About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia's most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS' disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS's humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs, promotes equality and inclusion, and mitigates the impact of COVID-19.

As part of CRS family, you will join the more than 5000 strong and vibrant individuals working globally to accomplish the mission of CRS. CRS/Ethiopia invites you, the qualified candidate, to apply for the following position.

Job Title:                        Program Manager II - Senior Market Systems Specialist

Band:                              X

Required number:        One

Department:                 Programs

Employment Term:      Definite term (i.e., up to September 30, 2028 )

Reports To:                  Chief of Party-Ethiopia Seed Activity

Country/Location:        CRS Ethiopia/Addis Abba

Application Deadline:   August 29, 2023

Job Summary:

You will provide technical advice, guidance, and support in the area of market systems development. You will be part of the technical team implementing the USAID Feed-the-Future funded Ethiopia Seed Activity (ESA) project. You will apply Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. The technical focus of the activity will be on climate smart crop and forage seed systems, considerate of inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth and strengthened resilience among people and systems in Ethiopia. The Senior Market Systems Specialist will lead market system development and private sector engagement related activity implementation, data collection and reporting tasks.  

 Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project applies best practices in seed market systems development and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

 Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the innovation and business acceleration fund (IBAF) - review proposals and develop market-based approaches that engage private sector development.

• Lead the market systems development approaches providing direct support for activities related to upgrading targeted crops and forage production and value addition and marketing.

• Facilitate strategies and partnerships that strengthen linkages between crop and forage seed market actors and forage and livestock value chain. This will include input suppliers, commercial/smallholder farmers, cooperatives, traders, aggregators, processors, and distributors to drive efficiency and sustainability in targeted crop and forage seed value chains.

• Monitor and facilitate dialogues along the marketing value chain of targeted crop and forage seeds and forage-based products.

• Identify and cultivate new opportunities that strengthen market linkages across the targeted crop and forage value chain.

• Work closely with private sector actors to identify new business models for forage processing with a focus on establishing new business models to de-risk and co-invest with the private business sector to develop new forage feed products to support livestock fattening and marketing.

• Develop and conduct market analysis including RoR (rate of return) and cost-benefit analysis to facilitate private sector engagement and assess Investment returns.

• Conduct periodic market systems analyses, to generate a deeper understanding of market actor, including private sector functions, behaviors, incentives, dynamics, opportunities and develop pilots and approaches to support the establishment and expansion of the private business sector in targeted crop and forage chain.

• Lead the implementation of high impactful activities to support targeted crops and forage and livestock market actors to enable them to create job opportunities for youth and women across the value chain.

• Ensure the project captures and responds to up-to-date information about market system developments and private sector engagement within targeted crop and forage and livestock market systems and global best practices for Markets Systems Development.

• Identify opportunities for learning, research, and publications in the area of market systems development. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda.

• Support the Technical Director, MEAL Manager and Chief of Party with data to support the development of evidence-based briefs for the Seed Activity learning agenda.

• Train and provide mentoring to the teams working with him/under him to acquire knowledge and key tools in market systems development and private sector engagement and facilitation approach and works in field with the objectives to increase their capacities in program implementation effectiveness.

• Build collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments, and other stakeholders.

• Coordinate market systems development activities on the ground with CIAT and other partners.

Job Requirements

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• MSc/MA or BA/BSc degree in Business Administration, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development or other relevant fields with preferable working experience in the seed sector.

• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in the seed sector for MA/MSc or minimum of 8 years of work experience in the seed sector for BA/BSc. NGO experience is preferred.

• Experience leading agricultural market systems development programs with a track record of effective private sector engagement. USG or other similar development project experience preferred.

• Deep understanding of markets system development approaches and Economic & Markets Development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating

• Experience in working with livestock, crop production and financial market actors in the industry (public and private) actors and institutional stakeholders.

• Knowledge of participatory analyses, action, and results processes.

• Good experience in project management, preferably for grants from USAID.

• Experience engaging with partner organizations.

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Business minded, entrepreneurial, adaptive, curious, and results motivate.

•  Demonstrated skills in the facilitation of public-private partnerships.

• Demonstrated ability to work and coordinate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including national and local government, donors, community-based organizations, and the private sector.

• Highly data driven with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions.

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.

• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.

• Strong written and oral communication skills, facilitation, and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors.

• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.

• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors.

• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

 Required Languages – Professional level proficiency in written and spoken English is required.

 Travel Required - Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% of time.

 Key Working Relationships

Supervisory Responsibilities – Seed System Specialist, Animal Nutritionist

Internal: ESA Chief of Party and project technical staff; Regional Technical Advisors in Agriculture, Youth, Gender and Market Systems, CRS Ethiopia program and operations staff, CRS Ethiopia gender and youth technical advisors

External: CIAT Forage Expert and International technical experts, ESA consultants in policy and densification, national and international partners, public and private sector entities, other partners.

 Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.

• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.

• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.

• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.

• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

 Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.

• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.

• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

 Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

How to Apply

You should fill the application form through this link: CLIK HERE and attach your up-to-date CV on / before the application deadline August 29, 2023. You will be contacted only if selected for written exam/interview. Phone solicitations will not be accepted. These job opportunities are open to Ethiopian nationals only.

CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. 

** Qualified women & persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply**

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer