Regional Program Manager, Soy Value Chain

General Information:

TechnoServe is a non-profit organization with a mission to build businesses that create jobs, income, opportunity, and economic growth in developing countries. Our strategies are based on a market-driven, business-oriented approach employed and refined over the past 40 years. TechnoServe has approximately 700 employees actively involved in developing businesses and value chains across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.   ().

Program Overview:

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) smallholders are well positioned to be competitive due to Soy’s sustainability for specific agro-climate conditions, available labor and arable land as well as growing domestic and international conditions. As current SSA production levels and yields are low there is an immediate opportunity for a Soy Value Chain Development Program to be implemented.  This four-year program, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has a goal to generate an average annual income contribution of $200 from soy production and marketing for 37,000 smallholders in Mozambique and Zambia.  To achieve this goal, TechnoServe has developed an integrated program approach focused on four objectives: 1) supporting the expansion of smallholder soy production, through agri-business partners and farmer organizations; 2) facilitating access to inputs and advancements in science and technology; 3) strengthening market access and facilitating investment in soy storage and processing equipment; 4) promoting the competitiveness of feed and livestock industries through coordinated development of local and regional soy industries.  In addition to specific programming in Mozambique and Zambia, the program will facilitate development of an African Soy Alliance, to help guide broader industry development.

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Management of program planning, activity implementation and supervision of subcontractors to ensure acheivement of objectives in Mozambique and Zambia. 
• Provision of direction to team members in the execution of program activities in accordance with the Foundation’s policies and procedures.
• Development of a ‘strategic soy road map’ to guide the transition between the present program and a broader set of opportunities to develop the soy industry across Southern Africa.
• Creation of an African Soy Alliance, a platform charged with supporting Sub-Saharan Africa soy industry stakeholders to grow the soy value chain and expand both the production and use of soy across the region.
• Facilitation of the linkages between farmers (both men and women) and the services they need (including extension services, input supply, planting material access, and credit/financial services).
• Facilitation of the development of innovations/technologies with a broader reach including production technologies.
• Communication and coordination of all stakeholders in Mozambique, Zambia and the US, including the Program Implementation Team, Steering Committee members, industry, program subcontractors, implementing partners, donors, and government agencies.

• Development of program performance updates and reports, as requested by the Foundation, the Steering Committee, the National Program Advisory Groups, and the National Program Leadership Groups.
• Recruitment, supervision and training of program staff necessary to implement the program work in Mozambique and Zambia.
• Recruitment and management of short-term consultants and volunteer consultants in Mozambique and Zambia. 
• Identification of and relationship building for the mobilization of program matching funds where needed. 

Knowledge & Expertise

• At least 10 years of professional business management experience, preferable with significant experience in the agricultural sector.
• Degree in agronomy or business, and an excellent academic record.
• Significant experience living and working in Southern Africa.
• Excellent people and robust program management skills with significant interpersonal and communication skills, especially in multicultural and multi-ethnic contexts.
• Experience working across multiple countries in Africa
• Adept at developing and sustaining high-level relationships.
• Ability to manage complex partnerships across NGO, private and public sector partners
• Strong analytical skills, strategic capacities, reporting skills and attention to detail in reviewing project data
• Strong team player, consensus builder and networker.
• Adept at working with multiple stakeholders.
• Fluency in English is required, Portuguese and (or) local Mozambican/Zambia languages preferred.
• Willingness to travel extensively.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Please submit a resume, cover letter, salary history and three references to.  Place position title in the subject line.  Please include all documents together.  No phone calls please.

TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer