Market Systems/Value Chains Team Lead at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Band:              9

Department:   Programs / Rural Resilience Project

Reports To:    Deputy Chief of Party

Location:       Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

Job Ref Code: VCT121118

Full JD Links:  https://goo.gl/HGzw3T

Job Summary:

The Market Systems/Value Chains Team Lead will provide strategic guidance in market systems / value chains across the program.  S/he will lead the program’s efforts to invest sustainably in agribusiness particularly targeting smallholder farmers.  Responsibilities include:

Specific Job Responsibilities:

• Provide overall strategic guidance and leadership on viable value chains across the program; ensuring thorough assessments and analysis of commercial viability (return on investment, Cost – benefit, profit margins, cash-flow requirements, supply and demand modelling) of potential value chains before investment.
• Working jointly with other stakeholders and relevant government ministries and department agencies (MDAs), develop sustainable intervention strategies for prioritized value chains.
• Work closely with other project managers to demonstrate and promote commercial viability of selected value chains and agribusinesses.
• Liaise with private sector partners to promote sustainable commercial markets for prioritized value chains.
• Support adoption of appropriate technologies in agricultural production and post-harvest processing to reduce costs and increase commercial viability of selected value chains.
• Ensure compliance with CRS and USAID policies and requirements.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Finance, Business Development, Economics or other relevant field.
• At least 10 years of international experience in supporting value chains across sub-Saharan Africa.
• Prior experience on donor-funded projects of a similar size (over US$ 10M) and scope in developing countries.
• Demonstrated ability to reach under-served communities and design products for excluded population segments including young women and men.
• Experience programmatic and financial reporting requirements especially on small and medium size enterprises.

• Experience with USAID rules, regulations and requirements is preferred.
• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa required.  Prior experience in Nigeria preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.

Required Travel: To field locations in Nigeria

Work Environment: Abuja office