Project Summary

Sustainable Agriculture Extension Services for Smallholders Advancement (SAESSA) Project proposes to work in 20 districts in the central and southwest areas of Bangladesh, (Barisal, Dhaka, and Khulna divisions), to implement capacity building and support creation of a farmer demand-driven agricultural extension system, synergized by use of information communication technology (ICT). The Project will promote greater intensification and diversification of high-value commercial and nutritionally-rich crops and linkages to markets for sale of quality value-chain products. The focus will be on poor and vulnerable smallholder farmers experiencing food insecurity, with priority given to women farmers, living in increasingly fragile and degraded environments affected by natural disasters and climate change. A key emphasis is working closely with the Government of Bangladesh to identify gaps in existing capacities and build on efforts already under way.

Position Title, Location & Contract Duration

Technical Manager-Access to Inputs for (SAESSA) (02 Positions, CARE Jessore Field Office)

The duration of the proposed contract is up to October 2017.

I. Job Summary:
USAID funded Sustainable Agriculture Extension Services for Smallholders Advancement (SAESSA) Project endeavors to strengthen the existing agriculture extension system in 20 districts in southwest and central Bangladesh in order to sustainably improve food security and nutrition for 200,000 vulnerable women and smallholder farmers.
Project Manager-Access to Inputs is responsible for strategically planning and implementing marketing and business development activities to grow and sustain the project’s one of the major objectives of ensuring access to inputs. The position is also responsible for management, coordination, implementation and monitoring of project activities at field level including field level human, financial and other resources management. S/he will provide leadership, technical and conceptual guidance for economic empowerment for poor and marginalized people, partnerships with the private sectors and social entrepreneurial activity, represent the SAESSA project related to market development and economic development at regional level. S/he will also be responsible for coordinating a core team of trained field staffs representing all levels of the market development activities implementing in the field. S/he will provide guidance and support to programs initiating economic development and market linkages work. S/he will forge strategic relationships with external stakeholders, the market development groups at regional level and internal collaborations of CARE Bangladesh at field.
II. Responsibilities and Tasks:
Responsibility # 1: Lead the implementation of activities to create access of agri. inputs across the project areas / % of time
·  Responsible for overall coordination, planning, development and management of a resource mobilization and partnership strategy and support accountability of transparent contribution management
·  Define objectives and priorities related to the goals of the project, mobilize techniques or channels, assess needs for resources and coordinate its implementation
·  Foster the process to establish inputs service providers with the capacity to establish and support a network of inputs supply chain initially in south part of Bangladesh.
·  Develop the agriculture input and services business and establish and promote the business as a trusted and consistent supplier of quality and affordable services and products; / 30%
Responsibility # 2: Initiate activities to develop and maintain smooth working relationship with companies and inputs sellers
·  Develop and maintain a comfortable, easy to access relationship with different companies and inputs sellers
·  Analyze the relationship with private sector partner and management of all supply chain channels and activities relevant with the project.
·  Construction of effective and attractive business incentives with stakeholders can share the responsibility for sustainable implementation of agri. inputs network actions in the long run.
·  Preferred pricing negotiated with approved input suppliers by aggregating wholesale demand between all inputs sellers, reducing logistics and distribution costs borne by suppliers, and eliminating certain transaction risks.
·  Solve different day to day problems and challenges of partnership / 20%
Responsibility # 3: Management of activities and supervision of project staffs in relation to the implementation of the project.
·  S/He will be responsible for the management of the team under his/her supervision.
·  Facilitate timely planning of activities and ensure efficient coordination with SEED Agriculture Project Staffs.
·  Develop a fair understanding over the budget and monitor the expenses accordingly.
·  Ensure effective and efficient utilization of resources through maximizing leverage from the partnership with private sector entities.
·  Conduct regular field visits, observe activities critically to identify operational constraints and ensure remedial options in a participatory manner
·  Work with the Project Officer to prioritize the needs of the intervention and act accordingly. / 20%
Responsibility # 4: Research, Learning, Documentation and Communication
·  Conduct market research and value chain analysis to identify the constraint and opportunities for dairy private sector intervention.
·  Attend various meetings, seminars, trainings to broaden and deepen knowledge of private sector linkage for the betterment of dairy producers
·  Survey and read a variety of documents, reports, news, and publications to understand the business opportunity.
·  Maintain regular communication with Headquarter and Field office management
·  Arrange monthly meeting with SEED Agriculture management to present progress, constraints and findings of the project / 15%
Responsibility # 5: Promote gender equality, women’s empowerment in operation and managing of different project activities as well as managing the team
·  Jointly Work with PM-Gender to incorporating gender equality issues in project implementation
·  Establish and ensure sex disaggregated data base for the project
·  Ensure continuous monitoring of the project with gender perspective
·  Undertake and suggest affirmative actions for gender equality and women’s empowerment
·  Ensure gender inclusive resource and financial allocation in all project activities / 5%
Responsibility # 6: Assist to Monitoring and Evaluation process
·  Be familiar with the M&E framework and tools and ensure that M&E processes are being implemented properly and data/information are being collected, checked and prepared report on time.
·  Prepare periodic progress and monitoring report as per project requirement with the assistance of M&E personnel
·  Oversee and monitor program activities through frequent field visits, sharing and meetings and provide feedback as appropriate. / 10%
III. Reporting:
Project Manager-Access to Inputs will direct report to the Agribusiness and Market Specialist and Assist National Coordinator with market and business development.
IV. Working Condition:
The position is based at Jessore. The position requires travel to the field as needed.
V.  Qualification:
Business graduate, preferably an MBA, proven skills in partnership management, high negotiation and persuasion skill. 3 years experience in agricultural supply chain management and exposure to dairy related activities will be an advantage.

Candidates need to be highly motivated and committed to CARE Bangladesh’s vision, mission, and long term development work to significantly improve the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized. Candidates must be capable of displaying great learning agility, support and encouragement of knowledge sharing across projects, to the ultimate benefit of all of CARE’s mission wide initiatives.

This is an interesting time in the development of CARE as an organization which is shifting towards a program approach where it has developed longer-term impact visions to have MORE sustainable changes in the lives of the extreme poor and marginalized. CARE is looking for a Technical Manager-Access to Inputs who will play a key role in the leadership of the SAESSA Project whilst at the same time building a learning culture that promotes knowledge sharing across CARE and excellence.

Compensation

Monthly gross salary is Taka 70,500 plus other admissible benefits as are per policy.

CARE Bangladesh invites applications from qualified individuals. Summary job descriptions and the application format can be found on the website at: www.carebangladesh.org. Please note that only applications filled in as per CARE format will be considered. Please email the application to on or before January 14, 2013. For those wanting to send hard copies of the CARE application format please send to: HR Manager - HRD&M, CARE Bangladesh, 20-21, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka 1215. Interested persons may also collect the application form from our Receptions desk (9th floor).

Note: Note: 2 Women are particularly encouraged to apply 2 Any persuasion will disqualify the candidates 2 All the applicants (internal & ex-CARE) shall be treated equally in the entire selection process2 Please write the position name at the top of the envelope.

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