An international development project working to increase and sustain agricultural productivity among select crop value chains in Ghana is searching for qualified candidates to become the project's Seed Business Coordinator and project's Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) coordinator for an initial 2 - year contract, with the possibility to extend based on performance. This will be a full-time position based out of Tamale and will be required to work throughout the three northern regions

The project will support various actors along the targeted value chains in Ghana including producers, agro-input dealers, agricultural enterprises, private sector actors involved in seed and fertilizer production and distribution, research institutions / laboratories, as well as government and regulatory bodies responsible for creating and maintaining an enabling environment for a dynamic agricultural sector.

Requirement (Non-Negotiable)

Qualification Required & Experience

•   At least Master degree in a relevant field of sciences such as crop science, plant pathology, agronomy, other degrees of agricultural orientation, and/or development or business orientation with hands on agricultural experience and knowledge
•   A minimum of seven years of work experience in agricultural projects in Ghana and/or in Sub-Saharan Africa
•   Experience in private sector development and facilitation of public private partnerships
•   Ability to design and facilitate multi-stakeholder processes and institutional innovation processes
•   Affinity with capacity strengthening and facilitation of trainings
•   High level communication and writing skills and sensitivity towards cultural differences
•   Excellent English language skills (written and spoken)

Position Summary

The Seed Business Coordinator is responsible for providing support to emerging seed companies and organisation of the seed platform and related public-private partnership activities. S/he will be the change agent to support the transformation of seed producers into seed companies, create strong market linkages and improve the collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders in the seed sector. The seed business coordinator will:

•   Coordinate relevant activities and meetings, including preparations, organisation and follow-up on agreed actions
•   Coordinate the support activities to seed producers and seed companies through business plan development, market analyses and BDS provision

Duties

In addition to the two primary pillars of responsibilities above, the Seed Business Coordinator will:

•   Able to coordinate the activities of all project partners on components of the seed-related activities
•   Able to serve as principal advisor to project partners for the design and implementation of seed production practices being used and promoted
•   Provide hands on support to seed producers and companies, and improve backward and forward linkages in the seed chain.

These include, but are not limited to:-

•   Supporting and assisting seed producers and companies to operate in a business and market, profit-driven manner, amongst others by developing business plans that do not depend on government support and undertaking market analyses, as well as through trainings and/or coordinating trainings and workshops
•   support market linkages for seed producers and seed companies, both in term of direct sales and through reliable wholesalers and agro dealers, creating direct relationships with breeder or foundation seed producers, expanding the variety portfolio of seed producers and seed companies
•   Facilitating a seed sector platform among seed sector stakeholders to ensure systemic bottlenecks are being solved. Systemic bottlenecks include: quality assurance, variety release (available and soon-to-be available), seed chain coordination (breeders, foundation, certified seed), public-private partnerships for development and (exclusive) use of newly release varieties, and marketing issues (fake seeds, labeling).
•   Operationalize and support implementation of the seed platform recommendations by piloting new arrangement, follow up studies and business ideas. Facilitation of learning among seed sector stakeholders, implementation of learning activities and contribution to the development of learning networks
•   Work with team members and partners to develop technical content of training materials, informational brochures, etc. on new seed technologies and/or practices introduced via the project.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Interested applicants are kindly requested to send their applications in the form of a one page letter and current CV describing their experience, qualifications and three references by email to:-

hrtamale@gmail.com

Closing Date: 31 January, 2014