Career at CARE Bangladesh

Project Summary:

USAID Agriculture Extension Support Activity 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 Markets for USAID Agriculture Extension Support Activity Project(01Position, Based in Dhaka)

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

I.          Job Summary:

In a brief paragraph, state the position's overall purpose or objective, highlighting the general functions for which the position is responsible. Why does the position exist and what must it accomplish USAID funded Agriculture Extension Support Activity 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. Technical Manager-Access to Markets is responsible for strategically planning and implementing marketing and business development activities to grow and sustain the program and to advance its objectives. 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 .She/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 USAID Ag Extension 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:    Describe the major responsibilities, principal tasks, competencies and end results for which the position is accountable (try to limit responsibilities to five).  List the responsibilities in the order of importance and state the percentage of time the employee spends on each responsibility during a typical year. Employees who supervise other regular employees on a continuous basis should have Staff Management as the number one Job Responsibility.  The general rule of thumb for percentage of time for management of others is 5% per direct report.  Example: If a supervisor has six direct reports then at least 30% of his/her job should be allocated to supervising those employees.
Responsibility # 1: Develop and implement marketing and business development plan for USAID Ag Extension project	% of Time
Analyze the market system of agriculture and critically identify the marketing constraints of agricultural products of south of Bangladesh Design and oversee the implementation of marketing and business development plan to support USAID Ag Extension project objectives. Conduct regular field visit and observe activities critically to identify operational constraints  and ensure remedial options in a participatory manner Together with the team members develop market demand driven strategies for facilitating for commercially viable agri. business especially for the extreme poor and women group to overcome the constraints. Organize and facilitate different workshop at field and regional level especially matchmaking workshop with entrepreneur (producer, processors) and other private sectors.	30%
Responsibility # 2: Facilitate collaboration and business partnership with different private sectors
Develop working relationship with different private sector companies Communicate regularly with private sectors; understand their need and expectation.  Arrange meetings between women groups and different service providers including the Market players, NGOs and Different companies as well as other relevant organizations. Meet with current and potential stakeholders, including SMEs, government officers, regulators, associations, and others Develop new ideas and find out opportunity of work for private sector Develop plans in conjunction with the team for different projects operations in markets initiatives and ensure implementation	20%
Responsibility # 3: Capacity Building of USAID Ag Extension project staff in working with private sector for the betterment extreme poor and women.
Ensure that all supervisees have their updated job description and clarify their roles and responsibilities in relation with market and business development Oversee and analyze the staff capacity particularly with respect to job description in compliance with project objectives. Provide objective and detailed feedback both positive and critical and follow up on how feedback is incorporated. Determine capacity building needs for staffs and arrange skill development training formal and informal in both in house and out side house Create congenial/friendly environment for learning from each other so that the staffs enhance their performance Ensure that staffs are fully capable to identifying constraints and use commercially viable strategies to address the said constraints.	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 USAID Ag Extension 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
Work 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:

Technical Manager-Access to Markets will direct report to the Agribusiness and Marketing Specialist and assist National Technical Coordinator with market and business development.

IV.        Working Condition:

Based in Dhaka. Approximately 50% of time will be spent in the field as specified by the Agribusiness and Marketing Specialist and the remaining 50% in field offices as required.

V.        Qualification:

Minimum of Bachelor Degree in Business, Economics, Agriculture Economics. At least 3 years relevant working experience in Market and Business Development, Market oriented initiatives and work with the private sector or INGO. Good written and oral communication skills both in Bangla & English.

VI.        Core Competencies:

Good analytical and leadership skills. Experience of business planning for small and medium enterprises. Very strong presentation and inter-personal skills. Experience in networking with national and international organizations and institutions. Good Negotiation, Collaboration, Coaching, Operational/Strategic Decision Making skills. Problem solving and trouble shooting capacity

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 Markets who will play a key role in the leadership of the USAID Agriculture Extension Support Activity Project whilst at the same time building a learning culture that promotes knowledge sharing across CARE and excellence. 

Compensation

Monthly gross salary is Taka 80,800 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 hr@bd.care.org on or before January 26, 2014. 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 Reception desk (9th floor).

Note: 1. Women are particularly encouraged to apply 2. Any persuasion will disqualify the candidates 3. Internal and external applicants shall be treated equally in the entire selection process 4. Please write the position name on top of the envelope.