Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Team Lead, Ethiopia Resilience in Pastoral Areas Activity

ACDI/VOCA is a global development design and delivery partner that has implemented effective economic and social development projects in nearly 150 countries since 1963. We empower people to make positive changes in their lives by applying our expertise in sustainable agriculture, resilience, economic opportunity, access to finance, and equity & inclusion to create meaningful, lasting impact. ACDI/VOCA and its affiliates design and implement donor-funded projects, facilitate impact investing, deliver financial services, and partner with businesses to promote inclusive practices and build sustainable supply chains. In 2024, ACDI/VOCA was named a Top Workplace by the Washington Post and received 2024 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence recognition for its innovation, work-life flexibility, compensation & benefits, leadership, and purpose & values.

Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Team Lead, Ethiopia Resilience in Pastoral Areas Activity

ACDI/VOCA is seeking a Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Team Lead for the upcoming Resilience in Pastoral Areas Activity in Ethiopia funded by USAID. The anticipated project will increase the resilience of households, markets, and governance institutions as well as the utilization of early warning signs across pastoralist communities in Ethiopia’s, contributing to enhanced food security and inclusive economic growth.

The DRM Team Lead will design and implement disaster risk management approaches, engage with local stakeholders, and oversee the project’s technical implementation related to disaster risk management and resilience. The project is anticipated to start in 2025, and this position will (tentatively) be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of DRM approaches to enhance resilience of households, markets and government institutions, including improved DRM capacity of regional/woreda government offices.
• Develop and promote strategies that integrate resilience across pastoralist communities, ensuring sustainable economic growth and improved natural resource health.
• Promote innovative solutions and best practices in DRM, including improvement of community disaster planning to build resilience capacities to react to shocks and stresses.
• Collaborate with private sector partners, government agencies, and community organizations to foster inclusive and resilient market systems.
• Provide training and technical assistance to local stakeholders on DRM development and sector-focused adaptation.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of DRM interventions, ensuring they meet project objectives and deliver measurable impacts.
• Promote a culture of innovation and learning.
• Manage and oversee multiple direct reports, including sector resilience managers.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in economics, environmental science, disaster management, or related field is required.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience working on DRM issues in pastoral areas, disasters and their impacts, and resilience-building strategies.
• In-depth knowledge and experience in empowering communities to mobilize, mitigate, and act on shocks, building community systems for risk identification and preparedness, improving access to early warning information, and improving contingency planning and response to shocks.
• Relevant expertise and experience with Natural Resource Management in the Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral context.
• Previous experience with facilitation and collaboration across diverse stakeholders.
• Experience working in Ethiopia is strongly preferred.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.