Senior Food Processing Specialist – AINFP – Technoserve
Engineering, Science and Technology, Energy
Technoserve
TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization operating in 26 countries that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives
I. TechnoServe Inc.
TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. As a non-profit organization operating in multiple countries, we work with enterprising men and women in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. By linking people to information, capital, and markets, we have helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities. With over 50 years of proven results, TechnoServe believes in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.
II. Program Description
The Alliance for Incisive and Nutritious Food Processing (AINFP) is a public partnership regional project funded by USAID and Partners in Food Solution (PFS). The program is implemented in five Countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi. The program aims to enhance competitiveness of local food processing sector and enterprises to ultimately increase availably of nutritious food particularly for the bottom of the pyramid market segment. In Ethiopia, it provides technical assistance to food processing enterprises, in areas of food technology, business development and market linkages.
III. Position Description:
The Senior Food Processing Specialist will provide on-the -ground technical advisory services to selected food processors at country level. In coordination with the Program Manager the Senior Food Processing Specialist will develop and deliver standardized trainings to address technical fundamentals of food processing. S/he will collaborate with other team members in-country and across the project, to ensure coordinated and impactful implementation.
Responsibilities:
1. Food Processor Selection
• Collect objective and verifiable information for selection of processors who will contribute to intended program impacts.
• Participate in client selection processors based on applications, interviews and site visits, and verification of information supplied in the initial application.
• Assist documentation of the program client selection process.
2. Food Processor Assessment
• Support assessment of selected processors to identify priority technical challenges.
• Together with the Program Manager share and discuss the assessment with the client to verify findings, seek clarifications and ensure a common understanding of the priorities.
• Contribute to categorization of selected processors into predefined segments to pair them with the appropriate level and sophistication of technical advice.
3. Processor Relationship Management
• Keep good relationship with assigned clients (food processors and others).
• Ensure regular communication to maintain clients’ satisfaction with program support and early identification of any problems.
• Plan activities and discuss with Program Manager on action items, to ensure that the shared objectives are met within the set times.
4. Technical Assistance
• Develop and deliver standardized trainings and quick win solutions to less sophisticated clients with simpler technical and business needs.
• Follow up (through site visits and regular phone communication with clients) on-the-ground implementation of volunteer experts’ technical advice, on issues identified through the business diagnostic.
• In collaboration with Program Manager, develop project charters for food processing challenges that requires complex technical advisory
• Backup project files and client information on google drive
5. Sector Wide Trainings
• Support the program Capacity Development Lead, and local training institutes with technical input and reviewing curricula for sector wide training in support of broader industry development.
• Facilitate and follow up training event organization process, which includes communication with training participants, supporting local training institute/consultant and working with TechnoServe admin team to arrange training venues.
6. Lead the high end market linkages
· Actively lead the initiative of the Ethiopian Airlines raw material sourcing.
· Provide customized technical assistance for selected clients that supply their product with Ethiopian Airlines.
· Assist the capacity gap assessment work of the AINFP on raw material sourcing for Ethiopian airlines initiatives,
· Liaise with the Ethiopian airlines and facilitate different agreement with the processors.
· Liaise with the Market Linkages Specialist to facilitate market linkage with potential suppliers for Ethiopian Airlines local sourcing strategy.
· Document the learnings, case studies and reports that relate to this initiative
7. Market Linkages
· Liaise with the Market Linkages Specialist to identify processors with an interest to improve supply chain linkages to smallholder farmers and high end markets like Ethiopian Airlines local sourcing strategy.
· Liaise with the Market Linkages Specialist to identify processors with an interest to market nutritious products to low income markets.
· Support the Market Linkages Specialist and Program Manager to collect information from food processors and consumer groups to better understand demand for nutritious products.
8. Gender Integration
· Understand all gender integration requirements (donor as well as internal to TechnoServe)
· Ensure that 40% of the clients selected for technical assistance and/or trainings are women led or women owned businesses.
IV. Required Skills and Experience:
· Bachelor’s Degree + 5 years experience, Master’s Degree + 3 years experience years in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering or related area, Master’s degree preferred
· At least 3 years’ work experience in food processing; 2-year experience working in a food manufacturing sector/plant preferred
· Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) as well as worker safety.
· Deep understanding of at least one of the following:
· Dairy processing technology process flow for diary product manufacturing and packaging
· Cereal processing technology and process flow for wheat flour production, biscuit products manufacturing and baby food products manufacturing
· Fruit and vegetable processing technology
· Nutrition and nutrition products development
· Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills.
· Strong written and verbal communication skills
· Good computer skills in business software (Excel, MS Project and PowerPoint).
· Strong English language skills.
Per the organization scale
