Food Fortification Specialist, Inspiring Good Nutrition Initiatives Through Enterprise (IGNITE)

Job Description

. TechnoServe Background:

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of businesses and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing…when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off. 

2. Program Description

The Inspiring Good Nutrition Initiatives Through Enterprise (IGNITE) will build on the foundations of the Technical Assistance Accelerator Prelude (TAAP) program to achieve increased motivation and fortification capability of millers leading to increased proportion of fortified staple foods and conversion of a critical mass of millers to improved FF practices across at least eight countries.

IGNITE will facilitate the activation and expansion of a catalytic collective impact initiative – the Millers 4 Nutrition (M4N) coalition – to globally coordinate and locally implement an ultimately sustainable model for delivery of technical assistance (TA) and other services to millers. These TA services, and associated engagement platforms, will establish business cases and motivate and develop capabilities of food processors to improve their performance in the fortification of selected staple foods and condiments, and thereby to achieve large-scale and relevant (contributing to the diets of large proportions of populations in countries where staple FF has been identified as part of national nutrition strategies) coverage on a sustained basis. The IGNITE program will be implemented in eight priority countries namely Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania.

• Position Description

The Food Fortification Specialist will report to the IGNITE Program Manager and engage closely with local food companies to help identify capacity gaps and specific Technical Assistance (TA) needed to support quality fortification. He/She will also collaborate with the Fortification Partners to design and deliver technical modules through program templates.

Technical Duties

• Support the execution of stakeholder engagement and operational plan for program node
• Coordinate stakeholder convenings and sector-wide training, in collaboration with the Program Manager and in alignment with strategic objectives
• Work with selected food processors to identify their challenges to adequate fortification compliance, support assisted companies with solutions to address these challenges and coordinate with Strategic Fortification Partners (SFPs) to execute Technical Assistance (TA)
• Identify common fortification challenges and work with the IGNITE team to support the design and delivery of sector-wide training workshops to strengthen these gaps.
• Review, monitor, and report on all programmatic activities including periodic progress, and financial reports, ensuring strict compliance with TechnoServe’s objectives, strategies, policies and procedures. Make appropriate recommendations on the implementation plan.

Key Organizational Relationships

• The Food Fortification Specialist will report directly to the Program Manager on strategic issues related to work planning, targets, budgets, staff and program delivery.
• The Food Fortification Specialist will receive technical oversight and support from the Program Manager and the Strategic Fortification Partners (SFP) with respect to training and technology transfer to assisted companies.

Experience, Education and other requirements

• Bachelor’s in Food Technology, Nutrition, or food industry related fields; Master’s preferred.
• At least 3 years of experience working in the food industry for either the private sector or implementing on behalf of a development program, with strong quality management experience a must
• Managerial experience, including supervision of staff, budget management and use of project management systems
• Computer literacy with excellent Excel, MS Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint skills
• Excellent command of spoken and written English is essential
• Working knowledge of Swahili is highly desirable
• Ability and willingness to travel both locally and abroad

Skills & Attributes

• Food processing experience, preferably in staple foods, with an understanding of quality management, food regulatory compliance and fortification technology
• Strong project management and strategic thinking abilities
• Analytical mind and commitment to quality; rigorous approach with a high level of attention to detail.

Core competencies required

• Proven ability to work in an environment requiring collaboration with the private sector, government, and national and international organizations.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Flexible, proactive, goal-oriented and with a willingness to travel in challenging environments.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to use initiative, prioritize, multi-task, and work well under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Clear and systematic thinking that demonstrates good judgment, problem-solving, and creativity.
• Organizing, planning and time management
• Teamwork/relationship – works cooperatively and flexibly with other members of the team with the full understanding of the role to be played as a team member or leader.

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe’s vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.