Earn 14m monthly as Sector Specialist: AgriTech – Department for International Trade – British High Commission (BHC)

Earn 14m monthly as Sector Specialist: AgriTech – Department for International Trade – British High Commission (BHC)

Job Title:    Sector Specialist: AgriTech – Department for International Trade 

Organization: British High Commission (BHC)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Starting monthly salary:  UGX 14,687,125 /=

About US: The British High Commission is the diplomatic liaison office that aims to develop and maintain close bilateral relations with Uganda, in accordance with British government policies. The British High Commission is responsible for the political relationship between the UK and Uganda, and we provide advice and guidance on political and governance issues. BHC provides assistance and documentary services to British nationals in Uganda.

Job Summary:  The Sector Specialist: AgriTech – Department for International Trade will join a dynamic network of committed trade officers working to support Africa’s exciting economic growth and position at the heart of the future world economy. This is an exciting time to join DIT Africa, as we continue to expand our resources to deliver on the ambition of our current Government to be Africa’s trade and investment partner of choice.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:  

• Agriculture, including production and processing but with a particular emphasis on agricultural technology and investment, is one of six sector priorities in 2020/21 for the Department for International Trade in Africa. The Sector will be led by a Sector Director in South Africa working with a virtual team across the continent. You will support that team in each location with expert advice based on African agricultural needs, practices and regulations.
• You will understand African needs intimately and be able to translate those to officials less familiar with the sector. You will forge close relationships with African producers, distributors and regulators such that you can interpret their needs and develop solutions with and for them. You will seek first and foremost to progress their plans and assist in their capability, but you will have a good knowledge of international best practice to contribute.
• You will bring a commercial perspective to agricultural progress and efficiency trying to find the areas where commercial, investment or regulatory intervention could improve the viability of African agricultural production for the marketplace. This will be in complement to other actors for the British Government, with whom you will forge close working relationships, whose primary interests might be in e.g. food security and/or livelihoods. You will work to understand the contribution of FCDO and other programmes so that DIT can support these while also adding value in its commercial and trade policy sphere.
• Your aim will be to help African producers understand where a commercial application could deliver on or raise their ambition. You will also consider where UK or regional trade agreements could support growth for the sector. And you will consider the question of access for African produce to valuable markets like the UK and EU but where stringent standards need to be met on importation.
• Together with expertise in agriculture, arable and pastoral, you will understand agricultural finance and business and will help advise for different schemes on models of finance including from UK Government partners including UKEF and FCDO.
• You will not be so concerned as colleagues with aligning African plans to UK solutions, but it would help to understand UK capabilities, public and private, especially in the area of research and innovation. For this you would make connections to the UK’s innovation centres and support work that could have mutual benefit in bringing ground breaking techniques to Africa.
• Your role will be advisory, but you would be expected to show a clear contribution to relationship development with African producers, to trade policy gains helping African prosperity, and to the upskilling of our agritech network as they better understand how to target solutions for African needs.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant for the British High Commission (BHC) Sector Specialist: AgriTech – Department for International Trade job placement should hold an undergraduate degree and other relevant professional qualification or experience.
• A minimum of six years’ experience working in an agri-tech or related fields and a keen interest in its applicability to Africa
• Experience of working in or with government departments, NGOs, and similar institutions
• Proven track record of cross-team collaboration
• A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable “can-do” attitude that can see way through challenges.
• Knowledge of African markets and/or African trade and production networks.
• Knowledge of, and a keen interest in sustainable development
• Required competencies: Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Achieving Commercial Outcomes

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience 

• Understanding of UK Export Finance and Development Finance, although training will be provided.

How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested candidates who wish to join the British High Commission in the aforementioned capacity should apply by clicking on the link below.   Click Here   Deadline: 13^th April 2021

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