Senior Project Officer II-Irrigation agronomist Full Time NEW

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION INSTITUTE

Position: Senior Project Officer II-Irrigation agronomist

Term of Employment: One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station(s): Jigjiga, Ethiopia

Required Number: One

Application Deadline: April 16/2026

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, which is a key contributor to the country’s GDP, exports, and workforce. The ATI’s work is centred on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFs) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

The ATI works to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia by conducting policy and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support and capacity building, coordinating. platforms to better integrate partners and projects and designing and directly leading several innovative/pilot interventions. The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. In addition, the ATI collaborates with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. The Institute plays a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision-making in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture is one where talented, dedicated, and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great teamwork to achieve excellent results.

At ATI, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training, and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Project Officer II-Irrigation agronomist will manage and provide technical oversight of the provision, development and implementation of irrigation and other natural resources management (NRM) & climate-smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices, and Climate information and advisory services components of the HDP nexus and other project through the ACC approaches ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality ACC programming work in serving pastoralists/agro-pastoralists.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Outcome 1: Effective Project Management

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight of the irrigation agronomy, NRM & Climate Resilience across the HDP nexus project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation, and close-out are in line with ATI quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and best practices.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in agronomy & CSA technologies, practices and climate information for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Recommend suitable crops and varieties for irrigated conditions and guide farmers and extension staff on proper irrigation timing and frequency
• Provide guidance on land preparation, planting methods, spacing, fertilizer application, and crop management under irrigation.
• Promote climate-smart and water-saving technologies and practices, including deficit irrigation and improved on-farm water management.
• Ensure sustainable use of water resources in line with environmental and regulatory requirements.
• Support selection of appropriate irrigation systems (furrow, basin, sprinkler, drip) based on soil, crop, water availability, and socio-economic conditions.
• Contribute to irrigation scheme layout, cropping calendars, and seasonal irrigation plans.
• Serve as the technical lead and technical writer to ensure quality proposals in agronomy & CSA per ATI and donor standards. Contribute budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.
• Lead the development of project learning – identify opportunities for learning and research, around agronomy & CSA technologies and practices, and Climate information and advisory services components
• Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the institute’s knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best agronomy & CSA practices.
• Facilitate capacity building in the form of training, provision of equipment/tools and logistics for HDP nexus sites as they are centre of agronomy & CSA promotion and scale out.
• Ensure Monitoring and evaluation of the project performance periodically.

Outcome 2: Ensure Effective Linkage and Coordination

• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to agronomy & CSA technologies, practices and climate information’s and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Coordinate activities, exchange information, and provide technical advice with regional cluster coordinators, to contribute to the achievement of overall project objectives
• Proven record in smoothly working with multiple community leaders, IDPs/Refugees, stakeholders, Humanitarian Organizations and Donor Partners
• Work closely with project stakeholders and sub-grantees to coordinate a coherent and programmatic approach to assess and develop the agronomy & CSA component of the HDP nexus project.
• Maintain active flexibility through professional relations with key stakeholders to capture and integrate their changing needs and manage expectations.
• Promote and increase stakeholder capacities in agronomy & CSA solutions for pastoralists/agro pastoralists.
• Coordinate to identify and prioritize CSA gaps through climate risk analysis in HDP woredas with stakeholders. Facilitate the validation workshops to validate the draft agronomy & CSA gaps and prepare validation workshop reports.
• Facilitate and lead in Gap identifying on climate information and advisory systems in HDP woredas.

  Outcome 3: Ensure effective Resource Management

• Commit in people development plan to ensure HO and regional offices are staffed with only high calibre staff.
• Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and of project material sources, and donor requirements.
• Personal accountability: Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions

  Outcome 4: Ensure Effective Communication

• Lead and manage on the delivery of the irrigation, agronomy & CSA components of the HDP and other projects including quality reporting
• Ensure that experiences and best practices of the irrigation, agronomy & CSA components of the HDP nexus project are documented and shared, and timely delivery of the project outcomes, outputs, and activities.
• Experience in emergency support and rehabilitation, reinstating affected agro- pastoralists would be a strong asset.

   

• Required Qualification, Competencies, and Experience:
• Education: minimum Master’s degree in Irrigation agronomy, agronomist, plant science or other related field .
• Experience: At least 8 years of directly relevant experience.

  Behavioral competencies:

• Result orientation/outcome oriented – Focus on a critical few matter that concern the whole project and end users.
• Team building – Belief in teamwork and organize and develop team-based leadership.
• Critical thinking – Determines the validity of project progress; Maintains project objectivity; Applies ongoing analysis to the project; Integrates the project with cross functional objectives
• Strategic thinking – Focus on the big picture; Alignment with ACC program; Balancing short-term benefits with long-term goals of Natural resource development and climate program; Commitment to ATI Vision, Mission, and values; Thinking out of the box.
• Passion for rural development – Have a great passion working with and for IDPs/Refugees and host community development
• Networking – Creating a network in his /her functions with all actors in humanitarian, peace & development
• Fostering Communication – Conversant with English and regional language(s); Excellent oral and written communication skills, with highly collaborative working style; Experience in working with multi-cultural teams preferred.
• Problem-solving skill – Excellent analytical, problem solving and reporting skills.
• Decision making – Ability to identify strategic problems and taking timely decision; Excellent analytical skill, taking calculated risk, Consultation, and negotiation skills; Ability and willingness to shoulder responsibilities under hectic conditions (in terms of overlapping assignments that may happen occasionally).

  Technical competencies:

• Planning, implementing, and monitoring – Professional experience in project management, monitoring and evaluation of HDP and ACC programs.
• Building operation excellence – Lead project staffs and ensure staff development plan; Manage project budget and activities.
• Stakeholders’ Management – Knowledge and understanding of various regional-level and federal-level institutions; extensive experience in facilitating dialogue with relevant public and NGO stakeholders; Good experience of working in Federal, regional, and public or private sector sectors; Excellent stakeholder management skills including thorough knowledge and understanding of various regional level and federal level organizations.

  Other requirements (Languages, Licensing or Certifications)

• Competent in utilizing essential computer applications.
• Proficiency in oral and written English, Somali and Amharic languages.
• The job holder favored having a certificate in project management.