Associate: Agriculture

The International Economic Growth Division manages projects that are pioneering new approaches to agriculture, food security, climate change, and competitiveness—as well as monitoring and evaluating projects within these sectors. We work throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East for chiefly governmental clients, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Opportunity

Abt Associates is seeking an Associate with expertise in agricultural production, agribusiness, agricultural trade/marketing, or agricultural policy/economics in developing country programs for donors such as USAID and DFID.

Job responsibilities:

1. Associates lead and coordinate components of large projects or series of smaller projects with responsibility for budget management, project deliverables, client relations, and staff supervision. Set priorities to ensure the completion of projects in an accurate, timely and cost efficient manner. Provide technical agricultural inputs to short-term assignments and longer-term project activities in the field.
2. Associates make significant contributions to sales and proposal efforts in accordance to the Area's business development plan by either obtaining repeat business from current clients or acquiring new clients. Coordinate and review the contributions of less senior staff and troubleshoot problems or questions throughout the proposal process. Make significant technical contributions to sales and proposal efforts by taking the lead on preparing technical portions of proposals. Coordinate and review the work of less senior staff and troubleshoot questions and problems in the business development process.
3. Associates review the work and provide technical guidance to less senior staff. Serve as a resource capable of applying advanced techniques, concepts, and methods related to a particular field of specialization.
4. Exercise initiative and lead the preparation and review of project deliverables, activities (such as workshops), reports and findings.
5. Identify and recruit substantive peers and actively participate in the development of less senior staff.
6. Establish an industry presence as a subject-matter expert by publishing in peer-reviewed journals and/or by presenting at annual conferences and meetings.

Skills Prerequisites

• Must have proven technical expertise, experience in a relevant field of agriculture/food security, business development, client relationship management and supervision/staff development.
• Fluency in French or Spanish is preferred.

Minimum Qualifications
 

MA/MBA with 7 - 10 years of experience OR PhD with 4 - 6 years of experience OR the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Associate: Agriculture