Program Assistant at USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities Activity in Ukraine (AGRO)

Background:

USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities in Ukraine (AGRO) Activity is a seven-year cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chemonics International, Inc. It began on November 15, 2019.

The AGRO Activity is to accelerate the economic development of rural Ukrainian communities with the greatest need through a better governed agricultural sector that encourages more productive, modern, and profitable micro, small, and medium agricultural enterprises (MSMEs) that are successfully integrated into competitive markets both in Ukraine and internationally.

The Activity objectives are aligned with the three elements of the market systems conceptual framework: the core value chain, supporting functions, and rules and regulations.

To effectively address the food crisis that emerges in Ukraine and internationally, AGRO works for the restoration of the agricultural sector, in particular its modernization, efficiency improvement, and diversification, which contributes to the long-term economic recovery of Ukraine and the improvement of global food security.

Within the USAID Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI-Ukraine), AGRO will provide assistance enabling Ukraine to store roughly 1.5 million tons of grain as part of the USAID’s broader efforts to maintain the rate of production and export of grain from Ukraine to other countries of the world.

AGRO operates on the basis of the market system conceptual approach (https://beamexchange.org).

In September 2022, the estimated cost of the Activity was extended to US$120,000,000, and its implementation period was extended through November 13, 2026. AGRO employs over 70 long-term CCN employees.

Position Description

The Program Assistant will provide essential support for program and project administration, while also carrying out professional tasks aimed at achieving AGRO’s goals and ensuring effective implementation of programs and projects within their assigned technical component.

As a member of the technical team (component), the Assistant will report to the Component Lead and collaborate closely with other AGRO technical component teams and support teams.

Principal Duties and Obligations (Essential Functions):

Implement operational strategies, focusing on:

• Ensuring program activities fully comply with USAID’s rules, regulations, policies, and strategies.
• Assisting the technical component team in utilizing program and project management tools and practices, including progress tracking systems, and keeping these systems updated.
• Helping maintain an up-to-date Component work plan aligned with AGRO’s annual implementation plan, including uploading all the relevant supporting documentation.
• Supporting the technical component team with technical assets budgeting and budget monitoring.
• Facilitating communication with subrecipients, subcontractors, and other AGRO stakeholders.

Ensure effective program department operations by:

• Supporting the planning, organization, and conduct of internal and external meetings and events, including preparing materials, coordinating with AGRO support teams, taking minutes, and drafting summary documents as needed.
• Managing administrative systems, including registration logs, file systems, and trackers.
• Properly filing and storing all project correspondence and documentation. Recording minutes at the staff meetings.
• Translating basic correspondence as required.
• Maintaining communication with partners, preparing project correspondence, and facilitating communication between the AGRO office and Chemonics headquarters.
• Drafting documents (letters, analytical notes, memos, presentations) upon request.
• Conducting research and compiling statistical data from various sources; preparing statistical charts, tables, and reports as needed.
• Participating in regular progress report and work plan discussions.
• Assisting technical team specialists with logistics for meetings, trips, and events.
• Creating and maintaining the project informational materials for stakeholder distribution.
• Contributing to reports, plans, success stories, and similar documents as requested.
• Engaging in regular AGRO discussions on Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA).
• Handling various document-related tasks including writing, compiling, copying, translating, and distributing project materials as needed.
• Performing additional tasks as assigned by the Component Lead or authorized representatives, in line with qualifications and AGRO requirements.

Terms of work, SOW Timing and Reporting Relations:

One-year fixed term employment agreement with possible extension each work year up to the end of the Activity implementation (November 13, 2026), subject to the inclusion of appropriate tasks in the successive Annual Work Plans of the Activity.

Primary Work Location: Kyiv, Ukraine. Periodic travel to other parts of Ukraine might be required.

As a member of the technical team (component), the Assistant will report to the Component Lead and collaborate closely with other AGRO technical component teams and support teams.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

The candidate should be capable of performing all the key duties in the allocated areas of responsibility. The following competencies reflect the expertise, skills and/or capabilities required for proper performance of the key duties.

• Minimum one year of experience in a similar assistant role, preferably in a USAID or other donor-funded technical assistance project.
• Secondary vocational education or incomplete higher education in management, finance, economics, logistics, or related fields. A high school diploma with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience will be considered acceptable. A bachelor’s or master’s degree (or equivalent) in management, finance, economics, or logistics is preferred.
• Proven ability to work professionally in a team, meet deadlines, communicate effectively, and navigate work challenges.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational, administrative, and interpersonal skills, with ability to multitask and maintain a customer-oriented approach.
• Capable of working independently and collaboratively, effectively coordinating with others.
• Adaptable, versatile, and positive work approach with high integrity.
• Fluency in Ukrainian.
• Command of English at the level sufficient for job duties.
• Proficient in MS Office 365, with advanced Excel skills.
• Experience in multinational and multilingual teams, working under pressure and tight deadlines. Previous experience in international donor projects is a plus.

Application Instructions

 Please submit your CV and cover letter by  September 30, 2024. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; early submission is encouraged. No telephone inquiries, please. Only finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.

2024-09-13T16:24:06.000 2024-09-30T23:59:59.000 Full time / Повна зайнятість TELECOMMUTE Україна Кімонікс Інтернешнл Інк. Програма USAID з аграрного і сільського розвитку (АГРО)