Deputy Chief of Party

Job Description

Project Description:

The Orora Wihaze activity will sustainably increase the availability of, access to, and consumption of animal-source foods (ASF) through development of a profitable market. To accomplish this goal, Orora Wihaze seeks to remove production, marketing and consumption constraints affecting dietary diversity of households, especially for women of reproductive age and children of 6-23 months. For households that do not produce or sell ASF, Orora Wihaze will enhance access to safe ASF through development of the existing market system.

The Orora Wihaze activity will use a private sector oriented, market facilitation approach to achieve the intended goal. The approach must sustainably increase livestock productivity, improve relationships across actors in the ASF value chains, build capacity of enterprises in the ASF sector, facilitate access to finance and increase private sector investments in ASF value chains.

Position Summary and Primary Responsibilities:

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will provide close and strategic technical support to the project Chief of Party. The DCOP must have knowledge and experience in developing private sector-led and facilitative agribusiness development through collaborative and participatory livestock production and marketing approaches. The DCOP will work closely with the Orora Wihaze Chief of Party (COP) and other team members in designing, implementing, and monitoring project interventions to achieve the objectives and deliverables required under this activity. The DCOP should have experience in successfully managing and leading teams of professional staff, preferably on similar development projects. In the absence of the COP, the DCOP will assume full responsibility and management of the project. Per the terms of the RFP, this position is considered Key Personnel.

Reporting & Supervision:

The Deputy Chief of Party reports to the project Chief of Party and will oversee a staff of technical leads on the project.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in animal production, international development, agriculture, economics, food science or related field (with experience in livestock related agribusiness) of study is desirable;
• Five (5) years or more of progressively responsible work experience in managing and implementing multi-faceted international agriculture and agribusiness development programs similar in scope and complexity to that of Orora Wihaze, preferably in East Africa or in a country context similar to Rwanda, is highly desirable;
• Five (5) years or more of experience in engagement with host governments on private sector development in agriculture related value chains, enabling environment issues, institutional and policy reforms, and private sector development is desirable;
• Experience leading collaborative, participatory livestock production and market development efforts in communities with similar levels of education, risk tolerance,
• habits related to ASF consumption, etc. as seen in Rwanda is desirable;
• Substantial management and project management experience, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and working in a multi-cultural environment, is desirable.
• Experience working with a wide range of key agriculture sector stakeholders, including government entities and the donor community, as well as civil society organizations (e.g., farmer organizations and cooperatives, NGOs, CBOs, etc.) and the private sector is desirable;
• Oral and written fluency in Kinyarwanda, as well as in depth knowledge of the local operating environment in Rwanda, is desirable.

About the Organization

Background:

Land O'Lakes International Development is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping communities around the world build economies by strengthening agriculture from farm-to-fork, helping businesses grow, and linking farmers to markets. Since our start in 1981, we have been leveraging nearly 100 years of expertise in dairy, animal nutrition, crop inputs and agricultural insights from our close affiliate, Land O’Lakes, Inc., a farmer-owned agribusiness committed to fulfilling its purpose of feeding human progress. Our team is made up of nearly 350 employees who are committed to market-led approaches, and passionate about collaborating locally to create lasting inclusive economic growth. By unlocking the potential of agriculture for the last 36 years, the lives of more than 3 million people have been transformed through nearly 300 programs in more than 80 countries.