I.     TechnoServe Background:

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives. 

II.    Program Description:

Tikkun Olam Ventures (TOV) is a new philanthropic development fund and program established by the American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Ethiopia is TOV’s pilot country of operations. TOV supports social businesses in emerging economies to access, invest in, and adopt Israeli technology and innovations to improve the lives of smallholder farmers. Additionally, the fund promotes sustainable business models by facilitating loans for small and medium enterprises (cooperatives, unions, and private agri-businesses) and by providing them with technical support services that increase their chances for success. TOV addresses all barriers to the introduction of new technologies – and facilitates access to finance, technology, learning, and market channels. The first year and a half of the program will serve as the program pilot and focus on supporting enterprises working with smallholder farmers in various horticulture market systems. There is a special focus on increased engagement/empowerment of women and youth.

III.   Position Description:

Support Program Manager in set-up of program operations at field sites. Implement and follow-up on program interventions to facilitate enterprises’ successful purchase of and support to their member smallholder farmers in investing in and adopting Israeli technologies and innovations that ultimately improve their incomes. Interventions include but are not limited to do agronomic practices, the site layout, plot design, system installation and maintenances, supporting enterprises in access to finance, capacity building for improved agronomy, general business and governance skills, loan management, technology utilization, and marketing.

Mobilize and facilitate other key market system players (farmers, local government, research centers, traders, and input/equipment suppliers) to implement program interventions, which will require negotiating, partnering with, and providing follow-up support to these players.

I.     Required Skills and Experience:

Setting Up and Supporting Program Operations

• Operate and manage Gogiti model FTC where farmers and experts from woreda and zones can learn drip irrigation operation, management, maintenance, vegetable production, crop protection practically from the model demo plot;
• Record all necessary data including but not limited to, input supply, production cost, sales and other related information of the model FTC;
• Organize regular farmers visit to the FTC together with different woreda agricultural offices and TOV BAs;
• Manage and use properly all the materials delivered to the operation of the model FTC and report when any problem happened;
• When necessary and assign, support the farmers in agronomic practices and pest and disease protection of horticultural crops;
• Support in finalizing selection of enterprises participating in TOV;
• Develop site plan, design drip kits installation, and install drip kits on farmers’ fields;
• Provide maintenance service for the drip kits at field level;
• Provide technical service and training to farmers on drip system operation, maintenance and lateral stretching, folding and storing kits at end of season;
• Supporting planning meetings and workshops with selected enterprises and other key stakeholders;
• Develop and closely manage relationships with local government agencies,  and other key stakeholders;
• Coordinate team and guest visits at the model FTC, facilitate travel arrangement, provide assistance, and appropriate information and/or facilitate their visit as per schedule provided;

Enterprise Capacity Building

• Build capacity of enterprises through facilitating trainings, including but not limited to: train-the-trainer, business model generation, financial and loan management, good governance, horticulture agronomy, TOV technology adoption, marketing, and nutrition
• Support and facilitate growth in enterprises’ farmer membership and sustainable services offered to members
• Facilitate enterprises’ access to finance

Teamwork and Reporting

• Collaborate with other project team members to plan administrative and M&E activities
• Provide strategic feedback to improve the TOV program to Interim Program Manager, M&E Coordinator, and teammates based on successes, challenges, and other analysis of ongoing activities;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Interim Program Manager
• Lead ongoing research into horticulture as well as technologies and innovations relevant to the project scope; working with project team, update the analysis and understanding of the market systems on a regular basis;
• Ensure benefit to women and youth as well as men;
• Work together with and support Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) coordinator, as required

II.    Success Factors:

Competency is a combination of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) directly related to successful performance on the job.
Core Competencies:

·         Integrity and honesty: Is widely trusted; seen as a direct, truthful individual; presents truthful information in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; does not misrepresent himself or herself for personal gain.

·         Team work / Relationships:  Works co-operatively and flexibly with other members of the team with a full understanding of the role to be played as a team member and/or leader, to achieve a common goal.  Ability to build and maintain effective relationships and networks.

·         Learning attitude:  Proactively takes advantage of opportunities to learn. Actively identifies new areas for learning; applies and shares new knowledge and skill appropriately.

·         Diversity / Inclusiveness:  Demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for diversity and supports diversity efforts. Interacts effectively with and inclusively with people of all races, cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, ages, and genders.

·         Communication:  Expresses ideas effectively in individual and group situations. Listens effectively; shares information, ideas and arguments; adjusts terminology, language and communication modes to the needs of the audience; ensures accurate understanding; acts in a way that facilitates open exchange of ideas and information; uses appropriate non-verbal communication.

·         Decision making / Problem solving:  Is able to analyze situations, diagnose problems, identify the key issues, establish and evaluate alternative courses of action and produce a logical, practical and acceptable solution.  Is able to make effective decisions on a day-to-day basis, taking ownership of decisions, demonstrating sound judgement in escalating issues where necessary.

·         Results oriented / High quality deliverables:  Stays focused on the efforts necessary to achieve quality results consistent with programmatic or departmental goals. Demonstrates the ability to achieve effective results; works persistently to overcome obstacles to goal achievement. Accomplishes tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks.

·         Planning & time management:  Establishes a course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a specific goal. Effectively plans, schedules, prioritizes and controls activities; identifies, integrates and orchestrates resources (people, material, information, budget, and/or time) to accomplish goals. Prioritizes work according to the program or department’s goals, not just own job responsibilities; manages own time effectively.

·         Business acumen:  The ability to use information, ask the right questions and take decisions that make an impact on the overall business performance.

 Job Specific and Technical Competencies:

• Education
  • Diploma or Bachelor degree in horticulture, crop production and marketing, irrigation, and other related fields
• Required experience:
  • Practical experience in drip irrigation installation, maintenance for smallholder farmers;
  • Knowledge and skill in demo plot operation and management.
  • Experience in horticultural production and crop protection;
  • Experience in preparation of site plan and layout for drip irrigation, 
• Attributes and skills:
  • Excellent customer service skills;
  • High level of organization and efficiency;
  • Clear and concise communication skills;
  • Computer skills (emails, scanning, word processing) and proficiency Google Drive, Skype, and familiarity with Excel and Word software;
  • Perform basic Excel functions such as custom sort, filter, copy, paste, freeze rows/columns and can conduct search find and replace in Excel;
  • Keen attention to detail;
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks at once for different individuals in the office;
  • Proven ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion;
  • Results focused and aware of the different challenges faced by individuals;
  • Culturally aware and able to speak English and Amharic fluently.

 Preferred Qualifications and Capabilities

• Computer skill;
• Experience in planning and coordination of events;
• Experience with computer programs related to data analysis in addition to Excel;
• Experience in agriculture, agriculture technologies and innovations, or other relevant area;
• Experience working with farmers, cooperatives and agribusinesses at the field level