Project Manager-PSAC at Heifer International Rwanda: (Deadline 6 March 2024)

Project Manager-PSAC at Heifer International Rwanda: (Deadline 6 March 2024)

Heifer International-Rwanda Job Opportunity 

Project Manager-PSAC

HPI is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of disability.

In Rwanda, our aim is moving 300,000 smallholder farmers to achieve sustainable living income by 2030 against Heifer Africa target of 6.745 million. Heifer does this through the sustainable locally led Development approach.

We are committed to implementing impactful projects aimed at enhancing agricultural value chains and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. As part of our ongoing initiatives, we are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Project Manager to oversee our horticulture interventions under the Promoting Smallholder Agro-export Competitiveness (PSAC) Project in partnership with the Government of Rwanda.

FUNCTION 

The PSAC Project Manager will be responsible for the overall planning, implementation, coordination, and management of the horticulture interventions led by Heifer International Rwanda. The incumbent will work closely with stakeholders, partners, and cross functional project teams to ensure successful delivery of project objectives, outcomes, and milestones. The Project Manager will provide strategic direction, leadership, and technical expertise to drive project activities and achieve desired impacts. In addition, the Project Manager is responsible in ensuring project execution excellence in compliance with the policies, standards, and regulation of Heifer International, the Government of Rwanda and IFAD.

The PSAC Project Manager will report to the Signature Program Technical Lead and supervise all project staff.

Essential Character Traits

Respectful, accountability, integrity, good stewardship, credibility, excellence, analytical ability, teachable, interpersonal skills, proactive, problem-solving, humility, flexibility, enthusiasm, dependability, creativity, and team player.

Responsibilities & Deliverables     

Project Management (40%)  

• Set standards, plan, and manage PSAC project activities to ensure the interventions provided meets the current and foreseeable future needs of project beneficiaries, partners, and stakeholders.
• Support in recruitment, of staff.
• Understand new and improving technologies and techniques (in the horticulture space) and implementing those that bring added opportunities and value to the project.
• Be accountable for the effective, efficient, and safe operation of the HIR’s aspects of the project and ensure timely and accurate monitoring, recording, and reporting.
• Ensure that the risk in project implementation is properly registered, and managed in coordination with the country director and other project team leads.
• Provide leadership to the PSAC project staff and work closely with them in staff development and performance management processes.
• To organize PSAC project team meetings and promote an excellent standard of project delivery and operational efficiency and excellence.
• Ensure all legal requirements including containment, health, safety, and the environment are managed. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to foster a cohesive and collaborative working environment.
• Implement effective project management methodologies to optimize project efficiency and outcomes.

Planning and budgeting (20%)    

• Develop operational plans aligned to the projects log frame that will guide Heifer Rwanda Horticulture innovations implementation.
• Development and implementation of project work plans (monthly, quarterly) that are aligned to the project log frame.
• Develop monthly and quarterly budgets aligned to the project work plan and manage the spending as per the budgets.
• Review the Monthly and Quarterly Budget Monitoring reports and provide reports on the status of the project spending.
• On a quarterly basis, develop project procurement plans and submit them to the procurement team.
• Develop comprehensive project plans, outlining tasks, timelines, and resource requirements.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop and manage project budgets, ensuring financial sustainability and adherence to financial guidelines.
• Track project expenditures against the budget, identifying and addressing any variances.
• Work closely with finance and accounting teams to ensure accurate and timely reporting of project financials.

Reporting and compliance (20%)    

• Prepare and submit regular project reports, updates, and documentation as required by donors and senior management.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and ethical standards throughout project implementation.
• Contribute to the documentation and dissemination of project results, lessons learned, and best practices for knowledge sharing and replication.
• Ensure that all Project staff meet their performance targets, including but not limited to, timely submission of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, work plans, etc.
• On a quarterly basis, ensure that the Project’s success stories and lessons learned are documented and disseminated.
• Collaborate with monitoring and evaluation department to develop and implement data collection and reporting systems.
• Provide documentation for audits and ensure that the project adheres to all reporting requirements for internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date record of all project-related documentation.

Partnership and engagement (15%)    

• Establish plans for multi-stakeholders’ engagement and learnings, including the creation of appropriate fora for key stakeholders and facilitate knowledge sharing.
• Develop strategies for capturing, processing, and sharing knowledge from the Project with Country leadership and other relevant Heifer teams for review and approval/action.
• Participate in quarterly, semi-annual, and annual planning meetings with stakeholders.
• Foster and maintain strong partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, community groups, and industry partners.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among project partners to enhance project outcomes.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for new partnerships and collaborations that align with project objectives.
• Represent the project at relevant forums, conferences, and events to enhance visibility and networking opportunities.
• Foster community engagement by promoting participatory approaches and involving local communities in project activities.

Other job-related duties (5%)    

• Perform any other duty as may be assigned by supervisor(s). 

Minimum Requirements    

1. Master’s degree in; Agriculture, Rural Development, Environmental Sciences, Agronomy, Horticulture, or relevant discipline. Proficiency level equivalent on project management skill will be an added advantage.
2. Minimum of five (5) years’ experience managing agricultural or rural development projects, preferably in horticulture value chains.
3. Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in managing and implementing multi-faceted, donor-funded development programmes.
4. Proven track record of successful project management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
5. Strong technical knowledge of horticulture production, post-harvest handling, market linkages, and value chain development
6. Experience working with and engaging with multiple stakeholders including smallholder farmers, cooperatives, agribusinesses, Government counterparts, civil society organizations and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
7. Visionary and able to strategically lead, inspire and energize the project teams.
8. Experience in collaborative and adaptive monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
9. Highly motivated self-starter, with strong organizational skills, serious in individual accountability.
10. Strong strategic decision-making and excellent communication skills (written and oral), as well as reporting and presentation skills.
11. Fluency in both written and spoken English.
12. Willingness to travel to all project locations, including remote, rural areas.

Most Critical Proficiencies    

1. Strong leadership, teamwork, mentoring and coaching skills.
2. Proven interpersonal and communication skills.
3. Proven track record in generating innovative solutions in work situations, utilizing different and novel ways to deal with work problems, and address opportunities.
4. Knowledge of income and expense, budget preparation, management, and monitoring.
5. Fluent in English and Kinyarwanda.
6. Exceptional writing skills.
7. Experience in farming, crops, and livestock.
8. Experience using Microsoft Office tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands  

1. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
2. Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity.
3. Willingness to travel as the role demands.
4. Ability to work independently and with a flexible schedule.
5. Ability to perform income and expense budget preparation and monitoring.
6. Sensitivity in working with multiple cultures and beliefs, and towards gender equality.
7. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please apply through this link  https://jobs.jobvite.com/heifer/job/o9vMrfwB

Deadline for Application: 6th March 2024.

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