Counterpart International helps people build better lives and more durable futures, community by community. We equip individuals, organizations and communities – our counterparts- to become solution creators in their own families, communities, regions and countries. We work with them in some of the world’s most challenging places to tackle social, economic, environmental, health and governance issues that threaten their lives and undermine their futures.
For more information on Counterpart, please visit our website at www.Counterpart.org
SUMMARY:
Counterpart International is currently seeking an Agriculture and Food Security Senior Technical Specialist who will work closely with field projects and the HQ-based program design team to ensure technical excellence in all of Counterpart’s work in the field of Agriculture and Food Security. This is a full-time position based in Arlington, Virginia.
Counterpart International’s work in Agriculture and Food Security (AFS) combines technical expertise with a purposeful focus on building local capacity of community, government and private sector actors to create permanent locally-based solutions to agriculture and food security challenges. The portfolio is primarily based in Latin America and Africa, with funding by USAID, USDA, and multilateral donors.
This position sits within the Programs Unit, reporting to the Regional Director, with matrixed responsibilities to the New Business Development and Communications units. Approximately 30% travel is expected per year.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Agriculture and Food Security Senior Technical Specialist will provide strategic, technical and operational guidance and support across Counterpart’s portfolio. Second, s/he will provide technical leadership for future agriculture and food security programs, including technical assessments, design, and proposal development with the New Business Development Unit. Finally, the Senior Technical Specialist will work closely with the Communications team to capture Counterpart’s knowledge for both proprietary learning products and for Counterpart’s external engagement.
Specific duties and responsibilities include:
Project Technical Support (expected 50%)
• Provide organization-wide technical leadership in the AFS space, including strategy, technical impact and performance metrics, and portfolio quality assurance.
• Provide technical guidance for development of annual project work plans in the AFS portfolio, including establishment of programmatic targets.
• Serve as the primary technical resource for extracting lessons learned, capturing proven methodologies, and writing summary reports of program achievements and empirical results across the AFS portfolio.
• Undertake billed technical assignments on projects with an expected 30% billed rate (including both field and HQ-based assignments).
• Develop AFN scopes of work and support selection of technical consultants in consultation with designated program managers in field offices.
• Provide general and specific technical council to Chiefs of Party in the AFS portfolio, both based on HQ direction and field need.
• Bring global and evolving AFS best practice to Counterpart’s Program team, including continual improvements in Counterpart’s AFS methodologies.
• Lead Counterpart’s AFS community of practice, ensuring cross-project information sharing and learning, integration of best practices from beyond Counterpart, and improvement and dissemination of Counterpart’s AFS methodologies.
• Be the face of Counterpart in presenting AFS innovations, results, and expertise to the external community, including participation in key Washington, DC-based donor events, conferences, and public forums.
• Manage and grow Counterpart’s AFS consultant roster in partnership with the Recruitment Office, and maintain a constructive relationship with AFS lead consultants between assignments.
• Support relationships with key AFS partner organizations in coordination with the lead Program and New Business points of contact.
• Support personnel decision-making: screen and interview candidates for AFS-themed positions globally, including for projects under design.
Program Assessment, Design, and Proposal Writing (expected 40%)
• Contribute to short- and long-term AFS portfolio growth strategy for Counterpart.
• Conduct field assessments for program design, including meeting with government, civil society, private sector, donor, and international NGO representatives (approximately 25% travel expected).
• Lead annual review of donor, competitor, and collaborator AFS programs, delivering summary for market forecasting and decision-making.
• Serve as lead technical writer for proposals related to food security and nutrition each year as needed.
• Contribute technical design and content to other AFS proposals, and lead decision-making process on key design and proposal products.
• Build and manage relationships with international and local AFS partners to build relationships and identify new business and teaming opportunities.
• Ensure Counterpart’s AFS content, including description of methodologies and results and past performance statements, are compelling and comprehensive.
• Support AFS key personnel recruitment efforts.
External Engagement and Communication (expected 10%)
• Work closely with the Communications team to capture and present Counterpart’s core AFS results and methodologies across Counterpart’s outreach strategy and with core AFS partners and donors.
• Recommend content for ongoing Communications products including eNewsletter, website, blogs, and all social media platforms.
• Serve as Counterpart AFS presenter at public events per the Counterpart visibility plan.
RequirementsRequired:
• A Bachelor’s degree in relevant field, along with a minimum of 10 years of technical field experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in two or more of the following technical areas: agriculture, food security, and livelihoods.
• Demonstrated ability to participate constructively in both strategic planning and tactical execution.
• Demonstrated experience in building local partner capabilities to execute and sustain AFS results over time.
• Experience with AFS M&E performance indicators (USAID and USDA), donor guidelines, and current trends and best practices in the field.
• Experience and demonstrated success in preparing winning proposals and partnerships for U.S. and other bilateral donors (including USAID and USDA).
• Demonstrated inter-personal and partnership skills, sound judgment, and ability to work across cultures, languages, and technical areas.
• Excellent writing skills and cross-cultural communication, coaching, and facilitation skills.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality product on deadline.
• Ability to work in a self-directed manner and manage a matrixed workload, while effectively coordinating and communicating across teams.
• Fully aligned with Counterpart’s values: clarity of purpose, teamwork, excellence, and integrity.
Preferred:
• Master’s degree in relevant field.
• Knowledge of one or more of the following languages: French or Spanish.
- Counterpart International is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of Counterpart International to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
- Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.
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