Background Information:

The Sr. Agricultural Advisor will support USAID/Ukraine's agricultural team by advising and leading on agricultural initiatives, including the AGRI Ukraine initiative. The Advisor will engage with a wide variety of stakeholders and advise USAID on Ukraine's needs. The Advisor is expected to be a self-starter and comfortable leading a complex portfolio requiring exceptional diplomatic and technical skills.

Position: Senior Agriculture Advisor

Primary Work Location: Remote with On-Site or In-Country support as needed

Level of Effort: 120 workdays (12 months) with a possibility of up to 2 years of extension for a total of three years

Work Hours: Full-time - must be able to work on Ukraine time zone.

Travel: Up to 8 TDY trips. TDYs to Ukraine, Europe, and North America to meet with stakeholders and potential partners

Visa/Work Permit: TBD, if war ceases and embassy re-opens, this may be required.

System access be required: AIDNET, Google Drive

Security Clearance: Ability to obtain Facility Access clearance is required.

Position Summary:

The Senior Advisor working under USAID’s Agriculture Project Management Specialist/Agriculture Team Lead, will manage agriculture and food security related contracts/grants, and providing technical and programmatic advice to ensure the portfolio is strategically aligned with USG objectives in promoting economic growth. H/She will also provide technical input and ensure activities are linked, coordinated, and appropriately integrated with OEG and larger Mission activities, as well as within Ukraine’s economic and agriculture sector reforms.

Additionally, H/she may participate in strategic and programmatic planning, monitoring and evaluation, and overall management of agriculture and food security related investments across USAID/Ukraine’s OEG portfolio, may advice other technical offices within USAID/Ukraine, and participate in Mission working groups. The Senior Advisor will independently undertake necessary research in support of the portfolio, organize and maintain databases, files, and other information repositories; and maintain and develop reports, documentation, and other tasks as they arise. The Advisor is expected to be a self-starter and comfortable leading a complex portfolio requiring exceptional diplomatic and technical skills.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of OEG’s agriculture and food security sector portfolio, including working with Government of Ukraine (GOU) officials, business associations, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
• Assist in reviewing project-related documents, including sub-grants, implementation plans, performance monitoring plans, and communications products.
• Conduct site visits to monitor OEG’s agriculture and food security sector activities, which may require regular meetings and correspondence with partners and program stakeholders.
• Track partner reporting, ensuring complete reports are submitted on-time, and reported results are consistent with the contract or agreement.
• Participate in GOU working groups and other meetings
• Provide ad hoc support to other teams in OEG and in the Mission

Specific deliverables will include:

• Oral and written analysis and recommendations on the agriculture and food security sector and activities.
• Oral and written updates on key political and reform developments in the agriculture and food security sector and related issues to ensure USAID programs are designed and targeted to respond to needs, opportunities, and challenges
• Comments, edits, and contributions on reports, portfolio reviews, operational plans, program briefs, and weekly bullets, communications pieces for the Mission Development Outreach and Communications Specialist, as applicable.
• Briefing papers, talking points, and strategy documents for senior leadership within the Mission, Embassy Kyiv, and USAID/Washington as necessary. Other duties as assigned.

Key Position Requirement:

• Education: Master’s degree in business, management, economics, finance, or a closely related field is required.
• At least ten years' experience working in international technical assistance, with majority in the agricultural sector.
• Previous experience working with USAID directly is extremely desirable.
• Previous experience working as a USAID implementer or with other international technical assistance is desirable.

Applicants selected may be subject to a background investigation and must meet suitability requirements for eligibility.