Vacancy Announcement

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY

Position: Senior Technical Expert, Engineer - EIC

Term of Employment: One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station(s): Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), Addis Ababa

Required Number: One

Salary & Benefits: Competitive

Application Deadline:  November 20, 2020

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) is a strategy and delivery-oriented government agency created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATA envisions that, by 2025, smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability, contributing to Ethiopia’s achievement of middle-income country status.

The agency focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources (MoA), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate development of high-priority commodity value chains in clearly defined geographic clusters, through the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) Initiative.

Our major activities include conducting strategic and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects, and designing and directly leading a number of implementation projects. Our headquarters are in Addis Ababa, and we have regional offices in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private and development sector partners across the country.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great team work to achieve excellent results. 

At ATA, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training, and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals. 

POSITION SUMMARY:   

The Senior Technical Expert is expected to support the Commission on a broad range of issues, including but not limited to; providing leadership in the delivery of reliable, accurate, timely and well-informed investment advice, supervising the production of research that will generate inputs for the use of investment promotion agenda, preparation guide lines for Investor and construction work. He/she is also responsible for providing support in various other policy research issues by representing the Commission, drafting undertakings and structuring remedies for the relevant issues. He/she is also overseeing the management of contracts under the EIC Project in planning, implementation and monitoring of contracts and evaluation.

The Senior Technical Expert will work in close coordination with Supervision Consultant (Engineer), Contractor, procurement specialists, Project coordinator and other actors defined in contract agreement for quality, timely and cost-effective implementation of contractors in course of execution of various civil works contracts and consultancy assignments for effective and efficient completion of contracts. In General, The Senior Technical Expert is also expected to be involved in effective planning, organizing and problem-solving skills together with the ability to lead, motivate and influence others is considered essential, as are strong communication skills (both written and verbal). The Senior Technical Expert will directly report to the Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission.

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Coordinate research on priority areas and develop evidence-based investment policy interventions;
• In addition to the priority areas, the advisor studies, surveys, investigates, and reports on selected economic issues of consequence on its own initiative in consultation of the Commission;
• Formulate and prepare complete and well-defined contract agreements, guideline for investor in close coordination with the EIC lawyer.
• Prepare contract implementation plans, monitor implementation thereof, review deliverables, and manage contract changes.
• Work closely with procurement specialists to prepare bid documents, evaluate bids related to construction works, bidders list and submits recommendations to selection committee(s), including inquiry preparations, request for bids and recommendations for award of contract as per the EIC procurement guidelines.
• Organizes and maintains both national and regional data and indicators pertinent to policy research (That is, socio-economic data gathered from various sources in the process of conducting policy research on various issues, should be organized and documented to develop database that can serve the Commission for future policy studies);
• Closely work with stakeholders and harmonies relationships including with, regional investment office, High Value Investors, Academics and others;
• Provide technical advice on aspects of the works if and when necessary Work closely with the Financial Management Specialist to ensure proper documentation and certification of payment requests and timely processing of payments due to contractors and consultants
• Reviews design of construction works, including off-site and on-site infrastructure based on national standards and international practices
• Prepare construction implementation schedules by studying project plans and specifications; calculating time requirements; sequencing project elements.
• Properly document all contract-related communications and documents, including preparation and maintenance of a contract’s management register.
• Recommend on areas of action on an immediate and long-term basis;
• Assist and/or lead the preparation of an Investment Map, Brochures and help the preparation / redesigning of a dedicated website or weblink;
• Help the preparation of Investors tick box list of actions with detailed contacts and responsible personalities;

Job Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of BSc degree in Civil Engineering/Hydraulic Engineer/Building Engineer/ Construction of Management, with experience of at least eight years in managing complex and large value works and contracts. At least 8 years of combined professional work experience in either one or more of the following:
• at least five years of experience with demonstrative effectiveness, in providing technical support on contract administration issues on large and complex projects.
• providing policy advice on economic development, industrial policy and/or investment related subjects in different developmental contexts
• have demonstrated professional experience in the interpretation of contractual documents.
• have extensive knowledge of national rules and regulations.
• team leadership, program/project coordination/support type roles, 
• institutional capacity building roles business and/or public administration roles

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of requirements for acquiring professional design and construction services in accordance with current Ethiopian regulations
• Knowledge of the laws and directives regulating building construction
• Knowledge of the procurement and contracts administration rules and laws of the country.
• Strong analytical skills in economic and social dimensions of development and investment;
• Experience in prioritizing and sequencing programmatic and operational activities;
• Basic understanding of Ethiopia’s economic policies and investment system, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and informal actors operate within the system;
• Demonstrated analytical skills in engineering, costing, and financial analysis
• Experience in creating partnerships at the national level and (preferably) at international level;
• Demonstrable track record of success with program design, performance management, learning systems and monitoring and evaluation;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with emphasis on teamwork, accountability and results;
• Highly facilitative and collaborative leadership style;
• Excellent computer (ICT) skills, analytical and data gathering skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service;
• Fluency in English and Amharic is essential.

How to Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) CV (maximum 3 pages) to https://apply.ata.gov.et

It is mandatory to mention the position title in the subject line of your application email.

Please DO NOT submit scans of educational and experience certificates with your application.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.