Senior Partnerships Advisor at RTI International

RTI is currently seeking to fill a vacancy for the Kenya Crops & Dairy Market Systems (KCDMS) Activity which is part of the Feed the Future program, America’s initiative to combat global hunger and poverty. In this regard, USAID is partnering with RTI International on a 5-year (Oct 2017 to Sept 2022) cooperative agreement - KCDMS Activity - to help increase agricultural production and reduce poverty and malnutrition in Kenya. The project will also spur competitive, resilient market systems in Kenya’s horticulture and dairy sectors. RTI is seeking qualified candidates for a Senior Partnerships Advisor. The position is open to Kenyan nationals and will be based in Nairobi with regular travel to Eastern and Western Kenya. This position will report to the Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance for the development and oversight of strategic partnerships across all KCDMS Priority Areas, which include value chain partnerships, access to finance, agricultural policy, agri-nutrition training and behavior change, communications, access to markets, social inclusion, policy, and business development services, among others.
• Work in collaboration with KCDMS Priority Area Leads to ensure all partnerships take a market facilitation approach
• Support KCDMS Relationship Managers across all Priority Areas to manage partnerships, troubleshoot emerging issues, and ensure private sector partners achieve results on schedule
• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships with public and private sector actors, and lead partnership negotiations.
• Lead the design of economic recovery activities, in collaboration with KCDMS technical staff and partners
• Build the capacity of KCDMS staff to understand and implement market systems development.
• Contribute to project technical reporting and project communications
• Collaborate with other implementing partners
• Take on additional assignments as requested by the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree - agricultural economics, agronomy, agribusiness management or related field.
• Minimum of 12 years’ experience on projects with similar magnitude and complexity in developing countries.
• Demonstrated success using the market facilitation approach in agricultural development projects.
• Demonstrated success working with the private sector in Kenya (preferably in horticulture or dairy value chains)
• Written and verbal fluency in English.
• Demonstrated ability to be collaborative across projects, flexible and creative.
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, including the ability to build and manage cooperative high-level relationships and motivate subordinates
• Excellent knowledge of MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability.
• Culturally sensitive and respectful.

No applicant will ever be asked for any payment either to secure a role with RTI International or as a follow-up to having been awarded a position with RTI International. If anyone ever approaches you asking for any such payment, please immediately email ethics@rti.org