Regional Program Manager

Position:                                  Regional Program Manager

Term of Employment:          One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station(s):                      Assosa, Ethipia

Required Number:                 one

Application Deadline:           October 8, 2025

Job Description

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, which is a key contributor to the country’s GDP, exports, and workforce. The ATI’s work is centred on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFs) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability. The ATI works to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia by conducting policy and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support and capacity building, coordinating.  Platforms to better integrate partners and projects and designing and directly leading several innovative/pilot interventions.

The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. In addition, the ATI collaborates with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. The Institute plays a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision-making in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results.  Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great teamwork to achieve excellent results.

At ATI, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution to changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training.  We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training, and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

Position Summary

The Regional Program Manager is responsible for the successful implementation of the Agricultural Commercialization Cluster (ACC) II programs in the Benishangul Gumuz region. He/she refines ACC II program implementation strategies, design methods for program adoption, set regional targets, and oversee capacity building programs. The program manager also plays a crucial role in project management, relationship building, and team development. He/she manages and leads program teams, solving problems and monitoring progress towards goals and ensuring the successful implementation of the different interventions of the ACC II program. He/she builds strong relationships and works collaboratively with government officials, private sector representatives, and other key stakeholders to secure support, facilitate market linkages, and enhance communication for successful program implementation. Additionally, he/she oversees performance monitoring and reporting for his/her team including reviewing plans and budgets, tracking progress against goals, ensuring data collection, and providing regular reports to headquarters leadership. Program manager is also responsible for empowering his/her team by identifying skill gaps, conducting performance reviews, providing coaching and mentorship, and organizing training for both internal and external stakeholders.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Outcome 1:   Develop Plans and Implementation Strategies (30%)

• Refine the Program’ implementation strategy and align with regional needs to ensure program impact.
• Design methods or techniques used to enhance the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of ACC II  program interventions
• Collaborate with the team to set realistic and achievable annual regional targets for project interventions.
• Oversee the development and implementation of results-oriented capacity-building programs for government and private sector actors.
• Lead team-level implementation issues studies and recommend and implement appropriate solutions
• Deliver strategic leadership support for each project team to operationalize for the effective implementation of projects activities
• Support the ACC Senior Director in program design and delivery.
• Coordinate and realize participatory approach for effective and aligned project planning
• Perform and implement any additional assignment given from Immediate Supervisor and/or Senior Director

Outcome 2:   Project Management and Performance (20%)

• Provide strategic guidance and problem-solving support to project teams to ensure the intended impact of interventions of the ACC projects.
• Identifying critical success factors of effective project management and positive outcomes based on thoughtful consideration.
• Proactively identify and address implementation issues, escalating to the ACC Senior Director when necessary.
• Ensure that the team understands the goal of the project, has access to open communication channels, and understands the priorities of tasks
• Works for delivering integrated value chains and business development across different ACC project-initiated businesses.
• Perform and implement any additional assignment given from Immediate Supervisor
• Ensure CCI (Gender, CSA, nutrition sensitive agriculture) properly mainstreamed in all the ACC program

Outcome 3:   Perform Results-Focused Stakeholder Management and Communication (30%)

• Initiate/strengthen engagement with stakeholders to scale up, integrate, and mainstream ACC program into regional work plans
• Build strong and collaborative relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including government officials, private sector and agricultural experts for smooth implementation of ACC program
• Facilitate interactions with private sector actors for market and institutional linkages
• Lead the assessment, identification, and capacity building of private sector actors to enhance their role in value chains and their internalizing in the ACC program initiatives.
• Enhance the region’s digital agriculture support for agricultural experts, collaborating with ATI headquarters teams
• Coordinate and collaborate effectively with staff across the ACC team.
• Establish/strengthen effective regular communication and reporting with the various government offices and key public and private enterprises engaged in ACC program interventions
• Plan and implement regular platform with relevant stakeholders and key partners to discuss on the effective implementation of the project
• Prepare and provide timely and updated information to ACC Program and Projects staffs to ensure smooth internal communication and transparency.
• Proven record in smoothly working with multiple community leaders, stakeholders, and Donor Partners

Outcome 4:  Performance, Progress Review, Monitoring and Reporting (10%)

• Review and approve business development plans, budgets, reports, and other relevant documents.
• Track progress against goals and report on team performance in a timely manner.
• Ensure robust data collection through implementation partners and staff for reporting needs.
• Support the ACC senior Director with periodic regional performance reports
• Works for delivering team-level consolidated timeframe reports
• Provide effective and upward reporting and progress updates to the HO ACC Verticals regularly and as per requests
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and outcome of the trainings provided by the projects under his/her supervision

Outcome 5:  Effective Performance Management and Capacity Building (10%)

• Conduct assessment of the knowledge and skill gaps of the program and project staffs and implementing agencies
• Conduct performance assessment of regional POs and SPOs under his/her supervision
• Ensure effective capacity-building support for regional staff for efficient and sustainable project delivery
• Build the Project officers under his/her supervision through mentoring, coaching, performance reviews, and improvement plans
• Organize content-based training and experience sharing to Regional, zonal, woreda and kebele level experts and private enterprises.
• Ensure effective regular communication with the various government offices, the private sector and development partner

Required Qualification, Competencies and Experience

• Minimum Master’s Degree in Agricultural Sciences, Project Management, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Economics, or other relevant fields.
• Experience:   At least 10 years of relevant work experience in project management and implementing projects, of which at least 5 years’ experience in senior, managerial, leadership or supervisory role.

Behavioral competencies:

•   Result/Outcome Oriented-   Drive to achieve results and make impacts; Focus on ACC program and supports ACC vertical at HO.
•    Communication Skills – Excellent oral and written communication skills, with highly collaborative working style; Experiences and skills in making high level presentation and facilitating dialogs; Experience in working with multi-cultural teams preferred.
•  Strategic Thinking – Insightful thinking for proactive, evidence-based decision-making; Focuses on the excellent Project Execution; Balancing short-term benefits with long-term goals; Commitment to organizational Vision, Mission, and values; Thinking out of the box.
• Passion for rural development – Have a great passion working with community development.
•  Networking – Creating a network in his /her functions with all actors in agriculture.
•   Problem-solving and conflict management skill – Excellent analytical, problem solving and   reporting skills; Excellent in managing conflicts.
•  Team Building Skills – Collaborative attitude for working with regional teams; Excellent team player, ability to organize, develop and manage teams; Excellent interpersonal, and leadership skills.
•    Technical competencies: Planning, implementing, and monitoring – Planning, implementation and monitoring of ACC Programs.
•   Project Management Skills – Excellent project management skills for optimal allocation of resources for making progress against plans and KPIs; Excellent experiences in project cycle management, initiation to closing.
•    Agricultural Value Chain and Agribusiness – Knowledge and experiences in value chains analysis and market linkage.
•     Stakeholders Management Skills – Excellent stakeholder management skills including thorough knowledge and understanding of various regional level partners institutions; Knowledge and understanding of various Federal, regional, and Zonal level institutions; Very Good experience of working in Federal, regional, and civil society or private sectors; Excellent in identification, analysis, planning and management skill of stakeholders

OTHER REQUIREMENTS (LANGUAGES, LICENSING OR CERTIFICATIONS)

•            Proficiency in oral and written English and Amharic languages

•            Proficiency in MS Office Suite and data analysis tools.

•            Certification in Project management is preferred.

HOW TO APPLY

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to: https://apply.ati.gov.et. It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter. Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.

Women are highly encouraged to apply

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.