PATH is currently recruiting for a Commercialization Officer, Rice fortification in India. This position reports to the Deputy Director, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health & Nutrition- India.

PATH is a global organization that works to accelerate health equity by bringing together public institutions, businesses, social enterprises, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing health challenges. With expertise in science, health, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales innovative solutions—including vaccines, drugs, devices, diagnostics, and approaches to strengthening health systems worldwide.

The Ultra Rice is a culturally-appropriate and highly cost-effective solution to the pervasive issue of micronutrient malnutrition caused by lack of access to a diversified diet.  Ultra-Rice is a micronutrient delivery system that packs vitamins and minerals into manufactured rice grains made from rice flour, utilizing pasta-making extrusion equipment. Ultra-Rice resembles milled rice in size, shape, and color. When it is blended with milled rice, typically at a ratio of 1:100, the resulting fortified rice is nearly identical to traditional rice in smell, taste, and texture.

For the past several years, the Ultra Rice Project at PATH has focused on establishing successful models of supply and demand for Ultra Rice to enable early market development, broaden product adoption, and lay the foundation for further growth of the rice fortification field. The Ultra Rice team have made great strides to optimize product attributes, strengthen the clinical evidence base, establish high-quality manufacturing in both India and Brazil, and initiate successful pilot introductions.

The project now aims to significantly expand Ultra Rice introduction in India, enhancing the domestic supply base, broadening distribution into a wider array of public sector channels, re-optimizing the Ultra Rice formulation to lower costs and enhance impact, and moving forward advocacy efforts to ensure sustainable market development.  

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE COMMERCIALIZATION OFFICER INCLUDE:

• Lead the design and implementation of agri-nutrition related projects including fortified rice project through social safety net programs like PDS, MDM, ICDS etc. This will include marketing strategies to enhance uptake among consumers and beneficiaries of these schemes.
• Cultivate opportunities for expanding into additional food aid market and commercial retail channels.
• Support and work closely with central and state government/s to map the rice supply chain and other agriculture products and develop models for distribution of these through public sector programs.
• Expand the distribution channels for fortified rice and agri- nutrition products in India.
• Expand production base of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) in India.
• Manage relationships with fortified rice and fortified rice kernels (FRK) manufacturing partners in India, identifying bottlenecks and developing solutions for their sale and distribution of fortified rice in the country.
• Cultivate relationships with key raw materials suppliers to the fortified rice manufacturers in India in a manner that maximizes both access (price, availability) and quality.
• Develop a business model for establishing a Regional Technology Transfer Center in India.
• Support efforts to expand the donor base to the agri-nutrition projects in India.
• Support the responsible project manager in business expansion activities for fortified rice and agri-nutrition projects.
• Develop case studies and project reports in order to disseminate best practices, as well as further engage entities in the supply and distribution chain, enlist the support of policymakers, and cultivate new buyers. Present findings at relevant meetings and conferences. 
• Work closely with Deputy Director, MNCHN to develop and implement detailed work plans, milestones, and outcomes for the envisioned expansion work, ensuring its alignment with the project’s commercialization strategies.
• Cross-functional collaboration with various stakeholders involved in the project – technical officers, finance, government agencies and departments, private partners etc.

Required Skills Required Experience

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Demonstrated experience in developing markets for new products in developing country settings.
• Demonstrated experience on developing business models for reaching consumers at the base of the economic pyramid.
• Demonstrated negotiations experience within the private sector, including but not limited to negotiations around pricing, supply availability, and intellectual property.
• Demonstrated experience in working with public sector program.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex projects with multi-sector stakeholders, including, private sector entities, government, multi-lateral organizations, and nongovernmental groups in resource-poor settings. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to travel up to 25% time annually (mostly domestic within India).

DESIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE: 

• Strong understanding on rice value chain / supply chain, marketing of new products, agriculture commodity marketing with relevant experience of 5+ years.
• Post Graduate degree in Agribusiness Management with Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, food technology or agriculture engineering.
• Desired Institutes – MANAGE, IRMA, NIAM, XIMB

Must have legal authorization to work in India.

PATH is dedicated to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. 

PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.