Deputy Director, Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems (2009033)

International Relief and Development, Inc. (IRD)

Closing date: 03 Jul 2009
Location: United States of America (the) - Arlington, Virgina

The Deputy Director will work with IRD's SFAS team to expand its agricultural development and food security portfolio. The Deputy Director will develop and implement new business strategies that include innovative approaches that integrate agriculture development and governance processes, nutrition, gender and food systems.

S/he should have extensive practical experience designing, implementing, and managing smallholder market-oriented agricultural programs that increase productivity, strengthen agriculture and agribusiness value chains, improve food production and processing infrastructure, including irrigation systems, enhance market linkages, and develop and strengthen producer organizations. The successful candidate should have in-depth knowledge of and a proven track record of cultivating strong partnership relationships with major governmental funding sources such as USDA, USAID, BPRM, OFDA, as well as private foundations and other donors. The Deputy Director will work closely with and report to the Director of Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build and diversify IRD's funding portfolio for sustainable food and agriculture; assist in identifying potential funding sources for including, but not limited to, USAID, USDA, OFDA, BPRM,, foundations and private donors;
• Conceptualize and design innovative agriculture programs and elaborate into written proposals.
• Provide on-going technical assistance and guidance regarding the development and implementation of IRD's food and agriculture programs. Help develop program approaches that differentiate IRD within the agriculture development field.
• Develop relationships with other US-based and international organizations and assist in the development of partnerships and collaborative efforts.
• Represent IRD in selected US-based and international meetings, conferences and other gatherings; disseminate IRD's program results and share lessons learned as appropriate.
• Guide headquarters and the field in the implementation, financial monitoring, and performance evaluation of SFAS programs;
• Responsible for overall implementation support / back-stopping as necessary, and responsible for assuring grant/Cooperative Agreements/contract terms for SFAS programs are met;
• Manage a growing team of HQ SFAS staff; coordinate field oversight trips for existing programs.
• Monitor monthly financial pipelines for sector programs to ensure that program objectives are being met and donor regulations are being followed.
• Ensure proactive collaboration with other IRD sectors and special initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Master's degree or higher required, preferably in agronomy, agricultural economics, general agriculture science, or natural resources management. Background in gender programming preferred. Experience with integrated agriculture, nutrition and gender programs.
• Practical field experience in production agriculture, marketing, processing and producer organization development. Minimum 10 years management experience in developing countries, preferably in Africa and/or Southeast Asia. Experience working with smallholder farmers, particularly women farmers required. Experience in agriculture private sector development.
• Proven track record in grantsmanship for agricultural development; excellent proposal development skills.
• Minimum 7 years working in a non-governmental organization.
• Experience working with and knowledge of US government regulations (USAID, USDA, BPRM, OFDA) and other donor, grant regulations strongly preferred.
• Excellent written, analytical and oral communications skills required.
• Must be proficient in English; fluency in French a major plus.
• Must be willing to undertake international travel up to 25% of the time as required.
• Excellent oral communication and writing skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work in a team setting.
• Computer literacy in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

How to apply

Apply online at our website: 
http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=203114&company_id=15852&jobboardid=479