Private–‐sector style career
development in a growing social enterprise, an excellent career development opportunity:
Industry: Nonprofit/International Development
Function: Field Program or Support Functions
Employer: One Acre Fund Malawi
Job Title: Project Specialist
Job Location: Zomba, Malawi
Duration: Full–‐time (minimum 2 years commitment)
Organization Description
Most of the world’s poor are farmers,
representing the largest and most uniform group of people in the world. One Acre
Fund is a growing NGO in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi,
Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi that is innovating a new way of helping farm families
to achieve their full potential. Instead of giving handouts, One Acre Fund 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 50–‐100% average gain
in farm income per acre.
representing the largest and most uniform group of people in the world. One Acre
Fund is a growing NGO in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi,
Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi that is innovating a new way of helping farm families
to achieve their full potential. Instead of giving handouts, One Acre Fund 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 50–‐100% average gain
in farm income per acre.
We are growing quickly. In eight years,
we have grown to serve 250,000 farm families with more than 2,000 full–‐time field staff, and we will triple again
in the coming three years. Our approach has won widespread validation, including
grants from The MasterCard Foundation and Gates Foundation. Website: www.oneacrefund.org.
we have grown to serve 250,000 farm families with more than 2,000 full–‐time field staff, and we will triple again
in the coming three years. Our approach has won widespread validation, including
grants from The MasterCard Foundation and Gates Foundation. Website: www.oneacrefund.org.
Job Description
As a rapidly growing organization, we
are constantly innovating and improving our internal operational processes. Project
Specialists will play a key role in running multiple high–‐level projects to drive this innovation and
process improvement. Project Specialists in Malawi will generally be selected for
one of the following focus areas: Field Operations, Innovations, and Systems.
are constantly innovating and improving our internal operational processes. Project
Specialists will play a key role in running multiple high–‐level projects to drive this innovation and
process improvement. Project Specialists in Malawi will generally be selected for
one of the following focus areas: Field Operations, Innovations, and Systems.
Project Specialists will own portions
of projects, including managing components of field trials or managing a team running
field activities. This role has the potential to grow into a Program Associate position
with good performance. A few example projects are listed below:
of projects, including managing components of field trials or managing a team running
field activities. This role has the potential to grow into a Program Associate position
with good performance. A few example projects are listed below:
·
Field Operations
Field Operations
o District Expansion: Overseeing our
core program growth into other districts in the Southern Region and beyond.
core program growth into other districts in the Southern Region and beyond.
o Training: Designing and
implementing assessment and evaluation tools for a range of training programs across
our operation.
implementing assessment and evaluation tools for a range of training programs across
our operation.
• Innovations
o New Product: Designing several
configurations of a crop or non–‐agricultural product
and farmer training, testing it with a few hundred farmers, and scaling up the most
promising product.
configurations of a crop or non–‐agricultural product
and farmer training, testing it with a few hundred farmers, and scaling up the most
promising product.
• Systems
o Finance: Designing and
managing operational controls around our finance processes for our rapidly growing
team of over 100 full time in–‐country staff.
managing operational controls around our finance processes for our rapidly growing
team of over 100 full time in–‐country staff.
Career Growth and
Development
Development
One Acre Fund invests heavily in building
management and leadership skills. Your manager will invest significant time in your
career development. We provide constant, actionable feedback delivered through mentorship
and through regular management consulting–‐style 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. Project Specialists will have access to regular
and ongoing professional development opportunities aimed at building the soft and
hard skills required for quick rapid
professional growth. Because of our rapid growth, we constantly have new roles opening
up and opportunities in many functions. This results in fast career growth for our
staff.
management and leadership skills. Your manager will invest significant time in your
career development. We provide constant, actionable feedback delivered through mentorship
and through regular management consulting–‐style 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. Project Specialists will have access to regular
and ongoing professional development opportunities aimed at building the soft and
hard skills required for quick rapid
professional growth. Because of our rapid growth, we constantly have new roles opening
up and opportunities in many functions. This results in fast career growth for our
staff.
Qualifications
We are seeking exceptional professionals
with 1 to 3 years of work experience, and a demonstrated long–‐term passion for development work. Candidates
who fit the following criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:
with 1 to 3 years of work experience, and a demonstrated long–‐term passion for development work. Candidates
who fit the following criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:
•
Work Experience: Candidates should
have 1–‐3 years of strong work experiences, including
project management, team management, or entrepreneurial experiences. Candidates
should be comfortable working in a fast–‐paced, innovative,
results–‐driven environment.
Work Experience: Candidates should
have 1–‐3 years of strong work experiences, including
project management, team management, or entrepreneurial experiences. Candidates
should be comfortable working in a fast–‐paced, innovative,
results–‐driven environment.
•
Leadership: We are looking for
candidates with demonstrated leadership experience at work, or outside of work.
Examples of demonstrated leadership experience include managing a team or initiating
a new project.
Leadership: We are looking for
candidates with demonstrated leadership experience at work, or outside of work.
Examples of demonstrated leadership experience include managing a team or initiating
a new project.
•
Education: Strong undergraduate
background at top Malawian or international university. Degrees in agriculture,
business, management, social sciences, community development, or related fields
preferred.
Education: Strong undergraduate
background at top Malawian or international university. Degrees in agriculture,
business, management, social sciences, community development, or related fields
preferred.
•
Communication: Excellent written
and oral communication.
Communication: Excellent written
and oral communication.
•
Attitude:
Attitude:
o Humility: We are
looking for passionate professionals who combine strong leadership skills with good
humor, patience, and a humble approach to service to join our growing family of
leaders.
looking for passionate professionals who combine strong leadership skills with good
humor, patience, and a humble approach to service to join our growing family of
leaders.
o Rural Fit: A willingness to commit to work with rural communities
for at least two years.
for at least two years.
• Other Skills: Proficiency with
Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Intermediate or better typing speed.
Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Intermediate or better typing speed.
• Language: Chichewa and English.
Preferred Start
Date
Date
Flexible
Compensation
This is a career–‐track role with a competitive starting salary
and raises for performance.
and raises for performance.
Benefits
MASM healthcare
plan, access to staff cash and equipment loan programs, and reimbursements for work–‐related transportation and airtime expenses.
plan, access to staff cash and equipment loan programs, and reimbursements for work–‐related transportation and airtime expenses.
To Apply
