The Senior Program Officer, Policy, will contribute to Agricultural Development (AgDev) team’s policy strategy and lead on certain policy priorities in relevant geographies and globally.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Lead the team’s strategy for achieving sustainable policy reforms in countries across SSA and Asia by identifying the most critical gaps and executing using highest impact levers.
- Lead the team and global partners by developing advanced analytical methods and technologies and informing policy choices using rigorous data and evidence base.
- Partner with teams within AgDev to determine the key policy bottlenecks in the portfolios (fertilizer, seeds, livestock, etc.) and jointly develop and implement implementation plans.
- Develop a cogent and actionable policy framework for the team that can be applied across geographies to identify the most critical gaps in country contexts.
- Partner with regional teams (Africa and Asia) to provide technical assistance in identifying policy bottlenecks and engaging with partners to deliver reforms.
- Foster relationships with external stakeholders and partners to create alignment and develop frontier ideas on agriculture policy.
- Track and monitor legislative and other policy initiatives and strategies regarding specific issues related to priorities of the team’s work.
- Research and independently provide the analyses and draft the concept notes to inform AgDev strategy on existing and anticipated policy issues.
- Develop global strategic alignment by engaging with multilateral and bilateral partners defining and coordinating a policy agenda.
- Publicly represent the foundation in key program related constituencies and among key partners including: multilateral and bilateral policy units, grantees, donors, and think tanks.
- Act as a thought leader by publishing both externally and internally to inform global agriculture policy community, guide the team’s grant making and develop the team’s learning agenda.
- Guide POs to develop, manage, and support a portfolio of complex grants and contracts requiring high level partner management and evaluate results based performance goals.
- Leverage global expertise and talent from diverse sectors to facilitate policy change.
Skills/Experience:
- Creative and out of the box thinker who is hands on and is willing to go as deep and broad as necessary to achieve the outcomes.
- A mindset that guides and motivates the team to explore new approaches and partners and take risks that can potentially accelerate our pathway to improve lives of small holder farmers.
- Ability and willingness to work across disciplines and sectors and go out of comfort zone all while being a solid team player with a demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency and diplomacy in a fast paced, challenging environment.
- Sophisticated understanding of agriculture policy issues, critical stakeholders, policy reform and formulation strategies, and underlying dynamics.
- 10+ years of in-country experience in engaging with governments and private sector in Africa and/or Asia on a wide range of policy issues.
- Experience in strategic engagement with a range of complex multinational or international organizations and institutions.
- Experience developing, managing and implementing project and grant-making strategies.
- Experience in the conception, design and direction of strategies, initiatives and programs related to motivating an enhanced governmental response.
- Experience in private sector (agriculture, finance, strategy consulting) is strongly desired.
- Exceptional results orientation combined with excellent relationship management skills.
Additional Information:
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Nov 28 2017
Active Until:
Dec 28 2017
Hiring Organization:
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
industry:
Nonprofit