Sector Leader Agri-Food Vietnam

Company Description

SNV is a mission-driven global development partner working in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia. Building on 60 years of experience and grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we work on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance. Together with our team of over 1,600 people, our mission is to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems, which enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all.

Our core values of people-centeredness and respect, equity and equality, and diversity and inclusion, are fundamental to who we are, and what we do. This is reflected in our vision and mission, and strategy, which sets out our aspirations and commitments as our compass towards 2030.

For more information on SNV, please refer to our website: www.snv.org

Job Description

As the Sector Leader Agri-food for Vietnam, you will play a pivotal role leading, managing, and overseeing SNV’s substantial portfolio in the country. As a key representative of SNV’s interests in the Agri-food sector, the Sector Leader engages with government entities, donors/clients, and other key partners, while also serving as a core member of the SNV Vietnam Country Management Team. You will report directly to the Country Director and maintaining a direct functional line with the Global Agri-food Sector Head. Your leadership will guide the strategic orientation and development of the sector at the country level, aligning with SNV’s global Agri-food strategy. Ensuring the implementation of high-quality projects and sector performance, the Sector Leader oversees Project Managers and other key sector team members. The role also involves coordinating knowledge management and learning, emphasizing achievements, and lessons learned in collaboration with the Global Agri-food Team. Additionally, Business Development is integral, requiring networking, pipeline development, and leading the creation of funding proposals with support from the global Business Development team.

The diverse portfolio consists of 8-10 projects valued at €35 million, with further growth anticipated. Financed primarily by bilateral donors and private sector clients, the program emphasizes climate-resilient agriculture with a focus on market-based and socially inclusive approaches for rural smallholder farmers. Projects are designed to address gender-based inequalities, with specific initiatives promoting women’s economic empowerment in agricultural value chains. Geographically distributed across various agro-ecological regions, projects support climate-resilient transitions and transformations in key corresponding sub-sectors. Several initiatives involve scaling nature-based solutions, such as sustainable and low carbon/methane rice production, integrated mangrove-shrimp systems, sustainable aquaculture, flood-based agriculture in the Mekong Delta, and the promotion of sustainable and deforestation-free coffee, along with mixed upland agroforestry systems in areas like the Central Highlands and Northwest Mountains.

For more detailed information about our Vietnam office and projects, please visit: https://www.snv.org/country/vietnam.

Key Responsibilities:

People Management and Leadership:

• Guides, leads, and fosters the development of the sector team in alignment with the global strategy.
• Provides guidance, initiates projects, facilitates development, coaches, and motivates to ensure the realization of project/program goals.

Sector Operations, Compliance, and Portfolio Management:

• Manages Project Managers, Project Coordinators, and Advisors, steering and monitoring the portfolio.
• Ensures compliance with project objectives and policies, donor/client requirements, and frameworks.
• Maintains a consistent approach to planning, reporting, monitoring, and evaluating agriculture projects.

Positioning, Representation, and Strategy:

• Positions and represents SNV in the agriculture and food sector at the country level for a stronger regional/global profile.
• Builds partnerships, expands connections through professional profiling, and aligns the country strategy with the global sector strategy, ensuring effective translation and operationalization.

Advisory, Knowledge Management, and Learning:

• Provides sector/country expertise and leadership, acting as Project Manager when needed. Manages sub-contractors and consortium partners.
• Contributes to organizational learning, maintains and updates the sector knowledge agenda, facilitates knowledge exchange, and guides communications and branding in collaboration with the donor.

Business Development and Funding:

• Cultivates relationships with global and national partners, identifying funding opportunities.
• Coordinates pipeline management, leads funding proposal preparation, reviews quality and coherence, and analyzes success ratios.
• Collaborates with Market Development Manager Asia to develop business models for climate funding and carbon-related projects in Vietnam.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications:

• Proficiency level equivalent to a master’s degree in agriculture, agribusiness, sustainable development, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in development work and project management, overseeing at least two distinct projects. 
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the agri-food sector, showcasing an understanding of value chains such as rice, ,mangrove shrimp, coffee, agro-forestry Understands the basic principles behind inducing biodiversity and the carbon market. Along with proficiency in blended finance, private sector engagement, and de-risking for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in an international context, particularly in Southeast Asia
• Proven expertise in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and learning, addressing large-scale monitoring challenges, and assessing external verifiers, using platforms such as LogAlto and ACFO.
• Fluency in written and spoken English, with excellent communication skills in order to represent SNV internationally.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a demonstrated focus on coaching and developing team members.

Additional qualifications:

• Strong capacity to influence and implement policies and a commitment to our mission.
• Ability to analyse complex situations, deconstruct problems, and develop a comprehensive understanding to solve challenges.
• Proficient in proposal development.
• Good knowledge and experience in innovative financing, gender, and social inclusion, and/or carbon project development.
• Result-oriented with a focus on impactful outcomes.
• Adaptability and flexibility to develop and implement new approaches to effectively navigate the country context. Additionally, we value sensitivity to cultural nuances and a keen understanding of diverse perspectives.

Additional Information

• Contract Type: Full time
• Duty Station: Vietnam
• Contract Duration: Two years contract with the possibility of extension
• Expected Start Date: March/April 2024
• Travel: Frequently to project locations in the country

How to Apply

If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and a letter of motivation before/on the 23rd of January 2024. Please submit your application only via Smart Recruiters. All information will be processed in the strictest confidence. 

If we see that your experience and skills match the requirements of the position, we will contact you to advise you of the next steps in the recruitment process. Should SNV wish to proceed with your application, two interviews with a Selection Committee will take place.

SNV is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Working at SNV 

SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal and global network of experts.

Vetting.

SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for International determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct”. This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme. 

• We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.

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