Market Access Specialist, Soy Value Chain Development Program at TechnoServe

Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Last Date: October 25, 2010
Email: work@tns.org

Market Access Specialist, Soy Value Chain Development Program

I. GENERAL INFORMATION:

TechnoServe is a non-profit organization with a mission to build businesses that create jobs, income, opportunity, and economic growth in developing countries. Our strategies are based on a market-driven, business-oriented approach employed and refined over the past 40 years. TechnoServe has approximately 600 employees actively involved in developing businesses and value chains across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.


II. PRIMARY PURPOSE & FUNCTION:

This four-year program, funded by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, will generate an average annual income contribution of $200 from soy production and marketing for 37,000 smallholders in Mozambique and Zambia. To achieve this goal, TechnoServe has developed an integrated program approach focused on four objectives; 1) supporting the expansion of smallholder soy production, 2) facilitating access to inputs and advancements in science and technology, 3) strengthening market access and facilitating investment in soy storage and processing equipment, 4) promoting the competitiveness of feed and livestock industries through coordinated development of local and regional soy industries.


III. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Liaise with program partners ZARI and CFU to ensure coordination between the market and production activities and in some cases provide direct support to their production related activities (e.g. farmer capacity building, brokering relationships between buyers and producers, etc)
* Support the Program Manager in the day to day management of program planning and activity implementation to ensure achievement of the market related program objectives in Zambia
* Support the Program Manager in the development of a ‘strategic soy road map’ to guide the transition between the present program and a broader set of opportunities to develop the soy industry across Southern African
* Support the Program Manager in the creation of an African Soy Alliance, a platform charged with supporting SSA soy industry stakeholders to grow the soy value chain and expand both the production and use of soy across the region
* Support the Program Manager in communicating to all stakeholders in Mozambique, Zambia and US, including; Program Implementation Team, Steering Committee members, industry, project partners (e.g., CLUSA), implementing partners (e.g., Cargill) and government
* Contribute market related activity information for program performance updates and reports, as requested by the Foundation, the Steering Committee, the PIT, the National Program Advisory Groups, and the National Program Leadership Groups
* Recruitment, supervision and training of program staff necessary to implement the market access activities in Zambia
* Recruitment and management of short-term consultants and volunteer consultants for market related activities in Zambia



IV. KNOWLEDGE & EXPERTISE:

* Degree in agronomy or business, and an excellent academic record
* 3-5 years experience in brokering agricultural commodities in Zambia
* Experience in brokering techniques and price-risk management options
* Deep knowledge of ZAMACE
* Existing relationships within Zambian logistics companies, buyers and producers of food products
* Significant knowledge of and relationships within Zambia's feed and livestock industries
* Adept at working with multiple stakeholders
* Proven experience in coordinating and providing farmer capacity building
* Strong organizational and reporting skills
* Fluent in English and a working knowledge of local dialects preferred



Reports To: Soy Value Chain Development Program Manager

Position Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Duration: 40 months


How To Apply

Thank you for your interest in a position at TechnoServe. To apply for a position, please send an email with the title of the job in the subject line to work@tns.org; in order to be considered for a role, please include the following attachments to your email:

a. Resume

b. Cover letter

c. Salary requirements

d. Voluntary self-disclosure form (click here to download in .xls format)

* All applicants must complete the General Applicant Data information (i.e., name, date, position, and US Citizen/Permanent Resident)
* For those who are US Citizens we would be grateful if you could voluntarily complete the Self Disclosure section. As noted in the attached this is completely voluntary and is for reporting purposes only – it will not impact your application. That is, as TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as required by law, we must record certain information to be made part of our Affirmative Action Program (AAP) – we appreciate your assisting in this reporting.


TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer