Marketing and Product Development Specialist,Jobs in Kampala, Uganda

Job Title: Marketing and Product Development Specialist
Job Category: Communications
Department: HARVESTPLUS
Location: Kampala Uganda
Appointment Duration: 1 Year
Job Code: FO15-008
Position Type: Renewable
Recruitment Type: Local
US FLSA Status: Not applicable

Job Description
Job Summary
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a Market and Product Development Specialist for its HarvestPlus Program in Uganda. The successful candidate will who will work with field extension workers and community volunteers to support the marketing of surplus OSP and high iron beans in the target districts and support commercial farmers to produce for the urban areas. He/she will be in charge of this component and will take the lead in refining a country marketing strategy for biofortified crops to ensure sustained supply and generate demand in the market. He/she will work with different stakeholders especially farmers' groups to support them to produce for the market and facilitate trade linkages. The position will be based in Kampala, Uganda. Interested applicants must have work authorization to work in Uganda. Compensation and benefits of IFPRI-Uganda will apply to this position.

HarvestPlus is part of the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) which helps realize the potential of agricultural development to deliver gender-equitable health and nutritional benefits to the poor. CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. HarvestPlus seeks to develop and disseminate nutrient dense staple food crops as a means to reduce micronutrient malnutrition (hidden hunger) in developing countries. The initial target micronutrients are iron, zinc, and vitamin A. HarvestPlus Uganda is promoting the production and consumption of pro-vitamin A (Orange) sweet potato (OSP) and high iron beans and supporting the marketing of these crops by linking farmers to markets and training in business support services.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities.
Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
    Develop country specific marketing strategy for the promoted crops (orange sweet potato, high iron beans)
    Work with farmers groups and associations to bulk produce for marketing and create trade linkages with traders and institutional buyers
    Design and execute promotional activities/campaigns to promote marketability of the targeted crops
    Conduct training for extension agents, market link farmers, retailers and traders as demanded
    Promote product development and value addition for the biofortified crops.
    Build capacity of farmer groups and associations with a focus of working with traders to establish profitable trading systems and a consistent supply of biofortified crops
    Work with extension teams to extend the season of biofortified crops through improved post-harvest techniques and various production schedules
    Accurate documenting and reporting on the marketing interventions
    Engage in Advocacy campaigns aimed at popularizing biofortified crops
    Conduct periodic market research studies.

Required Skills, Qualifications and Experience
    Masters Degree in a relevant area of expertise (e.g. Agriculture, Agribusiness, marketing);
    Strong and proven experience in working with farmers to strengthen marketing of produce in various markets
    A team player, collaborative, self-motivated and able to work well with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams.
    Ability to conceptualize and initialize development programmes especially in the area of marketing;
    Strong interpersonal skills, fluent in English with strong writing skills and computer literate;
    Willingness and ability to travel to project areas

Preferred Skills and qualifications
    Experience working with public and private sector institutions.
    Knowledge of one or more Ugandan languages would be an added advantage

The recruiting organization (International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)) has not specified a closing date for this vacancy. While we regularly check to ensure that this vacancy remains open, please visit the recruiting organization's website ( http://chc.tbe.taleo.net/chc06/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IFPRI&cws=1&rid=1475 ) for its current status.
Application Deadline: Open until filled