Job Description
Devex is assisting a major NGO with their search for a Crops Practice Lead based in Washington, DC
The Crops Practice Lead reports to the Vice President, Program Development and will lead the organization’s efforts related to agricultural input supply, crop production best practices, soil fertility and conservation, integrated pest management, and post-harvest handling for both staple and high value crops. S/he will lead efforts to strengthen and expand the organization’s activities in these areas, both within existing programs and in new programs. S/he will provide technical support to the organization’s ongoing portfolio of programs, particularly those with an agricultural production focus, as well as contribute to the organization’s development of new programs. In addition, s/he will lead the development of standardized guidance, metrics and approaches to agricultural production programming for the organization, and will ensure the systematic sharing of lessons learned and best practices among the organization HQ, field staff worldwide and external audiences including the organization’s clients and partners. The Crops Practice Lead will be based in the organization headquarters in Washington, D.C. and is expected to travel 30% of the time.
Qualifications
- 10 years of related experience, including at t least three years of field experience working on input supply, crop production, soil fertility management and conservation, post-harvest management or related agricultural programming;
- Experience working on USAID agricultural development programs in a technical and/or management capacity;
- Practical experience in commercial input supply, crop production, or post-harvest management, or marketing desirable;
- Advanced degree in agronomy, crop science, horticulture or related field strongly preferred;
- Excellent writing skills;
- Strong interpersonal skills;
- Willingness to travel 30% of the time; and
- US Work Authorization Required.
The Crops Practice Lead will support both program development and program implementation and will fulfill a wide range of functions, including but not limited to:
New Business Development
Support the identification and tracking of input supply, crop production, and post-harvest management new opportunities, advising on competitive landscape and the organization’s comparative advantages, partnering opportunities and other elements of capture planning.
- Lead and/or support, where applicable, the creative process of proposal development, including gathering background information, identifying key interventions and strategies to be proposed and serving as lead writer of proposals or proposal sections;
- Spearhead the development of unsolicited proposals, concept notes and Annual Program Statement (APS) responses to broaden the organization’s corporate capabilities in crop production;
- Identify and participate in agronomic industry and development events;
- Establish and maintain strong working relationships with development partners, firms and organizations;
- Participate in recruitment efforts for staff, consultants and partners; and
- Travel as necessary to support new business development and research.
Program Implementation
Support ongoing programs by serving as “practice lead” for all issues related to agricultural inputs, crop production, and post-harvest management, providing oversight and guidance to HQ and field staff.
- Provide technical support and targeted STTA to the organization’s crop production and input supply programs;
- Build the organization’s in-house technical capacity in input supply, soil fertility management and conservation, staple crop production, high value agricultural production, and post-harvest management through staff training and knowledge sharing;
- Support development of specialized projects including publication of technical documents, development of concept papers, articles, multimedia tools, and pilot initiatives;
- Support the the organization communications unit to ensure proper promotion of the ongoing project portfolio including success stories, multimedia materials, case studies and program evaluations; and
- Represent the organization at relevant conferences, workshops and events related to agricultural production programming.
