Tracking Code: 2014056
Job Description
Function:
The East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) Country Project
Manager, under the overall guidance of the EADD Regional Director and
coordination with Heifer Uganda Country Director will provide the overall
leadership to staff and other EADD consortium partners in the implementation of
all components of the EADD-II project in Uganda. The position will assume the
overall responsibility of assuring quality in service delivery of field
operations including compliance with the institutional mission and objectives.
This position will also be responsible for preparing Uganda EADD-II plans, as
per the overall project plan, annual operating plans and budgets, ensure
agreed outcomes are implemented and achieved. In addition, the position will
lead the development of appropriate monitoring, learning and evaluation
framework at the country, project and farm level. EADD-II is an ambitious
five-year program designed to transform the lives of resource poor farming
families through a competitive and inclusive dairy value chain in Kenya, Uganda
and Tanzania.
Required Skills
Responsibilities:
- Lead
and execute all EADD country plans and budgets (e.g.: work plans and
strategic plans), and ensure proper maintenance and use of assets.
- Facilitate
the transformation of producer organizations (POs) into formal collective
enterprises that stimulate rural dairy business hubs, into financially
viable and sustainable business entities.
- Identify
and develop investment and financing options in dairy value chains with
the view to increase net returns to actors.
- Design
and roll out appropriate support intervention to improve milk quality and
value addition capacity, and provide ongoing support to POs with the goal
of increasing production and business capacity.
- Develop
the capacity of input service providers and their linkages with POs.
- Participate
in designing of EADD staff training programs, as well as any
inter-organizational training and learning events, in collaboration with
Heifer Uganda country office, wherever appropriate.
- Identify
and establish linkages with banks and/or microfinance institutions ready
to engage with POs and agro entrepreneurs and assist in developing
proposals for funding;
- Facilitate
development of business planning guidelines and conduct strategic business
planning sessions for member organizations.
- In
cooperation with the Heifer Uganda Country Director, manage all
stakeholder relationships.
- Ensure
quality service delivery in operations, including compliance with project
goals and objectives.
- Network
and forge new working relationship with EADD and POs relevant external
stakeholders, including, but not limited to, Government, Dairy board,
processors, agro-vet providers etc. with the objective that they adopt,
support and lead the Hub dairy development program.
- Design
catalytic activities within the value chain (e.g. the concept of quality
based pricing).
- Ensure
timely generation and dissemination of relevant reports.
- Provide
overall technical guidance and forward progress on emerging programmatic
issues.
- Represent
EADD in various stakeholder meetings, workshops, conferences and shared
learning events, ensuring that EADD interests are taken care of at all
levels.
- Oversee
both department and individual staff performance, providing ongoing
feedback and development, as well as identify opportunities for coaching,
staff development and training. Ensure timely completion of annual
performance staff appraisal.
- Work
with partners and stakeholders in improving sharing of experiences across
Uganda.
- Participate
in the design of a monitoring and evaluation framework.
- May
perform other job-related responsibilities as assigned.
Required Experience
Minimum Requirements:
- Master’s
Degree or equivalent in the fields of Agriculture Economics, Business
Administration, Rural Development, Enterprise Development or other related
field, plus five (5) years of related experience.
- At
least 10 years’ experience in a mix of economic growth/trade, value chain
competitiveness, investment promotion, or agriculture development.
- At
least five (5) years’ management-level work experience, leading a team of
10 or more employees, preferably with multi-partner projects.
Most Critical Proficiencies:
- Strategic
business and project approach to development of suitable and financial
viable farmer organisations.
- Knowledge
of project plans, annual operating plans, budget preparation and
monitoring.
- Strong
analytical ability to review progress, identify and capitalise
opportunities, and mitigate risks, to ensure projects maintains timelines.
- A
good understanding and sensitivity to issues associated with poverty,
hunger and environment, and knowledge of the context to which non-profit
organizations operate.
- Demonstrated
knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in
value chain development that reaches women, youth, and underprivileged.
- Knowledge
of enterprise development and linkages to poverty alleviation.
- Proven
team leadership and supervisory skills.
- Demonstrated
ability to design and implement strategies aimed at providing
institutional capacity building to key partner institutions with a view to
build a more efficient, competitive, and sustainable dairy industry.
- Excellent
organizational skills.
- Proven
experience in building the capacity of partner institutions to document
and disseminate industry information, manage knowledge, measure progress
and plan and advocate within the industry.
- Proficient
knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic
mail (Microsoft Office Suite preferred) and Internet Explorer.
- Knowledge
of and experience with setting up cottage industries for processing
locally branded dairy products (e.g. cheese, butter, fortified milk and
yoghurt among others) for onward supply to niche and markets.
- Knowledge
of and experience with equity financing and developing private/public
partnerships.
- Demonstrated
proficiency in English and, preferably, Swahili, both oral and written.
Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:
- Preparing
and presenting documents in a well-designed and attractive format with
superior attention to detail.
- Demonstrated
creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to
incorporate innovative solutions.
- Excellent
interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work
cooperatively, tactfully and diplomatically with culturally diverse groups
of people.
- Willingness
and ability to assign and review the work of direct reports and to use
participatory management skills with junior and senior staff.
- Proven
team leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to train and work
cooperatively with a diverse staff.
- Constant
face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and
the general public.
- Willingness
and ability to travel extensively throughout Uganda and other EADD project
sites.
- Ability
to carry and lift up to 30 pounds (14 kilograms) floor to waist.
- May
require constant sitting; working at a computer and focusing for extended
periods of time and performing office environment activities while on the
road and/or in remote conditions.
- Working
with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
- Ability
to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting
sometimes inflexible deadlines.
Job Location: Kampala, Kampala, Uganda
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular
Job Level: Manager
Client: Non U.S. Based Locations
Closing Date: September 1, 2014
