Screening starts: Oct 01, 2013
Unit: SSA
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Type: IRS
The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a
Project Leader for a Government of the United Kingdom Department for
International Development sponsored going-to-scale integrated
agriculture-nutrition intervention using Orange-fleshed sweetpotato as a key
entry point. The position is to be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international
agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato,
sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers
improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security,
improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber
farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to
contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for
sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with
staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin
America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global agriculture research
partnership for a food secure future. The CIP Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) main
regional office is in Nairobi, Kenya. CIP also has offices in 7 other African
countries.
Position Summary: The Project Leader will provide
overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of
the project, while managing staff and resources to ensure that the project
meets its targets and deliverable on-time and within budget. The Project
Leader will supervise key project staff and ensure accountability to the
International Potato Center policies and donor rules and regulations.
S/he will be the primary program representative to donor, relevant government
entities, partners, other implementation and external stakeholders of the
going-to-scale project in four countries (Rwanda, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique) to
improve nutrition benefits with pro-vitamin A rich orange-fleshed
sweetpotato. The position will be part of the regional project
team and will report to the Leader of the Sweetpotato Regional Science Program
in SSA. The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Project Implementation:
Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of
project implementation, research and management. Ensure that project
implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with CIP
principles, values and strategic plan. Monitor adherence to grant
agreement, CIP policies and procedures and relevant external rules and
regulations including the CGIAR Consortium. Oversee performance of
partners and sub-grantees. Lead the reporting requirement of technical
and financial progress and annual reports. Producing and contributing to
scientific publications, policy briefs and other information materials.
- Coordination and Representation:
Represent the International Potato Center at government,
donor, NGO and other relevant international and regional agricultural and
nutrition forums to contribute to evidence-based planning and policy
development in close coordination with Regional Science Leader and Operational
Leaders. Coordinate activities with partners, private sector food
processors, sub-grantees, local government and other related DFID projects.
- Staff Management, Professional Development and Team Building:
Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth
and development of excellent personnel at all levels. Implement, and ensure all
staff members are effectively using, the performance planning and management
system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing
constructive feedback. Promote accountability by conducting staff annual
performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that supervisory
staff members do the same. Contribute to project team-building efforts, and
ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making
processes.
- Project Support Operations:
Coordinate with research and finance and administration
staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities
including logistics, procurement, security, administration and human resources.
Propose and design of new local policies as needed and in accordance with donor
and CIP regulations.
- Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting:
Ensure interventions are based on sound design research
principles, including needs assessments and baselines and impact assessments.
Ensure an effective collaborative relationship with the external impact
assessment team linked to the project. Establish and maintain effective
and timely project/grant reporting systems for the donor. Ensure that M&E
staff members focus on assisting programs to generate practical information
that can be used for ongoing research and project decision-making while also
capturing results at the impact level.
- Gender
The Project Leader is expected to take a leadership role in
the mainstreaming of gender sensitive project interventions, through support
and promotion of gender throughout all areas of the project.
Selection Criteria:
- Ph.D. degree in an agricultural economics, nutrition, marketing, biological or other social science or rural development degree. Specific training related to sweetpotato, nutrition, or gender is an added advantage.
- Relevant experience of 10 years as a senior project manager, including at least 5 years as a project leader working on large-scale projects (at least $10 million) in an agricultural research and development context, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Extensive experience in developing agricultural markets and value chains.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate international and local staff into a cohesive team.
- Demonstrated awareness and responsiveness to gender and social issues in cross-cultural and gender integration programming.
- Strong experience with communication technologies as research and development tools.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required. Working knowledge of Portuguese and/or French desirable.
- Record of publications and citations.
- Willingness to travel frequently and work under field conditions.
Conditions: The employment contract will be for a three-year
term (with a three month probation period) with the possibility of renewal,
subject to availability of funding. The salary will be internationally
competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience. CIP prides
itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space
for personal and professional growth.
Applications: Applicants should apply by email,
sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full
C.V. and the names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable
about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to cip-recruitment@cgiar.org, copied
to Jan Low (j.low@cgiar.org ). The
reference name of the position should be clearly marked on the subject line of
the email message. Screening of applications will begin on October 01, 2013
and will continue until the post is filled.
