Vacancy Announcement
ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY
Position: Head of MoLF Delivery Unit
Term of Employment: Through July 2020
Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Required Number: One
Salary & Benefits: Competitive
Application Deadline: January 20, 2018
BACKGROUND:
The Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development. The Agency does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions that address the systemic bottlenecks. The Agency reports to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development and is Secretary to the Transformation Council chaired by the Prime Minister.
The programmatic focus of the Agency responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development and the Transformation Council. Within the Agency, issues are divided into four different pillars: Crops & Natural Resources which includes Inputs and Plant Protection, Soil Health & Fertility, Irrigation and Drainage, and Mechanization; Cross Cutting Initiatives, which includes Inclusive Growth, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Planning and MLE; Livestock, which includes Animal Health and Genetic Improvement and Feed & Feeding; and Agribusiness and Markets including Market Development, Rural Finance, ICT, and Private Sector. In addition, the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters Initiative is another critical focus area for the Agency. Across the programs, the ATA engages public, private and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models.
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 mentor ships necessary to achieve their career goals.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The ATA is launching a Delivery Unit within the new Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MoLF) to directly support MoLF’s work on the Transformation Agenda. Specifically, the Delivery Unit supports owners of Transformation Agenda Deliverables (TADs) within MoLF, with planning, reporting, project management and technical and strategic analysis. Delivery Units have played a critical role in accelerating execution of development initiatives in many countries, particularly in East and Southeast Asia, and today are also present in Ethiopia’s Prime Minister’s office and the Revenue and Customs Authority. The Delivery Unit will be jointly overseen by the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries and the ATA Senior Director of Strategic Services, with support from the ATA CEO. The Delivery Unit team plays a highly visible and pivotal role in accelerating agricultural transformation and development in Ethiopia.
The Head of the Delivery Unit leads the Delivery Unit team to accelerate implementation of Transformation Agenda Deliverables within MoLF. The Head of the Delivery Unit sets priorities, develops annual plans and targets, establishes performance monitoring systems, seeks feedback on DU performance, and escalates critical issues to the Minister and Senior Director. S/he will establish strong relationships with and regularly engage relevant internal and external senior stakeholders and initiative owners to ensure strong buy-in and support achievement of the Transformation Agenda Deliverables.
The Head of the Delivery Unit will report to the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, with a second functional reporting line to the Senior Director of Strategic Services at the ATA. S/he will manage a team of approximately 9 people, including a Project Management & Analysis team and a Technical team. The Delivery Unit is part of the Strategic Services vertical at the ATA, which also includes the Delivery Unit for the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Performance Management (planning and evaluations), Communications, and a planned Project Management team.
The successful candidate for this role will have very strong leadership, senior stakeholder management, and team management experience, and a track record of effectively leading planning and execution of major programs or initiatives. S/he will also have strong analytical and critical thinking skills, experience influencing others to simplify, focus and have urgency, and a passion for both results and capacity building. We are applying private sector style rigor to major social issues that can transform Ethiopian society.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
• Lead the Delivery Unit team to enhance and accelerate planning, monitoring, analytical and technical problem solving, and reporting across the Transformation Agenda Deliverables.
• Develop the annual plans, targets and budget for the Delivery Unit in consultation with the Minister and the ATA Senior Director
• Manage, support and develop the Delivery Unit team members, including role modeling the values of simplicity/focus, urgency and large-scale impact, plus data-driven decision making.
• Establish strong, trust-based relationships with internal and external senior stakeholders and initiative owners to ensure strong stakeholder buy-in and achievement of initiative targets
• Implement robust annual planning, target-setting and budgeting processes with owners of priority initiatives, and regular performance monitoring and management routines with senior leadership, initiative owners and relevant stakeholders.
• Lead design, roll out and continuous improvement of planning, project management and reporting tools, processes and systems
• Provide guidance and direction to Delivery Unit team members as well as initiative owners on identifying, developing and implementing strategic solutions for challenges around implementation and reporting.
• Provide effective upward reporting and timely escalation of critical issues to Minister of Livestock and Fisheries and the ATA Senior Director of Strategic Services.
• Oversee and guide identification, prioritization and delivery of technical and analytical problem-solving support for challenges in implementation of priority initiatives, including engaging with ATA teams or external partners for more complex technical and analytical problem solving support where needed.
• Proactively seek feedback on Delivery Unit performance from a range of partners and stakeholders at MoLF and the ATA, and make strategic adjustments based on this feedback.
· Bachelor’s degree required in business, economics, engineering, agriculture, rural development or other relevant field. Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of professional work experience (or 8 years with Master’s degree) in large program/project management, management consulting, strategic planning, analysis and reporting, or other relevant field, with at least 5 years in a leadership or managerial position.
• Broad experience in leading, structuring and managing programs/projects, data analysis, and senior management reporting and decision support.
• Significant experience in agriculture and/or government required.
• Strong understanding of public and development sector organizational culture, and ability to effectively liaise with senior and mid-level leadership in government organizations.
• Self-starter with strong motivation, vision, ownership and commitment to drive transformation.
• Highly collaborative leadership style and demonstrated success in leading, motivating, managing and developing high-performance teams.
• Results-oriented and delivery focused, with the ability to strengthen accountability of others.
• Champions data-driven and evidence-based problem-solving.
• Passion for development and social change, with a strong foundation of honesty and integrity.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, project management and reporting systems.
• Fluency in English and Amharic.