Title:  Senior Technical Specialist

Reports to:  Project Director

Location:  Khartoum, Sudan

Salary:  $1,400 - $1,900/mo (salary is commensurate with experience)

Travel:  25%

The Near East Foundation (NEF) is seeking candidates for a Senior Technical Specialist, to be based in its Khartoum office, with frequent travel to North and South Kordofan States. For over 100 years, NEF has worked to build a more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive communities in the Middle East and Africa through economic development and governance initiatives. NEF’s work is organized around three core program areas: Inclusive Economic Development, Climate-resilient Development, and Stabilization and Peacebuilding.

Position Description:

The Senior Technical Specialist for the Near East Foundation’s Empowering Women for Prosperity & Stability with Value Chain Development & Entrepreneurship in Sudan will lead a team of technical and project management specialists to deliver excellent programming. The Senior Technical Specialist is responsible for the delivery of holistic technical and market-based programming, technical excellence, knowledge transfer, synergy with other programmes, and coordination and collaboration with market actors. Working with NEF staff (in particularly the Senior Technical Officers, Project Director and MEL Manager), partners, and other stakeholders, s/he will provide sound technical direction and project delivery to achieve desired outcomes and impacts.

The four-year UKAID-funded project will form/strengthen 18 women-led associations and support women entrepreneurs involved in non-timber forest products and other cash crops (hibiscus) in North and South Kordofan states to increase organisation, business and production skills, market access, economic standing, leadership, natural resource base, and favourable institutional environment.

Main Responsibilities:

• Provide technical direction and programmatic oversight of the project
• Ensure holistic technical and market-based programming
• Oversee the programmatic planning and implementation of project activities
• Supervise all technical aspects of the project within the context
• Delivery targeted capacity building support for relevant staff to ensure holistic and technical sound programming
• Supervise, coach and evaluate technical staff (including partner staff) on a regular basis
• Represent NEF and the project at technical forums
• Ensure effective coordination and collaboration with relevant market actors
• Roll-out technical quality assurance/control systems across the project cycle
• Make regular visits to project sites in the field to observe activities and meet participants
• Ensure that technical approach is monitored in an effective and timely manner
• Ensure that all reports related to the technical approach are completed and submitted in a timely fashion
• Document and share lessons learned
• Perform any other support or duties as requested by the Programme Director or the Country or HQ Directors.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years of relevant work experience in value chain development, market-systems, and economic development projects
• Excellent leadership and networking skills with relevant stakeholders
• Experience in effective people and team management, including implementation of code of conduct, safeguarding and anti-corruption measures
• Good communication skills in English
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Effective organisational and time management skills
• Ability to pass a comprehensive pre-employment background check
• Ability to document and disseminate best practices and lesson learnt

Preferred Qualifications

• An advanced degree in business, economic or market development
• Experience working in non-timber forest products and hibiscus value chains
• Previous experience working on DFID, UNDP, EU, USAID or other internationally funded projects
• Excellent oral and written communication in Arabic, is required. Good English oral and written communication is a plus
• Previous experience managing projects in North and South Kordofan States

NEF will accept a rolling application until the position is filled.  Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Please note, only applications received through the Near East Foundation Careers Page will be considered.

To apply:

Please apply by visiting the Near East Foundation Careers Page at  www.neareast.org/careers with the following documents:

1. Cover letter (not more than 1 page) outlining all relevant experience and skills based on the requirements above and availability date
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. List of three references (former and current supervisors)

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Near East Foundation by visiting the NEF website at www.neareast.org.

The Near East Foundation promotes Equal Employment Opportunities for all applicants seeing employment and NEF employees.