The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, which is a key contributor to the country’s GDP, exports, and workforce. The ATI’s work is cantered on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFs) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability. 

The ATI works to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia by conducting policy and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support and capacity building, coordinating. 

platforms to better integrate partners and projects and designing and directly leading several innovative/pilot interventions. 

The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. In addition, the ATI collaborates with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. The Institute plays a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision-making in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector

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 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.  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. 

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Innovation and Development team is established to continuously scout and develop innovative digital solutions that transforms the agriculture sector. The team develops physical solutions to be piloted in selected locations or value chains.  The team will be the digital innovative powerhouse of the organization. The team leader is expected to lead the process from ideation to development, deployment, and pilot implementation. In addition, the team leader is expected to lead the team in development and management of business-critical software applications that are used internally by the institution. This may involve providing development, customization, and Layer 3 support for business-critical applications.   

You will work with higher management to define software requirements and take the lead on operational and technical projects.

This role requires working independently with little supervision. One should have excellent organization and problem-solving skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead ideation, brainstorming and development of innovative solutions.

• Scout for advanced digital agriculture and finance solutions that can be piloted by the organization.

• Work with other departments within the organization to come up with new and innovative digital solutions to support the functioning of the initiatives of the departments,

• Manage full software development lifecycle including planning, defining systems work scope, designing, coding, testing, implementing, and supporting infrastructure.

• Work with project implementation teams to pilot applications in selected areas,

• Organize technical support for developed applications and solutions.

• Provides application or infrastructure technical expertise, analysis and specifications for IT systems to meet business requirements in accordance with IT architecture policies and standards; translate requirements into technical specifications, create detailed solution design, coordinate construction, installation, configuration and testing of IT systems; and identifies, troubleshoots and resolves system technical issues.

• Manage multiple project timelines and deliverables;

• Assist in defining development guidelines and standards for optimal solutions;

• Ensure all applications are documented according to standards;

• Provide technical guidance and system process expertise through training and troubleshooting of issues;

• Ensure database availability and performance

• Triage and remedy database issues.

• Provide plans for growth and expansion.

• Help develop database solutions for new projects.

• Optimize and refactor existing structure to meet performance objectives.

• Installation, provisioning and maintenance of all database software.

• Ensure backup and restore operations are conducted for all applications and systems that produce data.

• Publishing new code/changes into all company environments (production, staging, etc).

• Monitor and maintain system health, performance and security.

• Collaborate with system users and management to identify application development solutions, new applications or modifications to existing programs.

• Plan and implement review deployment plans, installation schedules, and upgrades/fixes to the production environment.

• Plans and implements standards for the installation, configuration, administration and management of all database systems. Standardization to include “Best Practice” methodologies for database design, security, tools, programming techniques, policies and procedures.

• Provides technical guidance to Application Developers in database planning, design and performance optimization. Evaluates 3rd Party application systems for database functionality, security and performance.

• Reviews database design and integration with application systems and makes recommendations regarding enhancements and/or improvements.

• Works closely with IT technical service providers to ensure outsourced work packages are delivered to specifications, meeting key parameters of quality, schedule, cost, security, performance, and scalability.

• Prepare and present formal training to IT staff and perform code reviews, as needed; and

• Contribute to strategic planning meetings and provide guidance and expertise on system options, risk, costs vs. benefits, and impacts on business processes and goals.

• Participates in the creation of standards, processes, procedures, and guidelines for the IT design and development community as well work instructions or ‘runbooks’ used for end-user support.

• Analyzes and revises existing systems and documentation to identify remediation or improvements in the application or infrastructure solution.

• Provides level 3 support for critical non-routine issues.

• Coaches less experienced team members on technical matters.

• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.                                 

Job Requirements

Qualification and Experience

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering or related fields with relevant experience.

EXPERIENCE

• At least 10 years of professional experience for master’s degree, in software development, and of which at least 4 years as a technical lead in software development and database implementation projects.

• At least 5 years of significant relevant experience leading a team of development experts.

• Hands-on experience in modern programming tools, technologies, and approaches.

• Solid experience in advanced programming languages including Python, JavaScript, .NET MVC, APIs, ASP.NET,

• Understanding of RESTful architecture.

• Expertise in object-oriented design, data structures, algorithms, and complexity analysis,

• Ability to take a project from scoping requirements through actual launch of the project.

• Experience in communicating with users, other technical teams, and management to collect requirements, describe software product features, and technical designs,

• Experience with distributed (multi-tiered) systems.

• Experience in design, develop, test, deploy, maintain and improve already existing software.

• coach a team of software engineers and database developers.

• Proficient in SQL development (complex queries, stored procedures, and user defined functions) and performance tuning is required.

• Ability to work with data analytics tools like Power BI.

• Experience in full-stack development.

• Experience in managing software development projects.

• Excellent knowledge of web application design and architecture.

• Experience in mobile applications development.

• Knowledge in network security.

• Proficiency in Agile/Scrum Methodology using TFS.

• Strong problem-solving skills, analytical skills, and attention to detail required.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills required.

• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work independently, in a team environment, and with vendors and clients required; and

• Ability to occasionally work evenings and weekends.

How To Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to THIS LINK It is mandatory to mention the position title in both the subject line of your cover letter and the Outlook email subject line. Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.

Women are highly encouraged to apply 

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.