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. 

Program Description:

TechnoServe collaborates with Partners in Food Solutions (PFS), a non-profit organization that aggregates and links the corporate volunteer expertise of leading food companies - General Mills, Cargill, Bühler, DSM, Hershey, Ardent Mills and Smucker's - under the USAID-funded Alliance for Inclusive and Nutritious Food Processing (AINFP) project. AINFP staff work alongside PFS to engage local food companies, identify their growth challenges, and link them with volunteer experts from PFS corporate partners. The project builds the efficiency and inclusiveness of food processing sectors – improving production and profitability, increasing linkages with smallholder farmers, and growing distribution channels to better reach Base of the Pyramid (BoP) markets. Implementation is anticipated up to March 2024 delivering services across Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Malawi.

Position Description 

The Senior Food Processing Specialist is the technical lead overseeing the provision of strategic advisory services to food processors and other clients at country level in coordination with Partners in Food Solutions and corporate volunteer experts. S/he oversees all engagements with selected clients, and collaborates with other team members in-country and across the project, to ensure coordinated and impactful implementation.

The Senior Food Processing Specialist will report to the AINFP Program Manager.

Responsibilities include:

Client Relationship Management

•  In coordination with other team members identify clients (processors, industry bodies, aggregators etc.) that can have an impact on the availability of nutritious food products and on broader food systems.
• Clearly identify and document their aspirations and challenges; plot a mutually agreed intended impact and route to reach it.
• Plan activities to ensure that the shared objectives are met within the set times and resources and that impact is maximized.
•  Effectively manage, maintain and nurture the relationship with these clients.
• Ensure regular and responsive communication to monitor progress, identify problems at an early stage and respond to them.

Coordination of Technical Assistance

• Clearly communicate to clients the full range of support that is available to them from TechnoServe and through PFS.
• Provide on-the-ground support for implementation of technical advice, on issues identified by the business diagnostic.
• Source and facilitate relevant expertise from PFS partner company volunteer experts to support the food processors. Liaise between volunteers and processors to ensure clear expectations and smooth communication.
• Ensure PFS Technical Leads are fully informed on progress, challenges and successes
• In collaboration with other team members at country and regional level develop and deliver standardized trainings and quick win solutions to less sophisticated clients with simpler technical and business needs.
• Facilitate university student internships / apprenticeship initiative with processors, whereby interns will be assigned for a defined period to provide technical support and address identified issues

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• In coordination with the M&E Manager, manage collection of client data, review data for accuracy.
• Contribute towards explanations of metric results and provide input to recommendations to adapt program approach as necessary to maximize impact.
• Provide anecdotal evidence of impact, including success stories, case studies and lessons learnt
• Ensure activities carried out are in accordance with TechnoServe and donor requirements.

Sector Wide Trainings

Support the program Capacity Development Lead, PFS experts and local training institutes with technical input on identification of appropriate topics and development of curricula for sector wide training in support of broader industry development. 

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related area, Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 5 years' work experience in food processing, with at least 2 working in a manufacturing plant or as a consultant to the industry
• Proven track record in providing technical solutions to food processors.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the challenges of food processing, both technical and business
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) as well as worker safety.
• Strong project management and analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and good computer skills in business software (Excel, MS Project and PowerPoint).
• Strong English skills.

Desirable:

• Previous work on a donor-funded program, ideally USAID
• Design and delivery of trainings
• Managing local consultants/BDS providers

How to Apply

Qualified and interested applicants should Click here to apply for this position and submit a cover letter resume as a single document (either Word or PDF) by April 11, 2022. Applications will be reviewed and considered as received/on a rolling basis. Please note that we are not accepting CVs that are not send through the indicated link.              

Note that - the program life will be up to March 31, 2024 with the possibility of extension       

TechnoServe encourages diversity in all levels and across all facets of our organization. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes

TechnoServe has the right to cancel this advertisement.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.