Technical Advisor I: Senior Agronomist – Coffee, Cashew, Cocoa (for Sierra Leonean Nationals only, position contingent on award of donor funding) 47 views0 applications

Job Title: Technical Advisor I: Senior Agronomist – Coffee, Cashew, Cocoa

(for Sierra Leonean Nationals only, position contingent on award of donor funding)

Department: Programs

Band: 9

Reports To: Project Manager – Coffee, Cocoa, Cashew Value Chains

Country/Location: Sierra Leone/Kenema, Bo or Kailahun (to be determined)

CRS Background

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Country Background

CRS launched its work in Sierra Leone in 1963 supporting relief and development operations in the country. CRS Sierra Lone has proudly maintained a strong reputation and relationship with partners and the communities we serve in the country implementing a multi-sector program portfolio. Today, CRS Sierra Leone has a robust portfolio built around several major programs in Education, Nutrition, Health, Agriculture, and Urban Resilience. CRS Sierra Leone has its main office in Freetown, with over 140 staff in total across the country.

Job Summary:

As Senior Agronomist for the Integrated Approach to Strengthen Coffee, Cocoa, and Cashew Production and Quality in Sierra Leone project, you will be responsible for providing high-quality technical support and management for the project in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. Your work will advance the Country Program’s (CP) delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your advice, knowledge, and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ Agriculture programming is in Sierra Leone. You will contribute to developing quality technical/training materials, ensuring the project aligns with governmental and CRS and country program strategic priorities, contributing to the project’s monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) as well as donor reporting, and managing a team of coffee, cocoa and cashew field agronomists.

Job Responsibilities:

· Serve as main technical specialist for the project, leading coordination with Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Sierra Leone Agriculture Research Institute in policy development and field training.

· Provide technical solutions to CP team for strategic planning and how to best apply standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools and monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning, helping to ensure high-quality implementation.

· Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.

· Support the development and contribute to the implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools and best practices in Agriculture that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.

· Support capacity strengthening initiatives in Agriculture programming for staff and partner through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and coaching.

· Collect and analyze program data, capture and share lessons learned and best practices for the project to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to the Agriculture learning agenda.

· Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions, participate in forums in the area of Agriculture to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.

· Contribute to the development of the technical design for proposals. Support the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of project concepts and full-fledged proposals. As needed, act as a technical writer on proposal development teams. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

· Master’s Degree in Agriculture or Agronomy required.

· Minimum of three years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of two years relevant field-based experience in Agriculture or Agronomy.

· Specific knowledge of technical principles and concepts in coffee, cocoa and cashew Agriculture or Agronomy. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.

· Experience managing and supervising a team.

· Experience in project design and proposal development. Experience in writing content for proposals.

· Knowledge of capacity strengthening best practices.

· Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis.

· Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.

· Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Personal Skills

· Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings

· Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment

· Good technical writing skills

· Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills

· Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Language Required

English, Krio, Mende

Travel Required

Occasional travel from Freetown to sub-offices and field sites in Kenema, Kailahun, Bo, Tonkolili, Bombali, Portloko

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: Coffee, Cocoa and Cashew Field Agronomists

Internal: Project Manager, SILC Manager, Head of Programs, Regional and Senior Technical Advisors for Agriculture

External: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Sierra Leone Agriculture Research Institute, partners

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

· Integrity

· Accountability & Stewardship

· Builds Relationships

· Develops Talent

· Continuous Improvement & Innovation

· Strategic Mindset

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Equal Opportunity Employer, women encouraged to apply