Chief of Party - Regrow Yirga Coffee Program

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 business 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.

About the project:

TechnoServe seeks a results-oriented professional to manage the implementation of one of TechnoServe’s largest programs in Africa. The coffee project is focused reviving the coffee sector in Yirgacheffe; one of the world’s most celebrated coffee origins. The program helps farmers boost productivity and expand trade and has a strong focus on improving farmers´ capacity to renew their trees. Specifically, the Regrow Yirga program seeks to: train 42,000 farmers in good agricultural practices, provide quality advisory support to 45 coffee processing stations, and work with a research institute and government to improve the climate-resilient capacity of coffee varietals and strengthen private coffee service providers in Ethiopia. Lastly, the project will launch an innovative Farmer Stumping Fund which will facilitate direct incentive (tools or cash) transfers to farmers to encourage tree rejuvenation which has the potential to be scaled up to over 1 million coffee farmers nation-wide.

The project works together with stakeholders at each stage of the supply chain including farmers, processors, exporters, roasting companies, industry associations, (private) service providers and government institutions. The primary goal of the project is income creation for smallholder farmers, while environmental sustainability, gender equity, job creation and increased trade are important secondary goals.

This program is in its implementation phase, and is funded through March 2028. The selected candidate's offer is contingent upon donor approval.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

The Chief of Party (COP) will lead overall management of program operations and ensure effective and timely project implementation as well as high quality service delivery to clients and achieving an optimal return on invested funds. The COP will be responsible for:

• Providing overall strategic guidance, leadership, management, and general technical oversight of the entire project, with a strong focus on achieving defined key performance indicators.
• Acting as the key liaison with all counterparts, implementing partners, and stakeholders involved with the project.
• Acting as the spokesperson for the project and presenting its work regionally and globally
• Recruiting, leading, and supervising delivery teams compromising long- and short-term team members and consortium partners (~150 staff). Establish a positive and harassment free working environment.
• Championing gender equality within the organization and supporting overall staff growth and development.
• Managing the project budget and project expenditures in compliance with TechnoServe and donor requirements.
• Ensuring an average return on investment of $3 of income increase at farmer level for every $1 spent on the project.
• Ensuring the monitoring and evaluation of the project is of suitable quality and that reports are submitted on time.
• Achieving operational excellence through continuously improving our service delivery to coffee farmers and processors.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, or other relevant area with at least 12 years’ experience; OR Master's Degree + 8 years relevant experience.
• Project management experience and skills including the ability to effectively manage operations, consistently ensure high quality program execution, and timely donor reporting.
• Experience managing medium to large teams with excellent people and leadership skills.
• Experience working within the private sector (eg. F&B industry, Agriculture, Management Consulting etc.) or working on private sector development.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior Chief of Staff experience on a US-government funded project and experience working in Ethiopia or East Africa preferable.
• Experience in the coffee sector preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills. Excellent written and verbal communications including the ability to communicate clearly and effectively to diverse audiences in English.
• Independent judgment and strong problem-solving and decision-making skills required, with limited supervision.
• Strong private sector market orientation, entrepreneurial and innovative thinker.
• Embraces our values of collegiality (we stick our necks out for each other), integrity (doing the ‘right thing’ regardless), resourcefulness (solve problems) and results (bias for action)

We welcome applications from both international and in-country candidates. If the successful candidate is a resident of the operating country, s(he) will be offered a local contract and paid in local currency. Salary for this position is tied to local market rates. 

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 [email protected] or call +1 202 785 4515.