Agriculture Production Officer

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RTI International

RTI International is an independent scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world’s most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

About the Hiring Group

RTI’s Center for International Development implements large-scale, multidisciplinary projects across health, energy, agriculture, water, and education by leveraging RTI’s deep cross-institutional knowledge, proven solutions, and contextual expertise to increase global impact by improving lives, driving economic growth, and enhancing stability in fragile and developing geographies.

What You’ll Do

RTI is seeking Agriculture Production Officer candidates for a 5-year Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress (FFPr) program in Ethiopia. This Food for Progress program will use a market-driven, U.S.-led value chain approach to transform Ethiopia’s sunflower sector and benefit U.S. businesses by addressing key productivity, market linkage, financing, and policy constraints identified by public and private actors.

The program will focus on four broad activities that increase Ethiopian sunflower productivity, competitiveness, and value addition while reducing trade barriers for U.S. agribusiness. This includes building the capacity of extension services; facilitating financial services; improving market access through contract farming; and promoting improved policy and regulatory frameworks. The SunGold Agriculture Production Officer (APO) manages the implementation of SunGold project activities in Oromia, Central, Southern, and Southwest regions.

Technical in nature, the Agriculture Production Officer ensures delivery of technical assistance through grants and agronomy services in collaboration with project partners and agribusinesses to expand sunflower production in the target regions. The APO will ensure effective collaboration with regional, zonal, and woreda level government institutions, sunflower farmers, cooperatives, private sector actors, and development partners to strengthen the development of the sunflower value chain. The position will be based in Jimma or one of SunGold’s other regional offices and will report to the SunGold Agricultural Lead. The position includes the following major duties and responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

Technical

• Manage the implementation of SunGold project activities in Oromia, Central, Southern, and Southwest regions to ensure they meet project KPIs across the SunGold project.
• Collaborate with other staff in the effort to map and recruit commercial and cluster farmers into sunflower production.
• Ensure timely supply of agricultural input, facilitate extension service provision, and create coordination and linkage with market actors in the sunflower value chain.
• Facilitate training for farmers on improved sunflower production practices.
• Promote improved seeds, agronomic practices, and crop management techniques and also work with extension agents to increase farmers’ productivity and supply of quality product.
• Develop and maintain relationships with off-takers, agro-dealers, and other agribusinesses in the regions and engage them as stakeholders in the sunflower market system.
• Coordinate and work closely with regional government, research institutes, and woreda level governmental bureaus for smooth and collaborative technical implementation of the project activities.

M&E

• Support project monitoring and evaluation efforts through routine data collection, cleaning, and verification; support M&E compliance among project partners and sub-grantees through regular follow-up; facilitate data collection for baseline, annual, midline, and endline evaluations/surveys in the field; collect feedback from project beneficiaries and stakeholders to inform learning and adaptation; and support the compilation and submission of monthly and quarterly progress reports.

Grants

• Monitor progress of mechanization and productivity grant activities and project indicators.

Communications

• Contribute to the development of communication materials, e.g., photos, stories, blogs.
• Identify, prepare, and document success stories, best practices, and lessons learned through regular progress and activity reports.
• Perform other project-related activities as assigned by the head office.

What You’ll Need

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Agricultural Extension, and Agronomy or related fields and 3 years of experience, or Master’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Agricultural Extension, and Agronomy or related fields and 1 year of experience.
• Experience and knowledge in agricultural (especially soybean/sunflower) value chain development, stakeholder coordination, partnership building, and strong facilitation and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in collaborating and working in multidisciplinary teams, bridging technical with operational staff.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to write and communicate clearly.
• Verbal and written fluency in English and Afaan Oromo.
• Ability to travel and work throughout Ethiopia including in difficult terrains and conditions.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Experience with donor-funded agriculture projects is desirable.
• Experience with oil seeds production, specifically sunflower, is desirable.

Additional Information for the Candidate

• This position is open to Ethiopian Nationals only.
• Submit a 3-page CV and a 1-page cover letter only. You should not submit additional information, i.e., certificates, diplomas, etc. at this stage.

As a global employer of choice, RTI is committed to belonging in the workplace and the communities and markets where we serve our mission. We value a variety of thoughts, cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives and welcome applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, creed, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable discrimination laws or RTI policy. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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