Markets Research Advisor - Chemonics’ East and Southern Africa Regional Business Unit

job Description

Chemonics’ East and Southern Africa Regional Business Unit is seeking a Markets Research Advisor. The full-time Markets Research Advisor for FEWS NET 8 KB will support the project’s Deputy Chief of Party for Market Fundamentals in setting technical direction for the Market Fundamentals research team. The Markets research advisor will advise the Market Fundamentals research team on associated technical and administrative priorities for the project, and support Market Fundamentals deliverables, providing technical guidance for regional and country staff to deliver high-quality data, information, and analyses. The markets research advisor will work with home office and field-based members of the FEWS NET 8 KB technical team to design, execute, and coordinate activities in the Market Fundamentals research technical area. These activities will include providing key inputs to and drafting reports and other deliverables , providing technical assistance and guidance to colleagues across the project, strengthening the FEWS NET 8 KB and partner capacity to conduct relevant market analyses for Market Fundamentals research, and leading efforts to improve process documentation and associated staff capacity strengthening on the same.

Since its establishment in 1985, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) project aims to sustainably prevent food insecurity and famine across the globe by delivering to the U.S. Government and partners early warning on the location, causes, and magnitude of current and future food insecurity; improving the quality and timeliness of information and analysis useful for achieving sustainable food security; and strengthening innovative local, national, regional, and international capabilities to understand and appropriately address current, recurrent, and likely future food insecurity. Chemonics has been implementing FEWS NET since 2000, beginning its eights phase (FEWS NET 8) in 2024.

FEWS NET 8 Knowledge Base (FEWS NET 8 KB) is a $65 million project which will create and update FEWS NET’s knowledge base about livelihood zones and market systems on which FEWS NET’s acute food insecurity early warning analyses are predicated, thereby ensuring that USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is able to allocate emergency food assistance effectively and in accordance with humanitarian principles.

Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Activities
-Providing guidance to and overseeing staff and subcontractors responsible for conducting Market Fundamentals work for FEWS NET 8 KB;
-Ensuring the establishment and maintenance of systematic and efficient market research and assessment, data collection, and management processes among home office and regional staff
-Identifying and leveraging secondary data sources, relevant to Market Fundamentals research.
-Identifying, developing, and implementing innovative methods for the collection of critical data used in research for Market Fundamentals -report writing.
-Supporting the development and maintenance of market data in the FEWS NET data warehouse, data portal, and data visualization efforts
-Contributing to technical discussions and the content of products and activities with a Market Fundamentals -related element;
-Coordinating and collaborating with other FEWS NET 8 KB sector leads and specialists on guidance and support, and in finding areas for synergy and efficiency in conducting the work under this contract. -Coordinating and collaborating with other FEWS NET mechanisms and networks partners, as appropriate, on the same.

Technical Capacity Development and Guidance
-Providing technical assistance and guidance on the use of Market Fundamentals Reports (and related research and deliverables) to enable home office and regional staff to deliver high-quality market information and analyses pertaining to food security analysis and early warning;
-Identifying key Market Fundamentals analytical support needs and establishing, refining or enhancing methods, tools, and guidance to meet those needs;
-Providing assistance with the design and implementation of market assessments and with the improvement of process documentation;
-In collaboration with members of the home office, transferring knowledge and providing short-term training to strengthen the capacity of regional in-country teams to understand how to leverage research and insights from Market Fundamentals reports (and other related deliverables) to monitor and analyze markets that influence household food security.

Leadership, Representation, and Liaison
-Contributing to the identification of priority Market Fundamentals activities in line with the strategic orientation of the FEWS NET 8 KB project;
-Contributing to designing, executing, and leading technical and operational work in order to further Market Fundamentals research ;
-Seeking collaboration with partners to enhance the quality and impact of Market Fundamentals work for food security early warning purposes;
-Liaising with international partners to exchange information and promote dialogue on market research pertaining to food security
-Contributing to FEWS NET’s capacity building and institutional strengthening objectives;
-Ensure processes and approaches are clearly documented;
-Contributing to training workshops and the transfer of FEWS NET Knowledge Base methods, tools, and systems to regional and international organizations;
-Facilitating technical presentations to USAID and partners;
-Engaging in annual strategy sessions in Washington DC;
-Backstop DCOP-Market Fundamentals while traveling.

Qualifications and Experience

-Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience; Master’s degree preferred; education in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as economics, agricultural economics, agronomy, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, livelihoods, or social geography is preferred; 
-Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience;
-Minimum 3 years of supervisory experience and experience leading teams; 5 years preferred;
-Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of agricultural market systems in developing country contexts required.
-Overseas and management experience highly desired;
-Detailed knowledge of, and experience with, global network markets;
-Experience with USAID Washington and field operations, programs, policies, and procedures;
-Excellent writing and presentation skills;
-Excellent interpersonal skills;
-Excellent computer skills; GIS applications and mapping, and statistical software skills are an advantage;
-Experience using reference management software (e.g. Zotero, End Note, Mendeley) highly desired;
-Fluency in English is required; Proficiency in French, Portuguese, Spanish, or Arabic language preferred.

How to Apply

Application Instructions:
Please apply by 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. No telephone inquiries, please. All internal applicants are required to notify their supervisor(s) before applying. As outlined in Section 1(Q.) Intra-Company Transfers and Rotations in Chemonics Policy Manual, Chemonics expects all employees to remain in their divisions for at least 12 months.

Chemonics is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Chemonics is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
Chemonics will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by Chemonics, or (c) consistent with Chemonics legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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