Information Duty Station: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso or Bamako, Mali or Niamey, Niger

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation that applies practical knowledge to make a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. We use our extensive and long-term in-country presence to apply and adapt our top-notch expertise in agriculture, energy and WASH to local contexts. SNV has over 1250 staff in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organisation that uses project financing to implement our mission. This requires us to work efficiently and to invest in operational excellence.

In its Strategic Plan period (2019 – 2022), SNV is more explicitly aiming for structural change and scale in its programmes, as well as bringing knowledge and initiatives from different programmes together at country level to contribute to systems change. We will continue to position ourselves as a learning organisation striving for excellence and invest in making knowledge flow to and from the frontline. For more information on SNV, visit our website: www.snv.org

The Goal of the Agriculture Sector at SNV is “More Inclusive, sustainable and resilient food systems which provide diverse nutritious food for all within planetary boundaries”. In order to achieve this, SNV has chosen to work in four areas, which we call products: ‘Inclusive Value Chains’, ‘Sustainable Nutrition for All’, ‘Climate and Business’ and ‘Pastoralism/ Livestock’. We work through funded projects that include tools and approaches of one or more of these ‘products’ in order to support the achievement of our goal. While most SNV staff work directly for these projects in the countries where they are implemented, country project teams are supported by a Global Agriculture Team composed of technical specialists called Global Leads and Global Technical Advisors. This team represents SNV externally, positioning our work with key stakeholders, supports Project Managers to maintain and improve project quality, ensures knowledge is exchanged between projects and countries in order to continuously improve our tools and approaches, takes SNV’s learning to wider audiences in order to increase impact and leads the design of new projects, together with Business Development staff and country teams.

SNV has been present in the Sahel for more than 50 years, and has built a strong portfolio of innovative and transformative projects there, with a strong focus on support to pastoralism and sustainable livestock management, including support for inclusive and effective governance. In 2020 the organization made a decision to invest in strategic growth for the Sahel region and there is a resulting need to increase the number of Global Technical Advisors supporting this growth strategy.

The Pastoralism/ Livestock Global Technical Advisor will work under the leadership of the Global Head of Agriculture, but will also work with the Global Water and Energy teams, where appropriate, and very closely with colleagues in the Global Agriculture Team and country office staff, as well as the Business Development Team. The Global Technical Advisor will support the development and improvement of the description and the methods, tools and approaches of pastoralism/ livestock work at SNV, with a strong focus on the Sahel region and significant time and attention to leading the design of new projects.

The Pastoralism/ Livestock Global Technical Advisor monitors and manages the quality of project development and implementation for selected SNV projects that include Pastoralism/ Livestock components in order to support project teams to create sustainable impact while achieving agreed revenue and margin targets. Key aspects of this include developing and nurturing relationships with key donors, leading the design of and contributing to the development of funding proposals, building capacity of staff and providing technical assistance directly to project teams. The Global Technical Advisor supports the knowledge sharing and learning agenda on Pastoralism/ Livestock across SNV and guides Agriculture Sector Leaders and Project Managers in selected SNV Country Offices on theories and best practice relating to pastoralism/ livestock.

The Pastoralism/ Livestock Technical Advisor represents SNV with key stakeholders and at selected events at national and international level, building partnerships with relevant actors (companies, research institutions, universities, donors etc) through professional profiling and by promoting SNV's strategy, vision and level of (product and project) knowledge. The Global Technical Advisor supports the identification of global partnerships with knowledge institutes in consultation with others in the Global Agriculture Team.

Duties and Responsibilities

· Quality Assurance and Project Cycle Management: Provides advice and support to relevant project and programme staff to implement product tools and approaches according to the set standards. Steers and gives direction to Project Managers and Advisors to improve project and sector quality, supporting the quality of project implementation to ensure project teams create on the ground impact while hitting agreed revenue and margin targets. This includes regular monitoring and timely identification of deviations from impact and business targets as well as coordination of corrective and follow-up actions and escalation in case of major or prolonged deviations.

· Business Development: Acts as technical lead (leading on project proposal design) and reviews quality of new technical proposals; ensures coherence in cross-cutting themes; analyses and applies critical success factors (including Theory of Change, partners, activities and budget), in close collaboration with the Global Business Development team and proposal writers (approximately 50% of role/ time).

· Knowledge and Learning: Leads on (sub)sector practice development and translates external trends into internal improvement actions and innovations. Supports the development, maintenance and updating of the Agriculture (Water and Energy) knowledge agenda and supports organisational learning by sharing technical knowledge and best practices. Identifies global partnerships with knowledge institutes within the sector in consultation with the Global Sector Teams. Ensures that the set of tools and approaches to implement Pastoralism/ Livestock activities is updated and adjusted to meet the required high-quality standards. Develops innovative and relevant methodology enhancements or new products based on experience and external developments, together with other Global Team members and stakeholders.

· Profiling and positioning: Builds and expands partnerships with relevant actors (companies, research institutions, universities, donors, etc.) through professional profiling, showing SNV's strategy, vision and level of knowledge and experience. Represents SNV at selected events.

.Relevant advanced academic qualification in agriculture, governance, economics or another field relevant to Pastoralism/ Livestock;

· 10+ years of relevant experience in Pastoralism/ Livestock programmes, preferably including a project management role in the Sahel region;

· Strong background in business development with external donors: proven ability and solid experience designing impactful projects and programmes, writing successful proposals and managing international donor relationships required;

· Demonstrated understanding of the Pastoralism/ Livestock sector, particularly in relation to increasing drought, land and water issues, governance and security;

· Sound experience within knowledge development, organisational learning and innovation;

· Proven track record in project management, specifically in project planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and financial management for large-scale comprehensive projects;

· International work experience and proven ability to effectively steer, give direction and advice to project managers, effectively coach and lead a team of advisors in a multi-cultural setting;

· Native language level proficiency in French required. Proficiency in English required;

· The successful candidate will be a self-motivated achiever with excellent intercultural leadership, teamwork, coaching, communication, networking and organisational skills;

· Entrepreneurial, result-oriented and driver for change;

· Excellent social and networking skills, ability to engage with governments and the private sector including influencing skills and experience of working effectively in a matrix organisation;

Terms of appointment

Contract Type: International Contract

Contract Duration: 2 years with strong possibility for extension

Expected Start Date: As soon as possible

Information Duty Station: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Bamako, Mali; or Niamey, Niger

Travel to Projects: Approximately 30% + approximately four trips per year to the Hague

How to Apply

Please submit your application via Smart Recruiters by August 8, 2021

Please send your CV along with your application:

All information will be treated with strict confidentiality.  We will revert to you as soon as we have reviewed and evaluated your application.

Only short listed applicants will be contacted.

- We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement -