Marketing and Exports Director for the USAID Moldova Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity (RCRA)

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Chemonics International Inc. seeks highly qualified candidates for the long-term position of Marketing and Exports Director for the USAID Moldova Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity (RCRA). Chemonics International Inc. (www.chemonics.com) is a U.S.-based international consulting firm providing expertise in developing and emerging-market countries since 1975.

 Background:

USAID Moldova Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity (RCRA) is a five-year project (2022-2027) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Chemonics International. The goal of RCRA is to stimulate a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the regional crisis brought on by the latest Russian invasion of Ukraine and accelerate an inclusive, climate-resilient economic development of rural Moldova by protecting the development gains made with USAID support over the past decade and further stimulate the competitiveness of key economic sectors, including the wine industry, high-value agriculture, and tourism.

The objectives of the activity are:

1. Accelerated export diversification and Western market integration in targeted sectors
2. Enhanced economic resilience of small and medium enterprises in targeted sectors
3. Improved sector enabling environment to facilitate resilience and Western integration.

 Position Description: 

The Marketing and Exports Director will lead efforts for the marketing and export facilitation of RCRA target high value agricultural products (fresh and processed fruits, grapes, berries, and vegetables; honey). The Marketing and Exports Director will provide support for agriculture business development opportunities, specifically to increase sales of Moldovan high value agriculture products targeted by RCRA.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Principal Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the collection of information and analysis of internal constraints and market opportunities in the targeted value chains.
• Advise RCRA Chief of Party (COP) and Deputy Chief of Party/Senior HVA Director on the design of project strategies and activities in annual work plans for the targeted value chains, ensuring contract indicators are addressed and prioritized with demand-driven interventions, including through identification of grant opportunities and subcontractor needs.
• Establish and maintain positive work relationships with relevant stakeholders including exporters, industry associations, Governmental and donors’ export support institutions, and programs, and particularly with international buyers.
• Carry out export-readiness audits and coach export-ready firms to develop and implement strategic marketing plans which will promote and increase sales of Moldova's high value agriculture products in domestic and targeted/prioritized export markets.
• Help producers and exporters understand the requirements of targeted export markets.
• Help producers and exporters develop professional company profiles, including product availability and offer sheets.
• Help exporters prepare trial shipments; track arrivals and coordinate information sharing about quality issues and buyer behavior.
• Lead the organization of inward buyer missions and outward trade missions.
• Coordinate effective trade show participation, including pre-planning and follow-up.
• Manage import agents in diverse target markets to monitor market conditions; inspect shipment arrivals and provide quality feedback to producer/shippers; cultivate buyer-supplier relationships; and advance sales.
• Identify opportunities and broker partnerships and develop catalytic grant concepts to advance the competitiveness of Moldova's high value agriculture.
• Design, conduct and/or manage training activities and trade missions that are tailored to increase market opportunities and sales for Moldova's high value agriculture.
• Assist with locating and recommending relevant short-term consultants; develop Scopes of Work, monitor, and facilitate their work.
• Collaborate with RCRA Gender and Social Inclusion Focal Point to incorporate gender and social inclusion considerations into relevant program activities, including marketing and sales.
• Collaborate with the Grants Team to draft grant solicitations and follow-up training, liaising with, and effectively monitoring all grantees of market-related grants, including the quantifiable and qualifiable results, compliance, and progress of grants and grantees.
• Collaborate with the MEL Manager to gather data on project outputs and impact on the targeted value chains.
• Collaborate with the Food Safety, Quality, and Sustainability Manager and the Environmental Compliance Specialist to identify and address environmental and food safety issues related to the sectors and ensure that targeted producer organizations in the sectors work towards and attain international food safety standards as specified in the project contract and annual work plans; sist the Enabling Environment Director to identify, diagnose, and recommend reforms to agribusiness enabling environment constraints that hinder market development across the targeted value chains.
• Supervise staff, including the HVA Export Market Development Specialist and HVA Marketing Assistant, providing guidance and mentorship, and following the policies, processes, and procedures indicated in Chemonics Quality Management System and Personnel Handbook.
• Serve as selection committee and evaluation committee member for grant, procurement, subcontract, and recruitment efforts.
• Follow all processes, policies, and procedures indicated in Chemonics Global Quality Management System.
• As required, travel throughout Moldova and internationally.
• Provide mentorship and build capacity of local organizations in trade and marketing.
• Act as a project representative, as required, at public and private events, meetings, etc.
• Manage all aspects of trade and marketing related to RCRA.
• Develop and deliver trainings relevant to RCRA.
• Conduct other activities as directed by the Chief of Party or Deputy Chief of Party/Senior HVA Director.
• Respect and abide by all the internal regulations of the Representative Office, as expressed in the Chemonics International Field Office Policy Manual.

Qualifications:

• University degree in marketing, communications, business, economics, agricultural economics, or other relevant fields.
• Demonstrated experience (at least 5 years) in business or private sector development, related to market research or export sales. Experience in providing individual enterprise assistance and mentoring would be a strong asset.
• Excellent communication skills, written and spoken, in Romanian and English. Knowledge of Russian would be a strong asset.
• Excellent time-, team-, meeting- and conflict- management skills.
• Strong self-organization, self-motivation, and planning skills.
• Autonomy, responsibility, and ability to work with minimum supervision.

 Reporting:

 The position will report to the Deputy Chief of Party/Senior HVA Director.

 Application instructions

Please send an email with the cover letter and CV attached and “Marketing and Exports Director” in the subject line to MDA-RCRA-Recruit@chemonics.md by February 24, 2023. No telephone inquiries, please. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 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.

Chemonics values the protection of your personal data. If you are in the European Union, please read our EU Recruiting Data Privacy Notice to learn how we process personal data. You may access the notice via the following link: https://chemonics.com/eu-recruiting-data-privacy-notice/.