Position: Advisor: Agricultural Sector Transformation Reform

Term of Employment: Fixed Term

Duty Station(s):  Addis Ababa, Secondment to Ministry of Agriculture

Required Number: One

Application Deadline: September 14, 2024

The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) was established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify systemic bottlenecks, conduct studies, and provide recommendations, provide implementation support, manage projects, create linkages and coordination among activities and agricultural development programs. The Institute is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATI envisions that, to be the leading center of innovative solutions to catalyze and contribute to the transformation of Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030 where smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

Ethiopia is embarking on a major public service reform comprised of the following:

• Build free and independent civil servants with vibrant mindsets and forward-looking.     

• Accelerating and ensuring diversity and inclusiveness of civil servants.

• Building of employees' professionalization.

• Public administration, job evaluation, and remuneration system. 

• Efficient and accessible government service provision.

• Build a digital civil service system. 

• Developing a pragmatic and dynamic leadership and organization.

• Developing basic reform platform and

• Administrative reform activities.

Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) is one of the eight institutions designated to implement the public service transformation reform which aimed to modernize its civil servant and the surrounding. By doing so, it seeks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in delivering services to clients, thereby significantly contributing to the achievement of Country’s growth and development objectives.

Currently, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute, ATI, is in the process of establishing a Delivery Team in the MoA to directly oversee and track the reform implementation process, timely and accurate reporting, and rigorous and practical problem-solving. The Technical Advisor is one of the Team members who will be seconded to the Ministry to provide technical & professional advice and support hence the Transformation Reform will be effectively implemented.

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 ATI, 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 reform.  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. 

The technical Advisor, Ministry of Agricultural sectors transformation reform, plays a pivotal role in the implementation of the sector reform. The Advisor also provides strategic directions in improving the Human resource development and management, in developing resilient structure of the sector, in Human resource policy development and implementation, in performance management, human resource motivation and development.

The ideal candidate will have high caliber in technical and strategical directions in the implementation of the ninth policy pillars, policy developments and implementation, policy tools, performance management in the regional or federal level. The Advisor should also have good leadership, planning, communication, time management, networking, and other soft skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Advise the Department Heads and the Minister in human resource and development management.

• Follow up plans to optimize competency and human resource administration aligned with organizational goals and objectives.

• Compile innovative input on short- and long-term strategic plans with the mission, vision and objective of the Ministry. 

• Investigate drawbacks of the system and give recommendations based on the functional review to promote internal efficiency.

• Monitor and evaluate the efficiency of the affiliated organization performance in line with the strategic pillars, with the coordination of department heads.

• Develop and implement competency assessments, and training programs to enhance the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of employees.

• Review suggestions by clients of the Ministry, assess different suggestions and give advice on how to improve expected service standing on the facts of the study;

• Study the coordination of the main departments and develop recommendations to increase the efficiency in between different departments.

• Assess, plan and conduct trainings in relevant fields for personnel.

• Follow-up on reform planning of the organisations, the way they record their actual performance and give advices on their drawbacks,

• Work closely with the Federal Civil Service Commission, regions and other executive offices to strengthen the reform activities and in other national initiatives.

• Work closely with team leaders, executive officers & strategic executive officers in developing annual plan, preparing reports and feedback.

• Build free and independent civil servants with vibrant mindsets and forward-looking.     

• Accelerating and ensuring diversity and inclusiveness of civil servants;

• Building of employees' professionalization.

• Facilitate the resilient of the Agricultural sector transformation reform.

• Oversee the development and update of HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations while promoting fairness and equity in the workplace.

• Oversee talent acquisition, retention, and development processes to ensure the organization attracts, retains, and nurtures top talent.

• Oversee the formulation of effective performance management system and work closely with other executive offices in its implementation.

• Oversee the implementing of Efficient and accessible government service provision.

• Follow up the implementation of a digital civil service system; and

• Follow up a pragmatic leadership and organization implementation activities

• Oversee the implementation of management information system.

• Make Collaboration with affiliated organization, department heads and HR professionals to identify competency gaps and develop strategies to address them.

• Oversee evaluations of employee competencies and provide recommendations for improvement.

• Oversee the design and implementation of performance management systems to align with competency frameworks.

• Provide guidance on recruitment, selection, and on-boarding processes to ensure alignment with competency requirements.

• Stay updated on organizational trends and best practices in competency development and human resource administration.

• Serve as a mentor and coach to junior HR professionals and contribute to their professional development.

• Follow and oversee the implementation of all reform pillars

• Prepare regular reports on the progress of the pillars

• Undertake other duties as assigned by operation, lead executive officer and the Ministry’s Senior management. 

Job Requirements

Required qualifications, competencies, skills, training and experience

• Master’s degree or PhD in Human Resources Management and Development, Management, Business Administration, or related field of studies, 

• Minimum 12 years for master’s and 6 years for PhD directly relevant work experience out of which 6 years is in leadership and managerial position, as adviser/consultant in Human Resources Management, Organization Structuring, Organization Development.

 Competences:

• Hands on experience in strategy development, Leadership, team building, effective interpersonal communication skill.

• High degree of initiative, integrity, and accountability.

• Computer application skills: MS-office applications, and internet and email systems.

• Ability to promote teamwork and smoothly work with diverse team. 

• Service attitude towards internal and external partners.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective result-based working relationship with staff at federal and regional levels and partner organizations.

How to Apply

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to send (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum of three pages) at http://apply.ata.gov.et

Also, please DO NOT submit certificates with scans on your application form. 

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.