Job Vacancy at Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) – Programme Manager-Agribusiness

Position Description

Job Profile

The post-holder will lead the programmatic delivery of an existing EU funded project that is working towards providing economic empowerment and resilience strengthening of key rural communities in Port Loko and Kambia Districts in Sierra Leone. The project focuses on two key components as specific objectives: food and income security for medium-scale youth-led farmer groups and enhanced performance of the local and national vegetable value chain, both of which will contribute towards building resilience and economic empowerment for rural communities in Sierra Leone.

The post holder will be expected to undertake frequent travel connected with the management of the programme portfolio, and the achievement of strategic objectives.

The post-holder reports to the Country Representative and directly manages the following posts:

• Programme Officer - Resilience

The post holder manages budgets and funding within the scope of their authority. The post holder is an “Implementation Manager” and forms part of Sierra Leone and Liberia Country management team.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and manage the programme portfolio:

• In line with the overall direction set by the EC project document, provide direction to the EC project on Agribusiness ensuring that they meet agreed quality standards and EC contractual obligations
• Ensure that the project is evaluated according to CAFOD’s evaluation policy, that learning is captured, shared across the wider organisations and between partners and informs decision making and new programme designs
• Ensure that the project is being implemented with an M&E framework that clearly articulates the monitoring and evaluation system for the project, including regularity of monitoring visits by the Programme Officer
• Co-ordinate the development of new pieces of work, while ensuring the effective implementation of the EC project in line with agreed quality standards (including programme cycle management) and the EC contract guidelines and obligations
• Ensure that cross-cutting themes (e.g. gender, downwards accountability, safeguarding children, protection, etc.) are effectively managed within and across the project, working with the relevant staff to achieve this
• Keep up-to-date with development issues and trends within the country sector, and generally

• Provide guidance and support to Programme Officer and other members of the Project team in their work, to develop and nurture effective relationships with partners. In some cases (e.g. strategic partners), the post-holder can take a more active role in developing those relationships;
• Work with Programme Officer and the team to support or facilitate the development of partners’ capacities and to promote the sustainability of their work. This includes the development of tailor-made capacity development plans;
• Ensure the project partnership portfolio is regularly reviewed and individual relationships are monitored against CAFOD’s and partners’ partnership standards and expectations, including through partnership reflection workshops.

 Financial and funding management:

• Manage the programme and costs budget and cash flow (implementing manager/budget holder responsibilities), monitoring income and expenditure, and ensuring that the latter is done in compliance with agreed parameters and policy;
• Identify opportunities for co-financing from institutional donors, and provide leadership in securing and managing such funds, working with the Programme Development & Funding and Major Gifts teams;
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting on programme work;
• Ensure the programme complies with CAFOD’s financial management standards, including managing financial risks.

 Internal and external representation:

• In co-ordination with the Country Representative and the Project team develop, nurture and sustain relationships and effective communications with relevant stakeholders, including local and county government, national networks and other agencies working on land matters in Liberia.
• In liaison with the Country Representative and the team, sustain relationships with the EC;
• Effectively communicate with other teams within CAFOD to ensure that the project is understood, and that information is available for fundraising and other communications, including publications, media briefings, development education, etc. This may involve participating in communities of practice, working groups, supporter events, etc, as agreed with the Country Representative.

 Systems and compliance:

• Overseeing the effective use of CAFOD’s systems to share project knowledge and inform decision making. This includes overseeing compliance with agreements, regulations and requirements attached to our work.

 Security management:

• Supporting the Country Representative in delivering effective security management. This includes among others, acting as security manager when delegated by the Country Representative; support the development of security risk mappings, country security plans; standard operating procedures; contingency plans (e.g. medical evacuation, relocation/evacuation and hibernation), etc.

Staff management:

• Lead on the recruitment and management of staff according to CAFOD’s management standards, so that staff are empowered, and the effectiveness of the team is maximised;
• Provide leadership and support to direct reports (and staff under shared management arrangements), act as a sounding board and hold them to account in areas under their responsibility. This includes setting objectives, induction, organising regular 1:1 meetings, conducting annual performance reviews, providing coaching, backstopping and ensuring team members have individual development plans.
• Enable and empower direct reports to achieve the best possible with the available resources, ensuring CAFOD’s management standards are followed
• Ensure effective and appropriate systems and processes for team learning and development are in place

• Complement partners’ thematic understanding on agribusiness and private sector development contributing to the development of relevant interventions that bring positive change, offering guidance to the programmes team, etc.

Notes:

• This list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification;
• If considered useful and appropriate, specific percentages per function/areas of responsibility can be assigned by agreement between the post holder and his/her line manager.

This list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. This post involves contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults, or has responsibility for people who will do, and applicants will be subject to specific checks related to safeguarding issues.  This post will require a Police Clearance certificate and sterling check.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.

Essential Criteria

Understanding our context

A Works comfortably with secular, church and other faith-based partners

B Committed to our partnership model of working

C Demonstrates awareness of trends and changing approaches to development work

Working together

D Recognises the importance of gender and diversity in development work

E Supports others to carry out their roles and responsibilities

F Actively listens to new and different perspectives and experiences of stakeholders and team members

G Communicates effectively with a wide range of stakeholders

Making change happen

H Clarifies roles and responsibilities within the team to maximize impact

I Documents lessons learned and apply them to future projects

J Monitors work progress and performance

K Deals with poor performance or inappropriate behaviour

Job-specific competencies

1. A University Degree in Agronomy with specialization in agricultural extension and training, agriculture, agricultural economics or equivalent
2. Preference will be given to those with experience in agribusiness development, and fresh produce marketing
3. At least 5 years in experience in agricultural extension / value chain development in rural areas
4. Experience working in collaboration with private sector actors (companies, associations, traders)
5. Experience with agricultural projects and working experience with international donor agencies.
6. Proven ability in designing and implementing data collection programmes, and collation and integration into social, capacity and value chain analysis and development plans
7. Proven ability at assessing capacity development needs, and delivering community capacity development support, in Sierra Leone
8. Practical knowledge of market analysis, project cycle and results-based management (RBM)
9. Detail oriented and able to manage budgets efficiently and accurately
10. Excellent writing and spoken English communication skills

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience in Sierra Leone, including working within remote communities
2. Experience working and collaborating with diverse sets of stakeholders, including private sector (financial institutions, exporters, buyers, traders), private sector research institutions, donors, governments and producers

Previous Applicants Need Not Apply