Career with BRAC International

BRAC is a development success story, spreading anti-poverty solutions born in Bangladesh to 10 other developing countries in Asia and Africa, making it a global leader in providing opportunities for the world’s poor.

BRAC was founded in Bangladesh in 1972 by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, and is today one of the top leaders in developing cost-effective, evidence-based poverty innovations in extremely poor, fragile and post-disaster settings. BRAC started its first programme outside of Bangladesh in Afghanistan in 2002through the Stichting BRAC International, which is registered in the Netherlands. BRAC International is currently reaching over 19 million people beyond Bangladesh and creating opportunities to break the cycle of poverty.

With a holistic approach that uses a wide array of interventions including microfinance, education, healthcare, food security, legal services and more, BRAC invests in communities’ own human and material resources, catalyzing lasting change and creating an ecosystem in which the poor have the chance to seize control of their own lives. Of the world’s top development and humanitarian relief organisations, BRAC is one of the few based in the global south. In January 2017, BRAC was ranked as the number one NGO in the world for the second consecutive year by the Geneva-based NGO Advisor, an independent media organization committed to highlighting innovation, impact and governance in the non-profit sector.

BRAC International is seeking application from competent, dynamic and self-motivated individuals to fill the following position to support an anticipated USAID funded “Seed Systems Support Activity Project”:

Development Seed Systems Advisor

Job Location: BRAC International, Head Office, Dhaka or BRAC Office in USA- Washington DC/ New York

Programme Brief:

The Seed Systems Support Activity (S3A) Project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The global Seed Systems Support Activity focuses on inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth and strengthened resilience among people and systems by identifying and removing constraints and bottlenecks within the seed systems. The project also focuses on the faster and more reliable delivery of improved and quality seed, largely through informal seed systems to ensure that large number of number of smallholder farmers utilizing quality seeds, including high yielding and stress tolerant commercial and staple crop varieties, in countries. .The aim of S3A is to improve national seed sector in Feed the Future countries and in countries with resilience and emergency seed security programs.

Key Responsibilities:

The Development Seed Systems Advisor will be part of the senior management team and is expected to complement the Project Director (Chief of Party) in knowledge and experience of seed systems. The key responsibilities include:  

  • Responsible for assessment of local capacity and local seed networks;
  • Develop seed system support services focused on seed access, seed quality and availability.
  • Identify the policy constrains and priorities to eliminate or reduce bottlenecks to seed systems development
  • Develop model of shock responsive seed systems for greater resilience;
  • Establish and facilitate seed production logistics support;
  • Support for research on farmer adoption of new varieties
  • Develop tools for seed business to more accurately forecast demand for seed and varieties.
  • Ensure early generation seed (EGS) transfers; and
  • Lead capacity building and other activities of S3A in the country and global level.

Educational Requirements:

  • PhD/ Masters in Agricultural Economics/ Agri-business/ any related field.

Required Competencies:

  • Professional experience in providing technical assistance and/or advisory services to private, public, and/or development sector actors preferred.
  • Good leadership skills.
  • Professional experience interacting with U.S. Government agencies in relation to the duties of this position.
  • Experience and knowledge of south based development issues.
  • Donor reporting and analytical skills on development programmes.
  • Excellent English & Written skills.
  • Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in multi-cultural environment.
  • Willing to travel overseas when needed.

Experience Requirements:

At least 10 years experience in agri-business management or value chain development, preferably seed business and 3-5 years of experience in gender inclusive programs in seed systems value chains.

Employment type: Contractual

Salary: Negotiable

If you feel you are the right match for the above mentioned position, please follow the application instructions accordingly:

External candidates need to apply online through careers.brac.net or email their CV with a letter of interest mentioning educational grades, years of experience, current and expected salary at recruitment.bi@brac.net

Internal candidates need to apply with their latest CV including all job assignments in detail with BRAC PIN and email to internal.bi@brac.net

Please mention the name of the position and AD# BI 06/18 in the subject bar.

Only complete applications will be accepted and short listed candidates will be contacted.

Application deadline: March 20, 2018 

BRAC is an equal opportunities employer