Director of Agriculture and Rural Development

Position description

Responsible for the operations of the entire Directorate. Plan, develop and implement strategic policies while promoting inter- Directorate/Department collaboration.

Main Functions

• Develop and maintain operating rules and procedures;
• Provide technical leadership and ensure efficient functioning of all Divisions within the department/directorate;
• Manage the work of the Department/Directorate and supervise direct reports to ensure their effective performance as per organization’s performance management policy and system;
• Lead the directorate/department and ensure effective management of personnel, budget, performance, quality, employees relations matters and training in conformity with relevant organization’s applicable rules and procedures;
• Determine, develop and execute the overall strategy for the department and ensure alignment with organizational overall strategy;
• Design and develop business continuity plan to address unforeseen circumstances;
• Develop and oversee policy development and guidelines according to the organizations legal framework;
• Design policies consistent with the AU’s goal in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area;
• Manage risks and recommend mitigation strategies;
• Prepare and oversee integrated programmes projects of overall activities of the organization;
• Build and maintain a strategic plan to form good working relations with other directorate/department;
• Develop and maintain regular working relations with top level stakeholders in appropriate agencies of Member States and partners;
• Organize, coordination meetings between the organization and other relevant partners;
• Ultimately responsible for preparing periodic financial and budget execution reports and other reports;
• Oversee the collection of contributed funds to the organization;
• Initiate and take necessary actions to collect funds of and for the African Union as a whole;
• Provide strategic, innovative and operational leadership for the implementation of the programmes of the Department and ensure the departmental contribution to the overall AU Strategies and Vision;
• Propose training programmes relating to programme designing and coordination;
• Promote awareness and training of best practices in area of expertise.

Specific Responsibilities

• Ensure that the Directorate’s organizational structure, operational policies and other work processes are sound to effectively deliver on the strategic objectives of DARBE;
• Exercise authority over personnel and human-resource matters and further strengthen performance management by tracking key performance indicators across the Directorate;
• Maintain a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent;
• Initiate and manage the development of policies, strategies and programs that contribute to the goals of DARBE consistent with AUC vision and mandates;
• Support and provide guidance for the implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies and programs to contribute to the effective implementation of relevant AU Decisions;
• Provide overall supervision, guidance, support and management of the human, financial and material resources of the Directorate;
• Oversee and coordinate the work of the divisions of Agriculture and Food Security and Rural Development and ensure synergy with the work of the specialized technical officers under the Directorate;
• Oversee the functioning and performance of the following regional specialized technical offices of the African Union: Inter-Afri6can Bureau for Animal Resources (IBAR), Inter-African Phytosanitary Council, Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Center, Pan Africa Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign, and Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and Development;
• Maintain liaison with other Departments of the AUC as well as AUDA-NEPAD, RECs and other relevant stakeholders to identify and promote synergies across initiatives and to ensure a coordinated development and implementation of such initiatives;
• Maintain and build strategic partnerships to harness technical and financial resources necessary for effective implementation of policies, strategies and programs;
• Initiate and strengthen forums for stakeholders’ consultations, lesson and experiences sharing as well as capacity strengthening;
• Prepare periodic reports on the implementation of the Directorate’s programs and operations;
• Provide technical support to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment in preparing statements, proposals, briefs, reports and other relevant tasks.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s degree in agricultural sciences, agricultural economics, rural development or related fields. A PhD qualification will be an added advantage;
• A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience with 8 years at managerial level and 5 years at supervisory level. Specialized Postgraduate training in an agricultural field is required;
• Further qualifications in projects/program planning, monitoring and evaluation will be an added advantage. Also necessary are qualifications or experience in human resources management.

Qualifications

• Ability to use strong managerial delegation, political tact and supervisory skills to achieve documented objectives;
• Ability to work effectively with people from various backgrounds and create an environment where diversity is respected;
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with top level stakeholders;
• Ability to identify key strategic opportunities and risks;
• Ability to actively seek, identify and apply appropriate technology to improve programme delivery;
• Ability to delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority with regard to performance management and professional development;
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (English, French, Arabic and Portuguese) is a must. Knowledge of one or all of the other working languages would be an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Focus;
• Developing Organizational Capability;
• Change Leadership;
• Strategic Risk Management.

Core Competencies

• Building Partnership;
• Drives Accountability Culture;
• Learning Orientation;
• Communicating with impact.

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking;
• Job Knowledge Sharing;
• Drive for Results;
• Fosters Innovation.

Application instructions

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