Technical Advisor II – Seed Systems Specialist (4 Positions)

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia’s most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS’ disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS’s humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs, promotes equality and inclusion, and mitigates the impact of COVID-19.

As part of CRS family, you will join the more than 5000 strong and vibrant individuals working globally to accomplish the mission of CRS. CRS/Ethiopia invites you, the qualified candidate, to apply for the following position.

Job Title:                        Technical Advisor II – Seed Systems Specialist

Band:                              X

Required number:        four

Department:                 Programs

Employment Term:     Definite term (i.e., up to September 30, 2028 )

Reports To:                    Program Manager II – Senior Market System Specialist

Country/Location:        CRS Ethiopia/Addis Abba

Application Deadline:   August 29, 2023

Job Summary

You will provide technical advice, guidance, and support in the area of climate smart seed systems. You will be part of the technical team implementing the USAID Feed-the-Future funded Ethiopia Seed Activity (ESA) project. You will apply Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. The technical focus of the activity will be on climate smart crop and forage seed systems, considerate of inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth and strengthened resilience among people and systems in Ethiopia. The Seed Systems Specialist will lead seed system related activity implementation, data collection and reporting tasks.

 Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead identification of implementing and collaborating partners on the ground including public and private stakeholders at federal, regional, and local levels.
• Lead activities to strengthen the capacity of target climate smart crops and forage seed multiplication and production.
• Formulate and implement activities with emphasis on commercialization through awareness and demand creation and accelerated multiplication of EGS and certified seed to reach smallholder farmers to achieve impact at scale.
• Provide technical support to Ethiopia Seed Activity partners in designing and implementing market responsive seed system to increase farmers’ access to improved crop and forage seed.
• Work with extension and delivery systems to scale-up best models to improve access to seed by farmers who have not benefitted from improved seed.
• Support activities as needed to strengthen digital seed production and marketing information network for target crops and forages.
• Support as needed the development and adoption of Quality Declared Seed protocol/framework for targeted crops and forages seed production system.
• Coordinate with ESA partners to develop sustainable production of breeders, pre-basic and basic seed of crop and forage varieties.
• Closely work with public and private seed companies to increase certified seed production, field-based promotional activities, and adoption of improved varieties by the target communities.
• Lead the development of approaches for promoting seed entrepreneurship amongst women and youth.
• Provide technical support to public and private seed companies in specific areas such as seed business management including production (pre-basic and basic seed production) and marketing.
• Organize meetings (technical and partner meetings), training (staff, partners, farmers), and workshops (seed marketing, annual review, and planning) as needed.
• Engage local stakeholders (seed companies, NARS, NGOs, Farmer Organizations, Farmer Cooperatives and Private Sector) on strategies, policies, and research needed to address bottlenecks in crop and forage seed systems through workshops, briefs, and periodic physical engagements.
• Closely work with gender advisor to ensure gender- and market-responsive seed systems interventions and extension approaches, including facilitating demonstration of new varieties to generate demand.
• Identify opportunities for learning, research, and publications in the area of seed systems development. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda.
• Support the Technical Director, MEAL Manager and Chief of Party with data to support the development of evidence-based briefs for the Seed Activity learning agenda.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• MSc/BSc degree in Seed science and technology, crop science, breeding, and any relevant field preferably with working experience in the seed sector.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in the seed sector for MSc or minimum of 8 years of work experience in the seed sector for BSc.
• Broad knowledge and experience in key components of the seed value chain including variety evaluation and release, seed production, seed quality assurance, and integrated seed system development.
• Broad knowledge and experience in technical procedures, institutional arrangements, regulatory frameworks, and national seed policy for the development of a functional seed system.
• Knowledge and experience in key components of the seed value chain including seed multiplication, seed quality assurance, seed marketing, and integrated seed system development.
• Demonstrated experience working in seed sector development and in building public-private partnerships.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated skills in the facilitation of public-private partnerships.
• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, facilitation and networking skills with a wide range of private, partner and NGO-sector actors.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented.
• Ability to coordinate efficiently with multiple partners and staff in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.
• Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Required Languages – Professional level proficiency in written and spoken English is required.

 Travel Required – Must be willing and able to travel domestically up to 30%.

Key Working Relationships

Supervisory Responsibilities – None

Internal: ESA Chief of Party and project technical staff; Regional Technical Advisors in Agriculture, Youth, Gender and Market Systems, CRS Ethiopia program and operations staff, CRS Ethiopia gender and youth technical advisors

External: CIAT Forage Expert and International technical experts, ESA consultants in policy and densification, national and international partners, public and private sector entities, other partners.

 Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
•  Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
•  Builds and maintains trust – shows consistency between words and actions.
•  Collaborates with others – works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
•  Open to learn – seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

 Agency Leadership Competencies:

•  Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

 Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.