Project Manager at Cereal Growers Association (CGA)

ROLES AND RESPOSIBILITIES:

Support Technical Excellence in Program Execution

• Deliver market and value chain related outputs in collaboration with the project team.
• Develop sustainable rural agripreneurs to offer last mile linkages to smallholder farmers.
• Provide guidance in piloting and scaling of interventions across the food system development.

Internal and External Partner Management

• Network and participate in industry events to identify potential opportunities for enhanced program impact.
• Liaise with government officials, farmers, partners agencies and other stakeholders as necessary to enhance CGA’s and program reputation.
• Actively work to enhance teamwork and synergy in CGA program activities.

Project Management and Coordination

• Verify all travel expenses reports (TERs), Project advances and Procurement request.
• Monitor project expenses in coordination with the Finance department
• Establish and maintain a good working relationship with colleagues, project staff, partner agencies, farmers and other public and private sectors actors.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Timely submission of project progress reports as scheduled or as per partner requests.
• Facilitate the collaborative development of a comprehensive Project Implementation Plan and Operational Plan together with the MEL, Communication and Finance teams
• Organise and oversee field visits and monitoring plans for ongoing monitoring and review of project activities; with a view to ascertain those activities are ongoing and that results, and outputs shared.

Staff Management

• Supervise Agribusiness Coordinators (ACs), while ensuring that they fully understand their responsibilities, work as a team, and deliver on their tasks in a timely manner.
• Guide, supervise, coach, manage, mentor, provide leadership and support to the project staff on a day-to-day basis to optimise on the delivery of program outputs.
• Ensure project staff have detailed and regularly updated implementation plans with feedback on improvement areas.
• Undertake annual staff appraisal in line with Job Description of the direct reports.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 7 years’ experience in the implementation of donor funded market systems, agricultural value chain enterprise development or related projects, at a similar level
• A thorough understanding of project cycle management approaches and tools – including capacity assessment, developing implementation strategies, planning, project appraisal, monitoring and evaluation and report writing.
• Experience in designing strategies and approaches for enhancing agricultural production and increased income among small holder farmers.
• Experience in networking among public and private sector partners as well as donors.
• Experience working with rural agripreneurs.

Qualifications and other requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Project management, Agriculture, Economics, or related field. A Masters degree would be an added advantage.

Role Competencies

• Excellent verbal, analytical, organisational, and writing skills.
• Proactive and motivated with a strong commitment to CGA’s vision, mission, and values.
• Strong computer skills especially with MS Word and Excel and other related packages.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and team building skills.
• Ability and resilience to cope with multiple internal and external demands.
• High level skills and experience in capacity building and mentoring skills.
• High level of initiative, motivation, commitment, and professionalism.