Organization Information

Reports to: H.E. Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)
Department: Sustainable Environment & Blue Economy
Number of Direct Reports: 5
Number of Indirect Reports: 19
Job Grade: D1
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Main Functions

•    Develops and executes the overall strategy for the Department and ensures alignment with overall organizational strategy;
•    Manages and supervises employees within the Department, ensures the timely delivery of the directorate’s goals and effective staff performance evaluation;
•    Drives the implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies, and programs to contribute to the effective implementation of relevant AU Policy Organs Decisions;
•   Ensures the delivery of the Department’s annual targets in line with the organization’s overall goals and maintains robust departmental monitoring and evaluation systems;
•    Provides technical leadership and ensures efficient functioning of all Divisions within the Department;
•    Manages the work of the Department and supervises direct reports to ensure their effective performance in line with the organization’s performance management policy and system;
•    Leads the Department and ensures effective management of personnel, budget, performance, program quality, employee relations matters, and training in conformity with relevant rules, policies, and procedures;
•    Builds and maintains good working relations and collaboration with other Directorates/Departments;
•    Develops and maintains regular working relations with senior stakeholders in Member State and partner institution;
•    Coordinates meetings between the organization and relevant partners;
•    Ensures the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and other reports;
•    Ensures the effective management of funds contributed to the organization, attributed to the Department;
•    Implements and maintains thematic partnerships in support of the mandate of the Department;
•    Develops and oversees policy development and guidelines in line with the organization’s legal framework;
•    Designs policies consistent with the AU’s strategic goals and mandate in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area;
•    Prepares and oversees integrated programs, projects, and overall activities of the organization.
•    Maintains a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent.
•    Develops and maintains standard operating procedures (SOP’s) for the Department.
•    Manages risks, develops mitigation measures, and ensures business continuity of the Department.

Specific Responsibilities

•    Maintains a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent..
•    Initiates and manages the development of policies, strategies and programs that contribute to the goals of DARBE consistent with AUC vision and mandates.
•    Liaises /Coordinates with the UN, RECs/RMs and other international organization on matters related to Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy in Africa;
•    Oversees and ensures effective execution of activities of the AU Agenda 2063 Flagship projects in the field of sustainable environment and blue economy, ensuring complementarity and synergy with AUDA-NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities and other continental institutions;
•    Oversees and coordinates the work of the divisions of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy
•    Maintains liaison with other Departments of the AUC as well as AUDA-NEPAD, RECs and other relevant stakeholders to identify and promote synergies across initiatives and to ensure a coordinated development and implementation of such initiatives.
•    Initiates and strengthens forums for stakeholders’ consultations, lesson and experiences sharing as well as capacity strengthening.
•    Prepares periodic reports on the implementation of the Department’s programs and operations.
•    Provides strategic advice and support to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment in preparing statements, proposals, briefs, reports and other relevant tasks
•    Any other related assignments as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s degree in Sustainable Development, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Ocean Governance, Marine Biology, Fisheries Management, Oceanography or related fields with a minimum of 15 years experience with 8 years at managerial level and 5 years at supervisory level.
• A Ph.D. in a relevant field and membership of relevant professional bodies are an added advantage.
•  Relevant national, regional and international experience in a sustainable environment and blue economy or relevant sub-sectors is required.

Required Skills

• Leadership and managerial skills
• Interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Communication, report writing, and presentation skills
• Ability to use Microsoft office suite
• Knowledge and working understanding of AU policies, strategies, and programmes.
• Research and analytical skills
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies

Core Competencies

Functional Competencies