Chief of Party, Benin Cashew Value Chain Project, Cotonou, Benin

Reporting Unit/Supervisor: Regional Director, West and Southern Africa

Location: Cotonou, Benin

Travel: Domestic up to 40%, International to 10%

Expected Start Date: Q4 2015

I. TechnoServe Background:

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

II. Program Description:

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service through its Food for Progress(FFPr) program is funding a value chain improvement program for cashew in Benin for period 2015 to 2020. The purpose of the project is to increase productivity and trade of cashew. The program will work with actors throughout the value chain to improve its functionality and ensure that smallholder farmers have improved standards of living. The program will liaise with domestic, regional and international businesses in order to drive increased trade in cashew and will leverage in-country

III. Position Description:

Responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Providing overall strategic guidance, leadership, management and general technical oversight of the entire program, with a strong focus on achieving defined results
• Acting act as the key liaison all counterparts, implementing partners, and stakeholders involved with the program
• Acting as spokesperson for the program and presenting its work regionally / globally
• Liaising with key stakeholders and relevant programs / donors within the region and with Team Leads in other regions
• Leading, managing and supervising a delivery teams comprising long and short term team members and consortium partners and supporting / liaising with a Regional Advisory Group
• Ensuring monitoring and evaluation of the regional program is of suitable quality and that reports are submitted on time

IV. Required Skills & Experience:

• Advanced degree in Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, or other relevant degree
• Prior COP experience, preferably in Africa
• At least 15 years of experience in relevant programs, with a minimum of five years of managing large international donor programs
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for and proven ability to plan, resource, and manage interdisciplinary, evidence-based program development in collaboration with international and local research partners
• Strong private sector market orientation, entrepreneurial and innovative thinker
• Strong leadership/management experience with an international development contractor or international NGO, as a manager of programs
• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated experience in managing complex, multi-disciplinary, and challenging field operations in developing countries, Africa preferred
• Significant coordination skills and managerial and technical knowledge
• Demonstrated skills in problem solving, consensus building, and coordination of diverse stakeholders
• Strong candidates will have knowledge of USDA regulations and procedures
• Proven record in thought leadership in market-led approaches to agriculture development, value chain development, nutrition/food security
• Knowledge of French required

V. Application Instructions

• Qualified and interested applicants should submit a Word-formatted single document consisting of cover letter, resume and salary history to jobs@tns.org. Please identify the position for which you are applying in the subject line.

• Only applicants meeting minimum will be considered or contacted. No phone calls please.

TECHNOSERVE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER OF MINORITIES, FEMALES, PROTECTED VETERANS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES