Senior Policy & Practice Adviser - Agriculture

Sorry, this Job has expired

Senior Policy & Practice Adviser - Agriculture

Practical Action is seeking a dynamic individual to lead the organisations work in agriculture. The role will shape and provide leadership in an area of work in which Practical Action has a deep and longstanding experience and in which we are regarded as a well-connected and influential player. Thus, we are looking for an individual who is both a strategic thinker and able communicator with influencing skills and experience in this exciting area of work.

Practical Action has a new organisational strategy clearly setting out its goals and approaches working towards a sustainable world free of poverty and injustice in which technology is used for the benefit of all. We have an ambitious vision to deliver innovative programmes and leverage our work to improve the lives of millions of people living in fragile and marginalised areas. A key strategic goal is to bring about a transition to sustainable systems of agriculture and natural resource management (NRM) that provide food security and livelihoods for the rural poor.

The adviser will have an in-depth understanding of the relationship between poverty and natural resources, food security and livelihoods. S/he will use that expertise to build on and enhance Practical Action’s current policy and practice on agriculture and NRM and ensure that Practical Action is able to achieve significant impact internationally. Knowledge of one or more of Practical Action’s other thematic areas, namely energy, market systems, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), climate change, and water would be an advantage.

The post holder will have demonstrable experience of effective practice and policy initiatives, bringing that experience to drive forward our learning and influencing in this field, in order to effect change in the policies and practices of others. A strong engager, both internally and externally, s/he will embrace working within a culture of dynamic teams across the organisation.

Interested applicants must have a post-graduate degree in a relevant subject and at least 7 years work experience in international development, including extensive experience working in developing countries.

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE PRE-EXISTING RIGHT TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE UK

Date of expiry	4th Nov
Salary	Circa £45,000 - £47,000 per annum depending on experience
Location	Near Rugby, Warwickshire - with international travel
Full/Part time	Full Time
Permanent/temporary	Permanent
Other terms

Description
How to apply
Download

JOB DESCRIPTION

SENIOR POLICY AND PRACTICE ADVISER (AGRICULTURE)

AREA/UNIT: Policy and Practice Team

RESPONSIBLE TO: Policy and Practice Director

RESPONSIBLE FOR: N/A

GRADE OF POST: A

SPECIFIC JOB PURPOSE

• To shape the agenda on agriculture and play a lead role in enabling the Global Agriculture Group to deliver on the organisational Narrative on Food and Agriculture
• To lead Practical Action’s efforts to influence the policy and practice of key stakeholders and represent the organisation externally.
• To work across Practical Action as well as with key allies and partners to generate learning and deepen the evidence base
• To broaden partnerships with academic, governmental, bi- and multilateral, civil society and private sector organisations to leverage influence

SCOPE OF ROLE

The post holder plays a central role in Practical Action’s work to achieve the organisational goals relating to agriculture. S/he leads efforts to generate evidence-based lessons; establishing policy positions; and the development of advocacy strategies to influence the practice and policies of others in line with our mission and values.

The post is one of a number of Advisers based in the Policy and Practice Team, which leads the organisation’s efforts to influence the policies and practices of international actors – governments, donors, private sector, and civil society organisations. While each specialist policy and practice adviser focuses on her/his/ area of specialism, they collaborate together, and across the organisation to drive a coherent influencing agenda to achieve maximum impact.

S/he has a substantive external role, representing the organization with key influencing targets, donors and allies.

SPECIFIC JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES

The post holder will be accountable for developing policy positions based on analysis of Practical Action’s programme learning and the work of other organisations, ensuring these are consistent with Practical Action’s values and strategic objectives.

The post holder will be accountable for effective strategies to influence the practice and policies of other organisations and for developing relationships with key targets and allies to help deliver impact at scale. Success will deliver significant influence of others’ policies and practices.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Play a lead role in the Agriculture Global Group and support the development of
a) an organisational learning and evidence agenda and
b) an organisational policy agenda on agriculture.
This involves establishing priorities, being innovative and working in liaison with other offices and teams, coordinating effective mechanisms and processes for information and knowledge exchange and policy influencing.

• Lead the development and implementation of efforts to influence the practice or policies of others, around issues concerned with agriculture and food. This necessitates keeping abreast of developments externally and identifying entry points and alliances to leverage change.

• Represent Practical Action at senior level, amongst key influencing targets; and build and maintain a network of international contacts, including NGOs, government bodies, donors, the private sector and other key international decision-makers active in relevant sectors.

• Contribute to specific key organisational efforts, including the development of programmes; capacity building; and policy analysis on agriculture as well as other priority global change agendas, and the overarching theme of Technology Justice

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: The post holder will be expected to maintain regular dialogue with senior managers across the organisation (CEO and Directors) providing specialist advice. S/he will work collaboratively with other members of the Policy and Practice team, including the Head of Global Advocacy. S/he will work with the Programme Support Team and Practical Action Consulting (PAC) and colleagues in regional and country offices. Interaction with different units in Marketing and Communications will also be required.

External: The post holder will be expected to represent Practical Action externally, at all levels, including at a high level. S/he will be expected to maintain and develop contacts with counterparts in INGOs (allies and partners), academic researchers, UN bodies, donors, private sector, international agricultural networks and partnerships, and relevant parliamentary committees.

LINE MANAGEMENT OR SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The post has responsibility for managing interns, temporary staff and staff on short fixed-term contracts who may be recruited from time to time to carry out specific activities.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will from time to time be responsible for managing project or activity budgets, up to about £ 200,000 a year.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education:
• Post-graduate degree in a relevant subject

Experience:
• At least 7 years work experience in international development, including extensive experience working in developing countries.
• Experience of research / organisational learning and policy development on issues related to agriculture.
• Experience of high level representation, and advocacy with a range of actors, including donors, government, and the private sector.

Skills:
• Strong analytical skills (readily able to interpret complex quantitative and qualitative data).
• A thorough understanding of the issues related to agriculture in the developing world.
• A good understanding and experience of engaging in international policy processes and influencing.
• Excellent written, and oral communication skills, and able to communicate to a variety of audiences, including senior policy makers, practitioners and the general public.
• A sound understanding the core principles of good practice in development including gender, and social inclusion; partnership and capacity building; markets, and climate change.
• Excellent English language, preferably with some knowledge of Spanish and/or French.
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Empathy with Practical Action’s mission, and values, with a high level of corporate commitment, demonstrated by an ability to take decisions and to act in the best interests of Practical Action.
• Ability to travel for up to 12 weeks per year.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

The post holder will require an excellent level of competency in the following

Decision Making:
Competence is demonstrated by the timeliness and sound reasoning of decisions. There is a balance of consultation with action. Will communicate, will follow through and will be accountable for outcome. Will always have the interests of Practical Action at the core of the decision. Will support decisions once argued through and made.

Influencing
Competence evidenced by the ability to use a range of approaches and select the appropriate style for a situation. Is able to demonstrate good listening skills, presents own view in a convincing manner, whilst acknowledging different perspectives, feelings and concerns. Works for a win-win outcome in resolving differences, and is usually able to win others over to own way of thinking. Is well networked with excellent external focus.

Managing relationships:
Competence demonstrated by an ability to understand and react appropriately to motivations that drive colleagues’ behaviour. Is sensitive to cultural differences and behaves appropriately within them. Understands how to develop productive working relationships

Teamwork:
Demonstrated by the ability and inclination to work co-operatively with others. Will recognise the value of sharing ideas, knowledge and information with others and takes personal responsibility for doing so.

The post holder will require a good/proficient level of competency in the following

Drive for results:
Competence demonstrated by the level of responsibility and accountability demonstrated by the individual in meeting or beating commitments and objectives, whatever the organisational level of the role. Illustrated by evidence of seeking better ways of doing things, looking to improve on status quo and willingness to deal with difficult situations that effect output of their role.

Self-motivation:
Competence demonstrated by the level of timeliness and accuracy the individual displays in carrying out their role, by their personal energy and enthusiasm and by their willingness to learn to exceed expectations in their role.