Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation AgencyVacancy AnnouncementPosition: Rural Financial Services Director- Term of Employment: One year with possibility of extension- Duty Station: Addis Ababa- Required Number: One- Salary & Benefits: Competitive- Application Deadline: December 21, 2019ESSENTIAL DUTIES:• Lead the conception, launch, and support of a portfolio of agricultural finance initiatives designed to measurably improve financial access and services in rural Ethiopia• Be responsible for the overall direction, values, culture, and management of the RFS Team• Work closely with and build the capacity, as necessary, of key government, private, and informal actors in Ethiopia’s financial and agricultural sectors to enable long term financial improvements• Support ATA and other stakeholders to mobilize needed financial, human or organizational resources for execution of RFS related initiatives/projects• Manage the performance of the interventions designed to strengthen the rural financial sector; set key performance indicators, milestones and targets; engage stakeholders to creatively solve problems and overcome obstacles in order to achieve desired results• Critically assess capacity gaps hindering the effective implementation of interventions and develop approaches for improving capabilities as required• Integrate the RFS program interventions with other ATA programs to achieve synergies and outcomes that impact the broader agricultural system• Coordinate with stakeholders from across the government, private sector, donor community, and farmer groups• Support microfinance institutions in developing better management and lending practices• Support rural saving and credit cooperatives in developing better management and lending practices• Support the capacity building of local RFS team members• Manage external consultants as necessary

Master's

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master’s Degree in Finance, Agricultural Economics, or other relevant subject providing deep understanding of the rural finance system in Ethiopia
• More than 10 years of combined experience in the field of rural / agricultural finance with a focus on smallholder farmers, of which at least 5 years in a leadership or managerial role
• Strong connections with senior leadership of major financial / agricultural institutions (government ministries, Regional Bureaus of Agriculture (RBoAs), Regional Cooperative Promotion Agencies (RCPAs), Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), private banks, Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs), major donors, etc.)
• Experience in a very senior role in government financial institutions related to Ethiopian finance strongly preferred
• Deep understanding of Ethiopia’s rural / agricultural finance system. This should include a broad perspective on the system and an intimate knowledge of how public, private, and informal actors operate within the system
• Deep knowledge in modern agricultural financing systems, products, and distribution channels (e,g, financial institutions, MFIs, SACCOs and cooperatives) as well as the policies that enable them
• Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operational activities
• Experience with program design, performance management, learning systems, and monitoring & evaluation
• Practical experience in piloting and scaling up relevant solutions at the local level
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving 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 adaptive problem-solver in challenging environment, excellent analytical skills
• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty, and desire to be of service
• Fluency in English and Amharic required; fluency in another Ethiopian language preferred

10-15 years

• We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) CV (maximum 3 pages) to https://apply.ata.gov.et• Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.• Women are highly encouraged to apply.• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.