Food Security & Agriculture Specialist

Job Description

RTI International / Research Triangle Institute (RTI) is both a global research institute and a leading international development organization. We combine these powerful capabilities with those of our partners to co-create smart, shared solutions for a more prosperous, equitable, and resilient world. Based in North Carolina, USA, RTI is one of USAID’s top implementing partners. A commitment to making meaningful change energizes our 6,000 staff who deliver results across eight international development sectors and in more than 80 countries. RTI’s Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI’s experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

Job Summary:

The Food Security & Agriculture Specialist will take on the role of Project Manager within the SG&R technical unit and serve as a point person at the home office responsible for the overall performance of one or more projects and is key to ensuring implementation excellence and managing risk through oversight of project finances, client management, and relationship management as detailed below. Project(s) will include those located in Francophone countries. This role will supervise project associates, coordinators, Chiefs of Party, and other staff members as appropriate in a direct and matrixed manner.

This position reports to the Senior Director, Food Security & Agriculture. This position will be based in Research Triangle Park, NC or Washington, DC or remote within the US. The position will be expected to travel internationally up to 25% of the time. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Project Management (50%)

• Implementation Excellence and Quality Control—Ensures the project meets or exceeds client expectations through impactful programming, streamlined implementation, and the production of high-quality deliverables. Provides oversight to and participates in the annual work planning process, oversees monitoring and evaluation and ensures that the project meets client objectives. Provides assistance and oversight to developing technical reports or other deliverables, and works with the Chief of Party to ensure the project’s progress and successes are accurately communicated to the client.
• Risk Management—Works to proactively identify and mitigate current and potential project risks, including design and implementation of solutions. Risk management will involve routine review of overall project performance and compliance, open and frequent discussions with both the client and the diverse range of RTI staff, creating a culture where feedback is encouraged, and timely escalation of risks to appropriate RTI staff.
• Financial Management—Works closely with the Project Coordinator/Associate to ensure the project stays within budget. In collaboration with the Project Coordinator/Associate and COP, ensures the project is meeting any cost-share/leveraging requirements through proper planning, tracking, and documentation. Helps the project to meet negotiated fee targets and minimize fee erosion by ensuring project expenditures are in compliance with RTI and client policies.
• Client and Relationship Management—Works alongside the COP to ensure optimal client satisfaction. Develops a strong rapport with the client through frequent updates about the project, proactively managing risks, and responding to timely requests for information. Works with the COP and other senior management within RTI to resolve client and implementation issues. Serves as the project’s primary point of contact for US-based business partners and develops a strong working relationship with key individuals within partner organizations.

Technical Leadership (30%)

• Collaborate with Chiefs of Party and senior field project staff implementing agricultural market systems, economic growth, and resilience projects.
• Advise on the design and implementation of technical activities within projects drawing on experience in agricultural production, market facilitation, nutrition, food systems development, social inclusion, enabling environment, food security analysis, and resilience.
• Contribute to the advancement of the division’s overall technical competence and expertise through internal and external presentations, conducting research and contributing to or authoring publications.
• Mentor less experienced staff on project, proposal, and thought leadership activities.

Business Development (20%)

• Serve as proposal lead, writer and/or active contributor on the development of proposals with a technical focus on agriculture, food security, market systems, and/or resilience.
• Serve as a proposal reviewer, including those from other divisions, such as water and environment.

• Master’s degree in a relevant subject and 6 years of relevant experience or Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience.
• Demonstrated experience in project management of large/multi-million-dollar international development projects and knowledge of industry best practices regarding project implementation, including project start-up and close-out, client management, work planning, budget management, and compliance is required.
• Prior experience managing USAID contracts or cooperative agreements.

• Knowledge of facilitative agricultural market systems development, with experience leading food security, production, agribusiness, and/or private sector/enterprise development efforts.
• Prior experience leading business development efforts in roles–such as capture lead, proposal lead, or lead writer for clients–like USAID, BHA, USDA, among others.
• Proficiency in French is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of project operations that span finance, HR, procurement, subcontracts/grants, etc. and ability to appropriately link them to technical planning and implementation required.
• Demonstrated experience in Francophone Africa.
• Ability to connect technical implementation to operations so that project performance is seamless.
• Experience overseeing sub-grants or innovation fund a plus.
• Ability to proactively identify and manage a diversity of project risks (client, technical, reputational, legal, security, financial, and compliance).
• Excellent verbal communication skills with an ability to communicate complex information to multiple audiences working in international development.
• Excellent writing skills, including proposal writing skills, and ability to present information in an articulate and concise manner.
• Ability to cultivate strong relationships and collaborate inclusively with a wide variety of individuals.

• Must be able to manage a multitude of tasks simultaneously and prioritize as necessary.

• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong collaboration and problem-solving skills.
• Must be able to work effectively under deadlines, both independently and as a team member
• Advanced knowledge and skill with MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel.

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