Land O’Lakes Venture37 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping communities around the world build economies by strengthening agriculture from farm-to-fork, helping businesses grow, and linking farmers to markets. Since our start in 1981, we have been leveraging nearly 100 years of expertise in crop inputs, agricultural insights, dairy and animal nutrition from our close affiliate, Land O’Lakes, Inc., a farmer-owned agribusiness in the United States committed to fulfilling its purpose of feeding human progress.
Project Description:
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded Bangladesh Trade Facilitation project (BTF) will expand regional and international trade in agricultural goods by addressing systemic constraints to agricultural trade at Bangladeshi ports; simplifying and automating import and export processes; improving the capacity of government agencies, laboratories, and warehouses; and by fostering private and public investment in temperature-controlled logistics and cold storage facilities. The project aims to reduce trade costs, increase transparency, and enhance the capacity of relevant government agencies involved in agro-trade facilitation. The project activities include improving infrastructure, introducing new technologies, and providing training and capacity building to relevant stakeholders.
Position Summary:
The Agricultural Trade Specialist will work with Government of Bangladesh agencies (e.g., Department of Livestock Services, Plant Quarantine Wing of Department of Agricultural Extension, and Department of Fisheries) and industry and trade associations to implement and disseminate BTF outputs. The Specialist will utilize project management tools and technical knowledge about trade and agriculture to help implement BTF activities focused on Harmonizing Cross-Border Trade Processes and Increasing Transparency and Availability of Trade Information. As a member of the BTF technical team, the Agricultural Trade Specialist will contribute to strategy development and adaptation, manage project interventions, and will analyze policies, process flows, and other technical documents. This position will be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh with periodic domestic travel to ports, Government field stations, and agricultural and food businesses’ production and processing centers.
Reporting & Supervision:
The Trade Specialist reports to a Senior Technical Advisor and has no supervisory responsibilities.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Assist Senior Technical Advisor to coordinate, manage, integrate, and monitor activities that promote trade facilitation and trade improvement.
- Support the project to implement activities in coordination and collaboration with private companies, Government agencies, trade and business associations, and chambers of commerce.
- Participate in engagement and coordination efforts with Government agencies and other donor projects that are implementing agricultural development, export promotion, and trade facilitation activities.
- Assist the Senior Technical Advisor in work planning, preparing reports, identifying communication pieces, and writing impact stories.
- Terms of reference and scopes of work, participating in procurements, reviewing deliverables, and monitoring performance.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
- · An undergraduate, Bachelors’ degree in agriculture, business, economics, law, veterinary science, or another relevant field.
- A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience. Work in the food or agricultural processing industries/trading organizations and or regulatory institutions is advantageous, as is experience in project management, strategy development and implementation, and communication.
- Demonstrated understanding of GoB systems and private sector business organizations, including chambers and trade associations. Experience or understanding of import and export requirements; WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, SPS Agreement, Codex Alimentarius Standards; or international trade, law, and related processes is advantageous.
- Ability to gather and organize information and resources, compile data and prepare statistics, and synthesize knowledge from diverse sources and prepare reports. Knowledge on graphic design and data presentation will have added advantages.
- Proficiency in Microsoft office productivity (e.g. Word, Excel, Sharepoint, PowerPoint), database, and process mapping (e.g. Visio) software is advantageous.
- Fluent in English and Bangla languages, and excellent written (English and Bangla scripts), oral communication, and presentation skills and capabilities.
- Demonstrated proven competency in time management and multitasking.