Policy Specialist for the USAID Moldova Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity (RCRA)

Chemonics International Inc. seeks highly qualified candidates for the long-term position of Policy Specialist 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 primary role of the Policy Specialist is to contribute to overall project activities for improvement of sectors’ enabling environment and to advocate for policy reforms with/or on behalf of project beneficiaries in the high value agriculture, wine, and tourism sector.

 Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Build industry associations’ capacity to prepare high - quality position papers to advocate for reforms
• Facilitate public-private policy dialogue to ensure private sector has an opportunity to voice their issues and advocate for reform that will address private sector needs
• Leverage government relationships to improve the enabling environment for agriculture and tourism sectors development
• Draft policy analysis and position papers for policy reforms which are benchmarked with international best practices
• Play an active role in project work planning and activity design
• Design and conduct trainings that are tailored to the programmatic needs of RCRA activities
• Incorporate gender considerations into relevant program activities
• Work with M&E Manager as appropriate
• Assist with locating and recommending relevant short-term consultants
• Establish and maintain positive work relationships with relevant stakeholders
• Conduct other activities as may be assigned or directed by the Enabling Environment Director and/or Chief of Party.

 Skills and Qualifications

 Required:

• University degree in areas such as law, public administration or other related field;
• Knowledge and good understanding of policy development process, legal drafting and interaction with national counterparts;
• Strong understanding and experience working with documentation such as policy and legal papers and national legislation in the Project targeted sectors;
• Superior attention to detail, ability to explain complex concepts, and regulative aspects of the national legislation;
• Demonstrated experience in managing policy and legal development process;
• Excellent communication skills, written and spoken, in Romanian and English;
• Excellent inter-personal communication and mediation skills, team-player;
• Excellent time-, team-, meeting- and conflict- management skills;
• Strong self-organization and planning skills.

Preferred:

• Experience with development organizations and public-sector reform would be an asset;
• Experience with policy reform related to one or more of the following: horticulture; beekeeping; wine; tourism;
• Ability to follow directions while also working independently;
• Ability to manage multiple ongoing projects at once;
• Adaptable and willing to learn new skills as needed;
• Experience in analyzing budgets, strongly preferred;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word;
• Proven ability to work professionally and constructively as part of team, meet deadlines, communicate effectively, and deal with diverse partners in challenging environments.

Application instructions

Please send an email with the cover letter and CV in English attached and “Policy Specialist” in the subject line to MDA-RCRA-Recruit@chemonics.md by March 15, 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 otice via the following link: https://chemonics.com/eu-recruiting-data-privacy-notice/.