- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Business Studies, Climate Change, Environmental Science, or related field.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in private sector engagement, agricultural value chains, or market systems development projects.
- Experience working with private sector or supporting market actors such as input suppliers, aggregators, processors, service providers, and industry associations.
- Familiarity working in crops such as Saffron, Pomegranates, Grapes/Raisins, Potatoes, Apples etc. an advantage
- Familiarity with natural resource management or climate-smart agriculture is an advantage.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge
- Knowledge of agricultural value chains, including production, aggregation, processing, and market linkages
- Knowledge of private sector business models within agricultural systems (e.g., input suppliers, aggregators, processors, exporters, and service providers).
- Understanding of partnership frameworks, including co-investment, cost-sharing, and risk-sharing mechanisms.
- Understanding of market systems development (MSD) principles, including sustainability, scalability, and private sector–led approaches.
- Understanding of export-oriented value chains and commodities, including quality standards, certification requirements, trade dynamics, and market access constraints (e.g., horticulture, nuts, spices, and other high-value crops).
- Familiarity with business performance metrics (e.g., revenue growth, outreach, return on investment) and their application to development programming.
- Understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL) approaches, including the use of data for adaptive management.
Skills
- Partner identification and due diligence skills, assessing commercial viability, incentives, and strategic alignment.
- Business case development skills, including financial analysis, value proposition design, and co-investment structuring.
- Market and value chain analysis skills, including the ability to identify constraints, opportunities, and leverage points within domestic and export markets.
- Effective negotiation and influencing skills to secure partner commitment, including exporters and market intermediaries.
- Strong partnership management skills, including planning, coordinating, and monitoring implementation with private sector actors across the value chain.
- Ability to track and manage performance, using data to assess progress against milestones, including market and sales-related indicators.
- Clear and concise communication and reporting skills, including documentation of results, lessons learned, and market insights.
Abilities
- Ability to engage effectively with diverse market actors, including exporters, processors, and service providers
- Ability to identify and develop interventions that strengthen value chain and market systems
- Ability to manage multiple partnerships simultaneously, balancing relationship management with performance oversight.
- Ability to hold partners accountable to agreed deliverables and take corrective action when needed.
- Ability to adapt interventions based on market dynamics, trade conditions, and performance data.
- Ability to identify and resolve implementation bottlenecks in a timely and practical manner.
- Ability to work effectively across teams and stakeholders, ensuring coordination between technical, MEAL, and program functions.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Key Working Relationships:
- Internal: Project Director, Natural Resources Management Advisor, Inclusive Market Systems Advisor, MEAL Officer, field teams
- External: Private sector partners, Ministry and Department level technical engagement in Agriculture, Water, Disaster Management, Environment and Rural Development, local technical authorities, research institutions, academia, private sector actors, donors
Required Languages – English (required); Dari and/or Pashto (preferred).
Travel:
- Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% to rural areas.
- Ability to work in rugged terrain and remote communities.
CRS is committed to providing daily allowances for mahrams who accompany female staff on day trips to the field, and per diem and accommodation for mahrams who accompany female staff on work-related trips that require overnight stays.
Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
- Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
- Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.
- Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
- Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
- Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies:
- Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
- Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
- Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Protection Acknowledgment: CRS prohibits all forms of abuse and exploitation towards children and vulnerable adults. As a professional candidate, you commit to adhering to the Agency’s policy on protection, rights and dignity of children and vulnerable adults and to safeguard them from abuse and exploitation as defined in CRS’ Safeguarding Policy
