Vacancy Announcement
ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY
Position: Independent Contractor – Management Advisor
Term of Employment: One year with possibility of extension
Duty Station(s): Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), Addis Ababa
Required Number: Two
Salary & Benefits: Competitive
Application Deadline: November 4, 2017
BACKGROUND:
The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development. The Agency does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions that address the systemic bottlenecks. The Agency reports to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development and is Secretary to the Transformation Council chaired by the Prime Minister.
The Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) is an autonomous federal government institution established under Proclamation No.769/2012 cum Council of Ministers Regulation No.313/2014 to carry out an efficient investment administration system and to encourage foreign and domestic investments in Ethiopia through promotional, support and aftercare schemes. Functionally, the EIC operates under the direct supervision of the Ethiopian Investment Board (EIB), chaired by the Prime Minister and composed of various government stakeholders including the Ministry of Trade and the National Bank of Ethiopia.
The programmatic focus of the EIC responds to a core set of national investment needs and objectives identified under the establishment laws and further developed in EIC’s organizational structure document (2015). The EIC’s functions are implemented through the agency’s three major divisions: Investment Operations - which focuses on the provision of investment licensing, registration and renewal services; the grant of investment incentives, pre-investment facilitation, post-investment after care and various permits; and the coordination of one-stop shop services; Industrial Parks - focusing on the regulation of industrial parks; the recruitment of foreign and domestic enterprises for spaces availed in government owned industrial parks; overseeing the implementation of industrial parks’ operational manuals; ensuring compliance of industrial park functions with appropriate environmental standards, infrastructure use codes, labor ordinances etc; and coordinating the provision of one-stop services to companies operating within industrial parks; Policy Research and Reform- focusing on the design and implementation of a competitive national promotions strategy; investigating and developing appropriate investment laws, regulations and directives; instituting/updating EIC’s information technology infrastructure; initiating studies on various themes of interest to investment promotion and support; and commissioning studies that facilitate foreign export trade.
Culture
The ATA has an exceptional team of employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Its culture is one where talented individuals are committed to doing their best and work together to achieve excellent results.
The EIC has an exceptional team of employees and management team that recognizes individual talent and promotes a deeper sense of public service that delivers results, with a proven track record of success in managing complex investments and achieving transformational results. The EIC strives to provide a rewarding work environment in a young, fast-paced organization and is committed to extend employees the opportunities and tools required to achieve individual career objectives.
POSITION SUMMARY:
This position is a secondment position to the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC).
Over the years, the EIC has pursued a series of policy, legal and institutional measures with the goal of effectively realizing national investment plans and targets proposed under Ethiopia’s Growth and Transformation Plans. Clearer strategies have been put in place and a fairly enabling environment has been instituted, positioning the country to strengthen the competitive edge of its private sector, to attract foreign direct investment and to develop labor intensive industries and an export–oriented manufacturing sector.
Yet, the transformation of the national economy continues to be hampered by organizational and operational limitations availed within the EIC; particular problems include an overstretched capacity of senior personnel, the non-existence of active outreach system targeting potential investors, lack of relevant and pre-packaged information needed to attract quality investments, a nascent One-Stop-Shop service and the absence of an adequate number of qualified and purpose–driven human resources pool.
To address these limitations, the EIC, together with the ATA, has developed the ‘Strengthening Investor Engagement, Advisory Roles and Regulatory Powers of the Ethiopian Investment Commission’ Program. The main objectives of the Program during the GTP II are to carry out strategic development of EIC’s institutional infrastructure and human resources portfolio and thereby augment its capacity to attract quality investment, to better support private sector stakeholders and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services rendered to investors.
The Management Advisor is expected to support the Commission on a broad range of issues, including but not limited to providing effective administrative and strategic support to the Commissioner.
The Management Advisor to higher management will directly report to the Commissioner.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
· Provide a strategic sounding board to the Commissioner to ensure that goals and objective are being achieved, and that priorities are being communicated effectively;
· Serve as primary liaison for internal and external communications: acts as a point of contact between top management and employees or other stakeholders;
· Actively enable the efficiency of business operations from behind the scenes;
· Ensure that long-term projects are executed per plan and provides oversight and guidance to projects of high importance;
· Interact with internal staff members to conduct and oversee preparation of periodic briefing materials for the Commissioner;
· Create executive summaries and brief the Commissioner daily on specific issues and projects;
· Manage extensive travel and meeting schedule for the Commissioner, including transportation, accommodations and speech preparation, and other such needs as they arise;
· Maintain heavy correspondence on behalf of Commissioner;
· Create and maintain several long-term relationships on behalf of the Commissioner;
· Manage and maintain public relations with national and international media streams;
· Compose and manage correspondence dealing with issues or subject matter that is highly sensitive and confidential.
· A minimum of Master’s degree in in Development Studies, Economics, Business Administration, Management, Law, Computer Science, or other relevant disciplines;
· At least three years of demonstrated experience in either one of more of the following; team leadership, providing policy advice and pioneering approaches on economic development, industrial policy and/or investment related subjects in different developmental contexts; program/project coordination/support type roles, investment facilitation, institutional and/or capacity building roles, business and/or public administration roles
· Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals; performs a variety of tasks; leads and directs the work of others.
· A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.
· Be on call 24/7
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
· Strong analytical skills in economic and social dimensions of development and investment;
· Basic understanding of Ethiopia’s economic policies and investment system, with broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and informal actors operate within the system;
· Experience in prioritizing and sequencing programmatic and operational activities;
· Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high-performance, teamwork, accountability and results;
· Ability to build relationships with all kinds of people;
· Highly facilitative and collaborative leadership style;
· Excellent analytical, leadership, and data gathering skills;
· Excellent oral and written communication skills;
· Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service;
· Fluency in English and Amharic.