TechnoServe
Description
Program Description
Employing a market-led approach, TechnoServe plans to implement a legume and oilseed value chains project in Lilongwe and Dedza, Malawi. The program will focus on creating sustainable and inclusive market systems that benefit smallholder farmers. By facilitating partnerships and fostering linkages between smallholder farmers and these market actors, TechnoServe will improve access to quality inputs, technical knowledge, and financial services. Through continuous capacity building and leveraging local institutions, the project aims to build resilient value chains that drive long-term economic growth, improve food security, and promote environmental sustainability in Lilongwe and Dedza.
Position Summery
The Project manager is part of the management team and reports directly to the Regional Director. He/she oversees all aspects of the project, sets deadlines, assigns responsibilities, monitors and summarizes the progress of the project. The project manager also prepares reports for senior management regarding the status of the project. The Program Manager will take part in overall design and conceptualization as well as implementation of agriculture activities and will provide technical support to achieve expected results. S/he will provide program implementation direction at district/province level for program activities within agriculture space. S/he will establish and maintain close and effective liaison with relevant government officials, partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate effective program implementation and achievement of results.
Key Management Duties & Responsibilities
Program Management
- Execute the project’s vision and objectives;
- Lead the Country Office offering strategic direction, problem-solving, and fostering alliances
- Lead the recruitment of full-time program staff and consultants where necessary; Design and supervise their work;
- Design and implement detailed work plans to identify, prioritize, and sequence program activities for successful and timely delivery; and ensure mobilization of appropriate resources to deliver work plans;
- Monitor program budgets and approve program expenditures in accordance with budget and TechnoServe policies in cooperation with local and regional finance and admin managers.
- Coordinating the project activities and ensure they are completed on time and within the project scope and budget
- Manage relationships with the clients and relevant stake holders
- Active participation on regional team meetings and program reviews, sharing learnings, challenges faced and solutions identified.
- General Office Management and Administration
- Monitoring the Human Resource activities such as recruitment and selection and ensuring that the country office is compliant.
Technical Assistance
- Support and guide efficient implementations of agriculture guidelines on refocused interventions.
- Guide the effective activity implementation and achievement of agricultural production and market systems objectives including working with private sector in relevant agricultural value chains using a market systems approach.
- Attend partner coordination meetings as appropriate and ensure that activities are coordinated with relevant stakeholders, including communities.
Monitoring and Reporting
- Lead the development of an annual work plan and strategy to deliver outputs and objectives against agreed targets and coordinate delivery
- Undertake strict compliance to TNS’s objectives, strategies, policies and procedures.
- Ensure appropriate systems and processes are in place to efficiently collect, analyze, and report on program data, in close collaboration with local and regional M&E staff;
- Assist the Finance and Budget Analyst in timely tracking of program expenditures, budget management and forecasting.
- Track progress on target and take part in reporting including M&E to meet project and TNS requirements
- Timely submission of reports and any other requested data for project use
- Documentation of impact human stories
Required Skills and Experience:
- Master’s Degree in a related discipline;
- Significant program or project management experience and proven ability to guide and lead effectively;
- 7-10 years of experience using market systems approaches, value chain development approaches or similar to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty in the agricultural sector at the household and community levels;
- Significant hands-on field level experience working with agriculture development at the household and community levels.
- Proven ability to successfully lead partnerships with government, private sector, community-based organizations and stakeholders;
- Initiative, drive and the ability to drive a process;
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to adapt communication styles to a range of audiences, including professional and community stakeholders;
- Previous supervisory experience strongly preferred;
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.