Area Program Manager

DescriptionWhy RTIRTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you. About the Hiring GroupRTI's Center of International Development brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. RTI leverages its experience in designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to build resilience and prosperity and promote economic growth and security around the world. Project Description.The purpose of the Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture activity is to increase access to healthy diets, particularly for women and children, by improving competitiveness, inclusiveness, and resilience of the Ethiopian food and agriculture system. The project scope targets private sector partnerships engaged in a market systems approach to strengthening the Ethiopian food system. The project collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture and many other agencies and US Department of State programs to leverage resources and achieve impact at scale.Position DescriptionThe Area Program Manager– Dire Dawa will be responsible for leading and managing the implementation and coordination of all the Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture (ETA) technical activities at the Dire Dawa regional office while providing oversight for day-to-day project operations. RTI has established a regional office in Dire Dawa that will be overseen by the Area Program Manager, who will maintain local relationships with stakeholders and grantees and make locally focused programmatic decisions. What You'll Do• Overall coordination of the ETA activities in the designated woreda that falls under the Dire Dawa office.• Supervise and support technical and operational staff in the field, including coordination in the preparation process of work plans and activity implementation, monitoring of activities and results, collection and analysis of data and preparing and reviewing reports.• Oversee and closely monitor all grantee`s technical activities and the specific scope of work in the individual grant agreement, including key interventions in commodities and food market systems, milestone deliverables, and reporting.• Develop and maintain relationships with private-sector actors within the area, engaging them as grantees, learning partners, and stakeholders.• Oversee and closely monitor all direct technical activities including sub-contract services, field days, demonstration sites, stakeholder workshops.• Coordinate and work closely with regional government officials and public sector agencies at all levels to maintain smooth relations and support for the implementation of the ETA work plan.• Engage with U.S. State Department programs, officials, and Implementing Partners, and other Development Partners, with in the region to maintain smooth relations, achieve synergy and coordinate joint activities where appropriate, including participation in learning and field events.• Support and coordinate with ETA technical teams in Addis Ababa, and other regions, in crops, livestock, nutrition, food processing, food security, market services, environmental compliance, monitoring, evaluation & learning (MEL), private sector engagement.• Ensure technical quality of core activities to achieve scale and timely impact across sectors and local food market systems.• Oversee and closely monitor all operational functions connected with procurement, logistics, IT, administration, and seek support from the national operations team when needed.• Monitor program performance, tracking progress against goals, and implementing corrective actions as needed.• Optimize existing regional resource allocation assigned by project management, including personnel, budget, and other assets, to maximize program efficiency and effectiveness.• Identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks that could impact program delivery and inform the leadership as needed.• Ensure that regional support needs are clearly identified to the head office• Other tasks assigned by line manager and leadership. What You'll NeedMinimum Required Education & ExperienceBachelor's Degree and 8 years of experience, Master's degree and 6 years of experience, PhD and 1 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.Prior experience working on donor funded projects, particularly US Government projects is preferred.Demonstrated experience and technical knowledge in project management, including elements of nutrition, gender, youth, and market systems development.Demonstrated familiarity with current trends in private sector engagement and inclusive market systems in Ethiopia. Skills & AbilitiesExcellent communication and interpersonal skills. Good knowledge of essential computer software. Verbal and written fluency in English, Amharic, and local language is a plusAbility to work effectively in a team environment and with diverse stakeholdersAbility to travel and work throughout Ethiopia in difficult terrain/conditions at times. DisclaimerThe above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job

ResponsibilitiesOverall coordination of the ETA activities in the designated woreda that falls under the Dire Dawa office.• Supervise and support technical and operational staff in the field, including coordination in the preparation process of work plans and activity implementation, monitoring of activities and results, collection and analysis of data and preparing and reviewing reports.• Oversee and closely monitor all grantee`s technical activities and the specific scope of work in the individual grant agreement, including key interventions in commodities and food market systems, milestone deliverables, and reporting.• Develop and maintain relationships with private-sector actors within the area, engaging them as grantees, learning partners, and stakeholders.• Oversee and closely monitor all direct technical activities including sub-contract services, field days, demonstration sites, stakeholder workshops.• Coordinate and work closely with regional government officials and public sector agencies at all levels to maintain smooth relations and support for the implementation of the ETA work plan.• Engage with U.S. State Department programs, officials, and Implementing Partners, and other Development Partners, with in the region to maintain smooth relations, achieve synergy and coordinate joint activities where appropriate, including participation in learning and field events.• Support and coordinate with ETA technical teams in Addis Ababa, and other regions, in crops, livestock, nutrition, food processing, food security, market services, environmental compliance, monitoring, evaluation & learning (MEL), private sector engagement.• Ensure technical quality of core activities to achieve scale and timely impact across sectors and local food market systems.• Oversee and closely monitor all operational functions connected with procurement, logistics, IT, administration, and seek support from the national operations team when needed.• Monitor program performance, tracking progress against goals, and implementing corrective actions as needed.• Optimize existing regional resource allocation assigned by project management, including personnel, budget, and other assets, to maximize program efficiency and effectiveness.• Identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks that could impact program delivery and inform the leadership as needed.• Ensure that regional support needs are clearly identified to the head office• Other tasks assigned by line manager and leadership

QualificationMinimum Required Education & ExperienceBachelor's Degree and 8 years of experience, Master's degree and 6 years of experience, PhD and 1 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.Prior experience working on donor funded projects, particularly US Government projects is preferred.Demonstrated experience and technical knowledge in project management, including elements of nutrition, gender, youth, and market systems development.Demonstrated familiarity with current trends in private sector engagement and inclusive market systems in Ethiopia. Skills & AbilitiesExcellent communication and interpersonal skills. Good knowledge of essential computer software. Verbal and written fluency in English, Amharic, and local language is a plusAbility to work effectively in a team environment and with diverse stakeholdersAbility to travel and work throughout Ethiopia in difficult terrain/conditions at times. DisclaimerThe above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job