Food Technologists at Technoserve Nigeria

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. We are a nonprofit organization 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.

The Strengthening African Processors for Food Fortification (SAPFF) project, a partnership between TechnoServe and Partners in Food Solutions (PFS), aims to increase the compliance rates of private sector food processors against national food fortification mandates by increasing the production of fortified food staples. PFS is a non-profit organization formed by General Mills to link the technical and business expertise of volunteer employees from General Mills, Cargill, Royal Dutch DSM, Bühler, and the Hershey Company to food processors and millers in the developing world.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Food Technologist

Location: Nigeria

Job Description

• Reporting to the FTM, the Food Technologist will manage the implementation of the Food Fortification program at the country level, working within the program resources and mandate to meet the objectives of their country plan.
• The FT will establish relationships with food processors and industry stakeholders to support technology transfer and building their capacity to meet compliance standards for fortification.
• The FT will proactively review, make recommendations and report on programmatic activities to deliver TechnoServe’s strategic plan for Food Fortification in their country and as part of the broader regional program.
• As well as direct technical support to assisted companies, the FT will oversee the country team, including business advisors (BA) supporting their country objectives, managing the country finances and reporting their country progress. Business support will include assisting processors with customized business planning, adoption of food fortification and food safety protocols, overseeing market studies, and developing customized processor marketing strategies, business operations and provision of other business advisory services.
• As the managerial lead in country the Food Technologist will oversee the activities of the country team and work in close cooperation with project partners and will receive technical oversight from the FTM.

Duties

• Represent TechnoServe at the country level, meeting with potential partners and stakeholders: processing company directors and production managers, government institutions and regulators, technical industry experts, service providers and universities, complimentary programs, NGOs and related agencies
• Identify, review and select prospective companies for program support, familiarize them with the program offering and expectation for all participating partners
• Work with selected companies to identify their challenges to adequate fortification compliance, design project charters to address these challenges and work with program partners to facilitate the appropriate technology and knowledge transfer in support of the assisted food companies
• Identify common fortification industry weaknesses and support the design and delivery of sector wide training workshops to strengthen these gaps
• Review, monitor, and report on all programmatic activities including periodic progress, and financial reports, ensuring strict compliance with TechnoServe’s objectives, strategies, policies and procedures. Make appropriate recommendations on the implementation plan
• Assist the FTM, FTM and management unit in timely tracking of country expenditures, budget management and forecasting, HR recruiting and country staff management, monitoring and evaluation of program results and the development of country workplans
• Represent the country activities through reports, presentations, hosting of leadership, donor or stakeholder site visits and other communications as required.

Key Organizational Relationships

• The Food Technologist will report directly to the FTM on strategic issues related to workplanning, targets, budgets, staff and program delivery
• The FT will receive technical oversight and support from the FTM and implement partner PFS with resects to training and technology transfer to assisted companies
• Country Director - to align with country objectives, administrative and compliance requirements and to receive support and assistance from the local office as required
• Regional M&E manager to facilitate data capture and reporting
• Regional program accountant to reconcile program expenses, budget tracking and prepare for upcoming expenses

Skills & Attributes:

• Food processing experience, preferably in staple foods with an understanding of fortification technology
• Strong project management and strategic thinking abilities
• Analytical mind and commitment to quality; rigorous approach with a high level of attention to detail.

Budget management skills:

• Proven ability to work in an environment requiring collaboration with the private sector, government, and national and international organizations
• Strong negotiation and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Flexible, proactive, goal-oriented and with a willingness to travel in challenging environments.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Ability to use initiative, prioritize, multi-task, and work well under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Clear and systematic thinking that demonstrates good judgment, problem solving, and creativity

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in developing and managing projects, preferably in the design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of PPP programs in developing countries
• Experience in working with financial and project management systems
• Experience of working in the food industry in Africa will be an advantage

Education

• Bachelor’s in Food Technology, Nutrition, Business Administration or related fields; Master’s preferred
• Computer literacy with excellent Excel, MS word, Outlook, and PowerPoint skills

Other Requirements:

• Excellent command of spoken and written English is essential
• Ability and willingness to travel both locally and abroad

Application Closing Date
17h00 EST; 25th November, 2016.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their resume and cover letter to: [email protected]

Note

• We welcome hearing from qualified and interested applicants. Due to a high volume of applicants, please understand that we are able to contact only those who meet the minimum qualifications. No phone calls, please.
• TechnoServe encourages diversity in all levels and across all facets of our organization. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.