Thematic Team Leader - Policies and Capacity Development: AU/IBAR

The African Union’s Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU/IBAR) is a specialized technical office reporting to the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the AU Commission.

The institution is mandated to support and coordinate the improvement of livestock as a resource for human wellbeing in the Member States of the African Union and contribute to economic development, particularly in rural areas.

AU/IBAR approaches livestock development from three strategic angles: animal health, animal production and trade and marketing of animals and animal products.

Vacancy Announcement

AU/IBAR is seeking the services of a Thematic Team Leader to provide leadership and managerial coordination of activities in the field of Policies and Capacity Development.

This position if funded through the EC funded Support Program to the AUC

Post Level: P4 Step 5 (USD 94,928 p.a)
Immediate Supervisor: Director, AU-IBAR
Type: Short term contract
Deadline for Applications: 15 January 2010
Date of Issuance: 10 December 2009
Duty Station: Nairobi/Kenya

The initial appointment will be for 12 months including a 3 months probation period.

Contract extension will be subject to performance and availability of funding.

Major duties and responsibilities

To facilitate the formulation of evidence-based and coherent polices and strengthen the capacities of public and private institutions to effectively perform their core roles in order to transform the animal resources sector for greater impact on poverty alleviation, the incumbent will:

• Provide strategic management and leadership for the Strategic thematic area.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality outputs, outcomes and impacts through effective management of diverse, inter-disciplinary teams and partnerships which may be geographically distributed and will invariably involve multiple partner organizations.
• Ensure effective linkages, collaborations and exploitation of synergies among IBAR’s strategic thematic areas
• Initiate and supervise the implementation of projects/actions under the thematic area
• Assuring the goals and milestones of projects are in alignment with those of the thematic area
• Assuring systems are in place to effectively plan, coordinate, and assess outputs and deliverables of projects against goals and work plans
• Supervising staff and their implementation of work plans (and especially the monitoring of milestone outputs and dates) and managing and ensuring equity in the annual performance appraisal for these staff
• Planning and managing overall finance and administration including preparation of Annual Work Plans and Budgets, managing expenditures against approved budgets, and preparation of progress reports.
• Identify strategic partnership opportunities and lead the development and strengthening of collaborative projects with such partners
• Work closely with Project Leaders within the thematic area and IBAR Director to provide strategic direction for the thematic area’s resource mobilization efforts. Lead, participate in, and support specific resource mobilization activities including donor identification and relations management and proposal development
• As a senior member of IBAR, contribute to the overall management and direction of IBAR operations.
• Perform other duties as required and/or assigned by IBAR Director

Qualifications

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) preferably a PhD in veterinary medicine, animal production, pastoral/rural development, agricultural economics, public management or social science.

A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience

At least 10 years experience in Policy formulation and capacity development at regional level.

Strong understanding of, the role of livestock production in poverty alleviation, especially strategies for empowerment of smallholders to access high value markets required.

More specifically the incumbent should have:

• Strong development and management experience at middle to senior level, progressively over at least 10 years, including

1. leading, coaching, and managing multi-disciplinary project teams at multiple sites,
2. delivery of high quality outputs and impacts
3. proven track record of supporting diversity of staff
4. establishing a strong service orientation towards partners and stakeholders

• Experience in building effective partnerships and strategic alliances.
• Managing successful fund-raising efforts, including development of funding proposals, contracts and/or grants.
• Excellent visionary and leadership qualities essential
• Team leading, coaching and facilitation skills
• Effective strengthening of partnerships and collaborations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required, including ability to effectively lead and manage people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
• Previous work experience in national and regional institutions and consortia in Africa (or other developing regions of the world)
• Knowledge/familiarity with AU and/or international development organizations and/or the functioning of inter-governmental processes

Competencies

• Professionalism - Proven expertise in animal production science, policy formulation and advocacy related to animal production and sustainable development; demonstrated in-depth technical knowledge and proven analytical skills on issues related to animal production and sustainable development;
• Planning and organising - Proven ability to plan and organise work within a project; ability to make timely decisions;
• Communication - Effective written, oral and presentation skills, particularly ability to present information in a concise and accurate manner; ability to develop consensus among people with varying points of view.
• Teamwork: Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to operate effectively across organisational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with respect for diversity.
• Judgement/Decision-making - Good judgement and initiative, imagination and resourcefulness, energy and tact, ability to ensure an effective work structure to maximise productivity and achieve institution’s goals.

Language Requirement

• Proficiency in one of the African Union’s working languages.
• Knowledge of other working languages would be an added advantage.

Other Skills

• Well-developed computer skills including word processing, spreadsheet applications and use of the Internet are required.
• Record of relevant publications is highly desirable.

How to apply

Submit your CV including three references and a motivation letter to the Director at applications@au-ibar.org clearly indicating in the subject line the position you are applying for.

Certified copies of relevant qualifications will be requested at later stage and only short-listed candidates will be notified.

For more information on AU/IBAR and the position visit www.au-ibar.org

AU/IBAR is an equal opportunity employer.

People who read this post also read :