Project Director, Anticipated DASHED FTF Activity

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.

SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders of the on- and off-farm workforce, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work helps foster stronger food systems, reduce malnutrition in all its forms, build resilience and engage the next generation of food security leaders.

The goal of the anticipated USAID activity will be to transform local food processing to sustainably and equitably increase the access to and affordability of safe, nutritious foods for women and children. This activity will strengthen business and technical practices of food processors; strengthen linkages between food processors and the broader business ecosystem for nutritious foods, including smallholder producers and domestic and regional markets and increase sharing and uptake of knowledge, learning, and tools to support local food processors of safe nutritious foods.

The Project Director will be responsible for overall project performance, management, and execution, ensuring all project deliverables are of high quality, within budget, and compliant. This position will provide project planning, oversight, leadership, and coordination. The Project Director will build and maintain strong and favorable client, partner, community, home office, and team relations. They will also be expected to provide overall technical and strategic vision for the project. This position will be based remotely or in the Washington, DC area.

This position is contingent upon award and funding.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for the overall leadership, strategic guidance, vision, and management of staff for successful implementation of the project within budget and compliance parameters.
• Informed by and in engagement with the Client’s aims to generate demand for healthy and safe foods as well as sustainably increasing the private sector’s ability to make nutritious and safe foods more available, provide overall project vision and strategy.
• Represent RTI and the project to the Client, negotiating with the Client as appropriate to identify optimal approaches to achieving the project’s goals.
• Build strong relationships and lead communication and collaboration with USAID and high-level stakeholders, including representatives of country and subnational governments and private sector food market system actors, especially including small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Provide overall technical leadership and vision, managing staff, including key personnel, to achieve the project’s aims. Ensure synergy across technical and operational components of the project; ensure good team planning and coordination, deployment of resources and intra-team communication in support of project objectives.
• Oversee preparation and delivery of high-quality reports to USAID, including quarterly and annual reports, annual work plans, technical, and financial reports.
• Ensure all contractual deliverables and reporting requirements are of high quality and are in compliance with contractual requirements and U.S. federal regulations.
• Liaise with USAID and RTI home office on technical, operational, and financial matters, as well as implementation of and reporting on programming.

• Bachelor’s Degree and 15 years of relevant experience, Master’s degree and 12 years of experience, PhD and 8 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Technical experience in USAID agriculture and food security programming. Experience related to food safety and/or food processing or related sectors, including nutrition and resilience are especially desirable. Similarly, advancement of inclusion approaches within such programming is strongly desired.
• Understanding of private sector approaches, especially approaches taken by micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises as well as their policy and operational contexts in Feed the Future settings is especially valued.
• Strong communication skills, both interpersonal and written, and proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners, including in varying geographies, and lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams to achieve results in a fast-paced, culturally varied, and complex environment.
• Familiarity with international development systems, policies, finances, and management in low- and middle-income countries.
• Familiarity and experience working in various cultural contexts.
• Proficiency in English, with proficiency in another language preferred (especially French).
• Prior experience working in sub-Saharan Africa is preferred.

About the Organization