Bangladesh: Agriculture and Market Systems Leader

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a highly-motivated Agriculture and Market Systems Leader to join the implementation team of the five-year USAID Feed the Future Bangladesh Nutrition Activity. Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project and the selection of the final applicant is subject to USAID approval.

The Position:

The Agriculture and Market Systems Leader will enable the USAID Feed the Future Bangladesh Nutrition Activity to strengthen market-based capacities and practices for harnessing agricultural, food, and WASH technologies to improve diets and nutrition of vulnerable populations. The position will promote evidence-based, market-oriented methodologies and approaches across all project components to re-inforce the project’s integrated approach that emphasizes the empowerment of women, adolescents, and families with children under the age of five. The project is a collaboration between several international and Bangladeshi organizations and the position is part of a multi-disciplinary team under the leadership of the Chief of Party. The position will be based in Dhaka with frequent field travel to the project zone in Southern Bangladesh and will report to the CIP Country Manager and to the Division of Social and Nutrition Science.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership for design, coordination and analysis of market-based methodologies and approaches to improve food production and utilization and WASH practices among target households
• Support project implementing partners to develop and implement technically sound work plans that incorporate proven agricultural and food technologies and methodologies as well as learning from field activities.
• Initiate and manage collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the agriculture and food sectors, specifically private sector enterprises involved in food marketing, agricultural inputs, and service delivery.
• Identify constraints, market-based solutions, and incentives to integrate small-scale producers into efficient and nutrition-sensitive market systems.
• Foster gender sensitive market systems at all levels, including input and output levels and counsel local market committees and other service providers to ensure that both men & women producers are getting equal access to respective market spaces.
• As advised by the project team, design and coordinate market systems analyses to inform project planning, intervention strategies, and evaluations across all project components.
• Coordinate training of technical staff from implementing partners and service providers in project methodologies and implementation tools related to agriculture, food, and market systems.
• Develop and coordinate demand creation activities for nutritious foods, involving proven Social and Behavior Change Communications methodologies.
• Foster linkages and collaboration with related USAID-funded projects that support agricultural infrastructure, production, capacity building, and market development.
• Coordinate technical reporting of project activities related to market systems, agriculture, and food; and contribute to technical and scientific publications in strategically important areas.
• As part of the senior project team, contribute to project planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning tools and processes, and reviews.

Selection criteria:

• PhD or MSc degree in a relevant agricultural or social science discipline.
• At least seven years of experience working in international research and development in an area related to nutrition-sensitive agriculture, food systems, or market development. Experience working on similar projects in South Asia will be an asset.
• Excellent understanding of latest food-based approaches to nutrition and of methodologies for market systems analysis.
• Proven experience in designing, coordinating and implementing market-based interventions working with private sector partners.
• Hands-on experience and up-to-date skills in work planning, partnership management, capacity building, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.
• Proven track record of delivering high quality technical outputs under tight project deadlines.
• Record of scientific and technical publications related to markets, agriculture and nutrition.
• Confidence and ability to coordinate technical staff from diverse implementing partners, foster team work, and ensure high standards of excellence.
• Excellent English language proficiency, including excellent report writing skills.

Conditions: The employment contract will be for a three-year term (with three-month probation period) with the possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. Any offer made with regards to this vacancy is conditional on the formal award. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.

Applications: Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website *(http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/**)**,*** including a letter of motivation, a full C.V with the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Screening of applications will begin on February 2^nd, 2018 and will continue until the post is filled. All applications will be acknowledged; however only short-listed candidates will be contacted.