in designing and implementing equitable, inclusive and innovative livestock production and marketing approaches.

Essential Job Responsibilities

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• Oversee all livestock marketing and productions activities ensuring that staff are following work plans, activities are on schedule to the highest standard, and that project deliverables are completed as planned.
• Advise on technical aspects of livestock markets in the PRIME program to promote the livelihoods of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. Work closely with PRIME consortium members on coordinating activities and harmonizing technical strategies and tactics.
• Provide technical support to cluster program teams to help improve production, marketing, health, and sales of livestock and related products.
• Manage implementation of the PRIME livestock activities providing technical direction, developing work plans in collaboration with national staff, monitoring implementation and impact, training staff in commercialization, marketing and business skills enabling them to train beneficiary farmers.
• Develop monitoring systems and provide regular reports on program activities.
• Assist with development, design and proposal writing for related programming as needed.

REPRESENTATION AND COORDINATION

• Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, local religious leaders and other notables to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps' programs.
• Maintain close working relationships with donors, other humanitarian and development organizations, and local partners, including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings as assigned.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: Direct supervision of: Production and Marketing program team

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

Works Directly With: Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Team Lead, the Diversified Economic Opportunities Team Lead, the Nutrition Team Lead and the Collaboration Learning and Adaptation (CLA) Team Lead, Operations and Finance team.

Knowledge and Experience

• MA/S in Business, finance, livestock, agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, or related field. BA with additional experience will be considered.
• 5-7 years' work experience with for profit organization, non-governmental organization (NGO) or profit agribusiness working with vulnerable, marginalized and pastoralists/agro-pastoralist groups.
• 5+ years' proven experience in innovative value chain development or business models using best practices.
• Expertise with pastoral specific research, extension, market facilitation and natural resource management in an ago/agro-pastoral context
• Experience in dry lands and/or value chain development is desirable
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English, including report development, writing and editing.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
• Previous experience in Ethiopia is preferred and the Horn of Africa is required.

Success Factors:

The successful Team Lead has knowledge and experience related to all elements of intensified and sustained pastoral and agro-pastoral production and marketing. Of particular importance is expertise with pastoral-specific research, extension, market facilitation and natural resource management. S/he will combine exceptional capacity building skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and advise innovative program ideas within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, M&E skills and experience.

Living /Environmental Conditions:

The position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with regular travel to the field. The location is accompanied and secure. Individual housing is available with freedom of movement beyond the house and office. There are international schools in Addis Ababa. Staff have good access to essential services, such as medical care, electricity, water, etc. This position requires up to 50% of travel by air and road to field offices in relatively secure environments but climatically harsh conditions. This position is not eligible for hardship and/or R&R benefits.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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