Job
description
description
Organization Description
Most of the world’s poor are farmers, representing
the largest and most uniform group of poor people in the world. One Acre Fund
is a start-up NGO in Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi that is innovating a new way of
helping farm families to achieve their full potential. Instead of giving
handouts, One Acre invests in farmers to generate a permanent gain in
farm income. We provide farmers with a “market bundle” that includes
education, finance, seed and fertilizer, and market access.
the largest and most uniform group of poor people in the world. One Acre Fund
is a start-up NGO in Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi that is innovating a new way of
helping farm families to achieve their full potential. Instead of giving
handouts, One Acre invests in farmers to generate a permanent gain in
farm income. We provide farmers with a “market bundle” that includes
education, finance, seed and fertilizer, and market access.
Our program is
proven impactful – every year, we weigh thousands of harvests and measure more
than 100% average gain in farm income per acre. We have laser-like focus on
generating better lives for the people that we serve.
We are growing quickly. In five years, we have
grown to serve 135,000 farm families with more than 1400 full-time field staff.
In three more years, we will at least quadruple in size, while adding several
new countries. Our approach has won widespread validation, winning grants from
the highly competitive Echoing Green and Skoll Foundations, and the global
Financial Times/ IFC award for “basic needs financing” in 2010 and
2011. Website: www.oneacrefund.org
grown to serve 135,000 farm families with more than 1400 full-time field staff.
In three more years, we will at least quadruple in size, while adding several
new countries. Our approach has won widespread validation, winning grants from
the highly competitive Echoing Green and Skoll Foundations, and the global
Financial Times/ IFC award for “basic needs financing” in 2010 and
2011. Website: www.oneacrefund.org
Job Description
Rapid organization growth translates into great
career opportunities for our staff. We invest heavily in careers – we want to
develop our next group of country directors, R&D directors, and partnership
leaders. In their first year, our program associates lead 3-5 internal
consulting projects, such as:
career opportunities for our staff. We invest heavily in careers – we want to
develop our next group of country directors, R&D directors, and partnership
leaders. In their first year, our program associates lead 3-5 internal
consulting projects, such as:
– Impact innovation: A program associate recently
designed a new harvest storage product and farmer training, and tried it with a
few hundred farmers. The trial demonstrated an increase in harvest profits by
more than 10%. Next year, we expect to sell this product to over 40,000
farmers.
designed a new harvest storage product and farmer training, and tried it with a
few hundred farmers. The trial demonstrated an increase in harvest profits by
more than 10%. Next year, we expect to sell this product to over 40,000
farmers.
– Growth innovation: A staffer recently designed a
new viral marketing initiative. She identified our best and most enthusiastic
farmers, and turned them into volunteer “replication agents” who are
empowered to recruit new groups of farmers. Our staff person designed the trial
protocols, trained 10 field staff to test the idea, and observed the trial
in-field, resulting in 25% higher client enrollment. We are now rolling this
out across more than 200 field sites.
new viral marketing initiative. She identified our best and most enthusiastic
farmers, and turned them into volunteer “replication agents” who are
empowered to recruit new groups of farmers. Our staff person designed the trial
protocols, trained 10 field staff to test the idea, and observed the trial
in-field, resulting in 25% higher client enrollment. We are now rolling this
out across more than 200 field sites.
– Operations rotation: In addition to internal
consulting projects, program associates also spend time paired with a regular
“operating unit,” which has 50+ staff. This is an opportunity to observe
how regular operations work, while also building leadership skills by mentoring
a larger number of staff.
consulting projects, program associates also spend time paired with a regular
“operating unit,” which has 50+ staff. This is an opportunity to observe
how regular operations work, while also building leadership skills by mentoring
a larger number of staff.
In their second year, our strongest performers take leadership over a relatively independent
pilot within the One Acre Fund network, while earning a significant and
sustainable salary increase. Examples include:
pilot within the One Acre Fund network, while earning a significant and
sustainable salary increase. Examples include:
– Burundi: One Acre Fund plans to launch one new
country per year, for the next five years. A program manager moved to Burundi
early in 2011 to direct field operations for an initial 400-farmer pilot. Six
months later, that pilot is now being quadrupled in size and is our newest
country launch.
country per year, for the next five years. A program manager moved to Burundi
early in 2011 to direct field operations for an initial 400-farmer pilot. Six
months later, that pilot is now being quadrupled in size and is our newest
country launch.
– Farmers United: One of our program managers
piloted an innovative trial in a new area of Kenya. This trial helps farmers to
save up for farm inputs over time, in addition to taking loans, and has high
potential to scale rapidly. Over two years, he has created a field organization
of 80 staff from scratch. His organization, called “Farmers United,”
cooperates closely with our existing field units, but also operates with a high
degree of independence within the One Acre Fund umbrella.
piloted an innovative trial in a new area of Kenya. This trial helps farmers to
save up for farm inputs over time, in addition to taking loans, and has high
potential to scale rapidly. Over two years, he has created a field organization
of 80 staff from scratch. His organization, called “Farmers United,”
cooperates closely with our existing field units, but also operates with a high
degree of independence within the One Acre Fund umbrella.
Career Growth and Development: One Acre Fund
invests in building management and leadership skills. We provide constant,
actionable feedback delivered through weekly mentorship and through regular
career reviews. We also have regular one-on-one meetings, where we listen to
and discuss career goals, and work collaboratively to craft roles that each
person can be passionate about. Because of our rapid growth, we constantly have
new high-level roles opening up and opportunities in many functions and
countries. This results in fast career growth for our staff.
invests in building management and leadership skills. We provide constant,
actionable feedback delivered through weekly mentorship and through regular
career reviews. We also have regular one-on-one meetings, where we listen to
and discuss career goals, and work collaboratively to craft roles that each
person can be passionate about. Because of our rapid growth, we constantly have
new high-level roles opening up and opportunities in many functions and
countries. This results in fast career growth for our staff.
Qualifications
We are seeking exceptional professionals with 2 to
5+ years of work experience, and a demonstrated long-term passion for
international development. They will serve in a career-track position that
combines both field and management experience.
5+ years of work experience, and a demonstrated long-term passion for
international development. They will serve in a career-track position that
combines both field and management experience.
We are looking for truly extraordinary candidates
that will help take our organization to the next levels of impact and scale.
This is a competitive posting for a career-track role with minimum initial
commitment of two years. Candidates who fit the following criteria are strongly
encouraged to apply:
that will help take our organization to the next levels of impact and scale.
This is a competitive posting for a career-track role with minimum initial
commitment of two years. Candidates who fit the following criteria are strongly
encouraged to apply:
- Strong work experiences. Examples include a
demanding professional work experience, or successful entrepreneurial
experience (e.g. starting a field program in a developing country, leading
a conference, starting a business, solid Peace Corps accomplishments) - Leadership experience at work, or outside of
work - Top-performing undergraduate background
(please include GPA and test scores on your resume) - Humility and personal stability. We have a
fantastic and likeable team. We are looking for passionate professionals
that combine strong leadership skills with good humor, patience, and a
humble approach to service - A willingness to commit to living in rural
areas of East Africa for at least two years – this is a long-term,
career-track role. The ideal candidate will have at least one year demonstrated
experience working in the developing world, although this is not a strict
requirement - Language: English & French fluency
required - Ability to cook/ laugh – desirable
Preferred Start Date: Flexible
Compensation: Starts very
modest. However, this is a career-track role with fast raises for performance,
paying a meaningful salary for long-term placement in developing nations.
modest. However, this is a career-track role with fast raises for performance,
paying a meaningful salary for long-term placement in developing nations.
Benefits: Health
cover, immunizations, flight, room and board.
cover, immunizations, flight, room and board.
Career development: Quarterly management consulting-style career reviews and constant
feedback. Your manager will invest significant time in your career development.
feedback. Your manager will invest significant time in your career development.
Sponsor International Candidates: Yes
How to apply
To Apply
- Complete this form.
- Email cover letter and resume to jobs@oneacrefund.org
(Subject line: “Program Associate Rwanda Search” + name of the
site that referred you). - If you are a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
(RPCV), please submit a copy of your Description of Service (DOS).
