Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Job Description

Chemonics seeks a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Feed the Future Uganda Strategic Investments (SIA) Activity. The purpose of the SIA Activity is to facilitate foreign and domestic commercial investments that yield and advance development objectives. The 5-year activity, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will mobilize financing for investment in agriculture and food security, the productive use of energy for agriculture and related industries, and health. By supporting development-oriented investments, the Activity will integrate underrepresented populations into the market economy and facilitate the transition from subsistence to commercial production.

The Activity represents a key component of USAID’s Market Systems Strengthening portfolio to improve quality business services and enhance market systems to ensure markets consistently and inclusively function to accelerate economic development in Uganda. Through transaction learning under its Investment Facilitation Platform, SIA will increase commercial financing and productive use of energy in agriculture and related sectors. Applying transaction learning at the policy level, SIA will promote improvements in laws, regulations, and formal and informal rules to enhance market system function.

The CEO is expected to drive the overall strategy for investment facilitation, policy advocacy, GESI and MEL, and operations, ensuring the right mix of technical assistance is engaged at the right times. Through resilient leadership and sound decision-making, the CEO will provide the SIA team with technical direction, oversee contractual and operational compliance, and guide all aspects of activity delivery, quality improvement, quality assurance, and timely execution of deliverables. This position will be based in Kampala, Uganda. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

The CEO will provide overall leadership, management, and general technical direction of the activity. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead technical, strategic, and managerial implementation, driving our private-sector approach to unlock innovation and ensuring efficiency, results, and sustainability. Lead the strategy for investment facilitation, policy advocacy and MEL, coordinating with stakeholders and the client.
• Serve as the key point of contact and liaison with USAID (both Feed the Future and the Office of Health and HIV), investors, private and public sector stakeholders, and implementing partners.
• Oversee annual work planning, the Activity’s learning agenda, action plans and interventions to reach and empower youth, women, and other underrepresented persons.
• Ensure high-quality and on-time delivery of results and deliverables and linkages between technical and operations teams.
• Oversee five staff — managing director/investment facilitation director, enabling environment advisor, operations finance and compliance director, the strategic communications expert, and the GESI/MEL advisor.
• Reports to the Chemonics Washington-based project director

Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years of expertise in investment, private sector development, agriculture, energy, finance, trade, or a related sector
• Demonstrated experience in commercial investment, public-private partnerships, and institutional capacity building.
• Minimum four years of experience in a senior leadership role, preferably as a team lead, chief of party, CEO or deputy chief of party, for a complex donor-financed project; prior experience on USAID projects preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with host government and a wide network of public and private sector partners and stakeholders in areas including finance, agriculture, agri-business, health financing, energy, investment facilitation, policy and advocacy, or private sector development.
• Advanced degree in international development, economics, finance, agriculture, or another relevant field. Experience in a related field in lieu of advanced degree also considered.
• Fluency in English; strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills

Application Instructions:

To apply please submit your CV and cover letter via the Smartsheet link below no later than Friday, May 26, 2023.

Uganda SIA CEO Smartsheet Application

No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.

About the Organization

Founded in 1975, Chemonics is an international development consulting firm. In more than 70 countries around the globe, our network of 5,000 specialists share a simple belief: that the challenges we face today are best solved through the right partnerships — sharing knowledge, expertise, and experience to deliver results. As part of our culture and values, Chemonics is proud to be named a “Best Place to Work” in the Human Rights campaign Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index. Where Chemonics works, development works. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or visit us at www.chemonics.com.