CEO, GrowPNG Ventures
Location: Lae, Papua New Guinea

Job Posting

BACKGROUND: 

Grow Asia was established by the World Economic Forum in 2015 in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat in response to the urgent need to transform food systems to be more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient to climate change. As a multi-stakeholder platform, Grow Asia works with more than 600 global and regional partners to broker market driven solutions across Southeast Asia. We do this by convening leading decision makers from public, private, and civil society organizations, mobilizing partnerships and funding models, and delivering best practice through the implementation of collaborative public-private projects at a field-, national-, and regional level.

The Grow Asia network comprises our regional office in Singapore and five country chapters in Cambodia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. The network operates through 44 national and sectoral Working Groups and is already reaching more than 2.5 million smallholders across Southeast Asia with market-led solutions and technical assistance. In 2020, Grow Asia was accredited as an Entity Associated with ASEAN. This accreditation recognizes the important role Grow Asia plays in the region, particularly in facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships and acting as a delivery mechanism for ASEAN Programs.

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THE ROLE:

Grow Asia is seeking a seasoned CEO to lead a new entity we are establishing in Papua New Guinea: GrowPNG Ventures.

The Markham Valley in Papua New Guinea has for decades been recognized by the government, donors, and the private sector as a strong candidate for agricultural expansion. Home to significant areas of used land, good road and port access and processing potential in Lae city, the region could be a leading commercial agricultural center within PNG.

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GrowPNG Ventures is being formed as a new public-private partnership to realize this potential, and drive greater agricultural investment in the valley from new and existing businesses. For example, investment is required in processing, trading, input supply and new plantings. Furthermore, there is a need to open up new markets, including export markets. Much of the land in the valley is subject to customary land title; which provides an opportunity for agribusiness to work in partnership with land owners to develop new supply chains. While there are significant potential benefits for both businesses and community these partnerships require a range of culturally-sensitive negotiation and social skills to achieve a fully collaborative outcome.

As a new Public-Private Partnership, GrowPNG Ventures will build on the foundations laid by its parent entity GrowPNG, which has been operated by Grow Asia for four years with support from the Australian government. GrowPNG has established networks and vital knowledge of the valley, which will accelerate the growth of GrowPNG Ventures. An office and administration services are already in place in Lae.

As a new entity, incubated by Grow Asia and Government partners, GrowPNG Ventures will initiate new commercial conversations and partnerships, and get new projects off the ground. The CEO will be a rare individual with both the business acumen and cultural awareness to lead the creation of these unique but important collaborations.

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We are seeking a dynamic coalition-builder with deep networks and experience working with diverse stakeholders in the food and agriculture industry. The successful candidate will be an independent thinker and problem solver, who thrives in a highly collaborative environment, and is adept at distilling complex ideas and programs into multi-stakeholder communications. Excellent people management skills and the ability to see opportunities and challenges from multiple perspectives are a must.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

Include but are not limited to:

• Build up a network of business and community leaders who are open to initiating new agribusiness ventures in the valley.

• Research potential opportunities including crop selection, partnership models and site suitability.

• Build an understanding of the partnership models that agribusinesses and land owners can use. Particularly, based on successes and failures elsewhere in PNG.

• Broker new ventures under the guidance of an Advisory Board

• Source funding from donors and business to build new ventures.

• Build an evidence base that demonstratessocio-economic outcomes for land-owning communities.

• Manage the GrowPNG Ventures budget

• The CEO of Grow PNG Ventures will report to the Executive Director of Grow Asia, based in Singapore.

THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT:

• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the position (e.g., business administration, international development, agriculture, or finance).

• A minimum of 15 years of work experience in increasingly senior roles in agribusiness or agricultural development, ideally in a multistakeholder context. 

• Extensive commercial experience in PNG, working with diverse groups of stakeholders including multinational corporations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and development organizations.

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interface at all levels of seniority both internally and with our partners in the public, private, and civil society space.

• Excellent written and oral communications skills, with fluency in spoken and written English.

• Ability to distill complex ideas and programs for stakeholders.

• High level of integrity and commitment to socio-economic development and food systems transformation.

• Emotional maturity, patience, curiosity, and a sustained willingness to change one’s mind.

• Forward-looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions.

Location: Lae, Papua New Guinea

Travel requirement: Extensive travel within the Markam Valley, with occasional international trips.

Start date: Immediate

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WHAT’S ON OFFER:

In addition to a competitive salary, this role provides a unique opportunity to (1) develop your capabilities and broaden your skill set in an organization that supports continuous growth, (2) work with a highly motivated, collaborative, efficient and compassionate team that also values autonomy, (3) be part of a dynamic, well-respected and credible entity in Southeast Asia, (4) connect with the World Economic Forum and its Food Action Alliance, participating in the global agenda on food security and agricultural development, and (5) contribute to social, economic and environmental progress in the Markham Valley. beyond.

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HOW TO APPLY:

Qualified applicants are invited to send your resume, cover letter and writing sample to
careers@growasia.org by 28 July 2023. We ask that you kindly include your name and the position you
are applying for in the subject line (e.g., “Application: CEO, GrowPNG Ventures– Your
Name”). Due to the volume of applications expected, only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

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As a multi-stakeholder platform we believe all voices matter, and we actively seek to bring them to the table. Aligned with this ethos, Grow Asia is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or gender identity.