Program Director – Feed the Future FORK

Proposal Summary:

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is preparing for an anticipated USAID Notice of Funding Opportunity “FORK” with a potential procurement release in early 2024. The purpose of the Global FORK bid is to transform local food processing to sustainably and equitably increase access to and affordability of safe, nutritious foods for women and children. Its objectives include: strengthening business and technical practices of food processors; strengthening linkages between food processors and the broader business ecosystem for nutritious foods, including smallholder producers and domestic and regional markets; and increasing the sharing and uptake of knowledge, learning, and tools to support local food processors of safe, nutritious foods.

Position Summary:

The Program Director will provide oversight, leadership and management of the entire global food processing program, ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors. They will be the point of contact for USAID and key stakeholders, ensuring a smooth and effective partnership. They will provide management oversight for all team members and implementing partners. The position will be based in Washington, DC or places with easy access to Washington, DC. The position is subject to the availability of funds and approval by USAID.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and overarching management, administration, and coordination of project activities, including technical, financial, and administrative functions. The Director will ensure that interventions are evidence-based and aligned with global high impact practices and country priorities.
• Serve as the project’s point of contact for USAID Washington’s Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS), to ensure alignment and close coordination to increase program and global impact.
• Work closely with implementing partners and stakeholders to develop and implement annual and program strategies, work plans, and program deliverables, ensuring plans incorporate and/or respond to the goals of FORK and the priorities of focus countries.
• Lead, manage, and support a dynamic program team that is able to continuously achieve program objectives, learn, innovate, and adapt to changing contexts.
• Support monitoring and reporting of project progress to ensure quality, timeliness, and completeness of activities, interventions, and technical deliverables.
• Ensure programming advances gender equity and equality and the meaningful engagement of adolescents/youth, women, and other underserved and underrepresented groups in program design, implementation, monitoring, and sustainability planning.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Degree in a relevant field such as international development, economics, business administration or other relevant fields.
• Twelve (12) years of experience implementing international donor-supported programs, including experience with agriculture and enterprise development projects.
• At least five (5) years leading global/regional projects or portfolios for complex projects with a total budget of $50 million and up. Including experience serving as HQ Portfolio Director, Chief of Party, or Deputy Chief of Party on a US Government-funded project.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across projects, be flexible, and creative and successfully lead an intercultural team in developing or emerging economies.
• Excellent interpersonal and written and oral presentation skills in English.
• Ability to travel internationally for up to 25% of the time.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• An advanced degree (e.g. MA/MS, PhD) in a relevant field such as international development, economics, business administration, food science, nutrition or other relevant fields.
• In-depth knowledge of USAID policies and regulations, including the latest policies, frameworks, and strategies for USAID Bureau of Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS) in particular.
• Additional fluency in French, Spanish or other language.

The position described above is contingent upon activity award.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls will be accepted.

Land O’Lakes never requests money or payment from candidates for any position type. Please report any such requests to Land O’Lakes.

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is an equal opportunity employer and an organization striving to help global communities thrive through agriculture. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status, among other factors. Our culture values a diversity of voices. So bring us your unique experiences, your workstyle, and your dreams — they’ll only make us stronger.