Nutrition Business Specialist

USAID/Tanzania has a vacancy for a Nutrition Business Specialist in its Economic Growth portfolio, and invites applications from well-qualified individuals. This is a full-time Personal Services Contract position.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The incumbent is a Senior Foreign Service National (FSN) and the Mission's in-house food processing expert who serves as Nutrition Business Specialist within USAID/Tanzania Natural Resource Management/Economic Growth (NRM/EG) Office on the Feed the Future (FTF) Team. In this capacity, the incumbent manages projects in support of FTF in Tanzania and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of USAID/Tanzania's Food Processing and Consumption Project, the Marketplace for Nutritious Foods in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, and other related activities aimed at improving nutritional status of Tanzanians through quality, affordable food.

Key Position Elements Include, But Are Not Limited To:

Provides advisory services on nutrition business development and food processing - this include: (a) Providing technical assistance and guidance in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of food processing, food fortification, and nutrition-related business development programs. (b) Ensuring USAID maintains strong partnerships within the nutrition business community. Liaising with large, medium, and small scale enterprises during project implementation. Working with the National Food Fortification Alliance and associated development partners. (c) As requested, providing expertise on food standards, marketing, 'food safety, and other nutrition-related regulations Jo appropriate Government of Tanzania (GOT) partners. (d) Liaising with other USAID programs and partners, particularly on the Health team, to strengthen synergies and maximize opportunities across multi-sectoral nutrition programming. II. Serves as Agreements/Contracting Officer Representative (AORICOR) for assigned contracts, cooperative agreements, and/or grants - this include: (a) Providing expert technical advice and direction to contractors' staff; keep the FTF Team, Mission management, and the Agreements/Contracting Officer informed on progress of work. (b) Ensuring that activities achieve their intended results. Monitor technical and financial adequacy and acceptability of delivered goods and services under approved activities through field inspections, reviewing contractor reports, and meetings with project personnel and contractor representatives. (c) Providing technical assistance to the Agreements/Contracting Officer in responding to the proposed changes in the Scope/s of Work for assigned nutrition activities, the validity of claims and the reasonableness of contract/agreement time extensions: provides appropriate technical assistance to the Acquisition & Assistance staff in issuance and negotiations of change orders in accordance with the USG regulations and procedures. (d) Submitting status, analytical, and other reports, concept papers, and memoranda to the Mission management regarding progress and performance, problems and corrective actions, and general oversight. Reports shall be of sufficient scope so as to be useful to USAID/Tanzania in fully monitoring the progress of contract/grant administration' and reviewing contractor performance. Where deficiencies are noted, recommends corrective action. III. Act as primary nutrition business expert with USAIDleadership and other partners - this includes: (a) Participating in Development Partners Group meetings for nutrition and agriculture, as appropriate. (b) Briefing USAID leadership on project implementation, overall status of food processing and fortification in Tanzania, and nutrition business community development activities. (c) Attending national, regional, and related to nutrition as requested.

Required Qualifications:

Applicants will initially be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. Competitively ranked applicants will be interviewed. The following are the evaluation criteria for this position: Education: possession of a University undergraduate degree in nutrition, food security, business development, or another appropriate field is required. Prior Work Experience: At least five (5) years of experience relevant to nutrition or business development activities is required; of which three (3) was spent in a developing country context. Also, must have at least three years of project management experience, preferably with USG or other donor organization. Language Proficiency: Level IV (Fluent) English and Kiswahili fluency are required. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Must have a thorough professional knowledge of the field of nutrition and a general knowledge of allied fields. Must have a thorough knowledge of sound local and international best practices in local small and medium scale enterprise development. Knowledge of project development, design, management, performance monitoring, and reporting is required. Must have a good knowledge of host-country contacts (official and non-governmental) in the areas of nutrition and food fortification. proven, demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to work calmly, tactfully and effectively under tight deadlines and heavy workload within agreed upon parameters with minimal supervision or guidance and while exercising sound judgment is required. Strong analytical skills are required. Ability to conceptualize and present information in the most effective, easy to-understand manner. Must have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely - both orally and in writing - in English. Strong written and verbal communication skills are required to resolve budget, activity implementation, and administrative issues with implementing partners and team members.

Selection Process:

 Applicants will initially be evaluated based on documentation submitted with application; then competitively ranked applicants will be interviewed. Therefore, it is essential that applicants address the required qualifications stated above in the application.

Application Instructions:

Applications

Letter of application together with current resume or curriculum vitae, plus copies of relevant certificates, testimonials, awards, copes of degree earned, etc., should be addressed to the

Executive Officer,

USAID/Tanzania,

P. O. Box 9130,

Dar es Salaam,

Tanzania.

Closing Date for Receipt of Applications: September 02, 2013.

The U.S Mission is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates for the above position will be considered without regard to sex, color, religion, race, age, nationality, or handicap.

NOTE:Those applicants who do not receive a response within three weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has not been successful.