Project Manager Agro-forestry

Job Description

Job Description

Background

SNV is in its third year of implementing an innovative pilot project on promoting a combination of on-farm growing of agricultural crops together with wood and non-wood forest products. The over-arching purpose is transforming farming practices to become more climate resilient and profitable. In addition, the project supports the Ministry of Agriculture in improving its extension service delivery with a focus on ensuring that Farmer Training Centers can fund their own operations in a commercial manner, while simultaneously offering cutting edge agricultural services to the wider community.

Overview of the Position

The incoming Project Manager is taking over from the previous manager, who’s role becomes focused on providing strategic oversight (approximately 15% of his time) as the Sector Leader Agriculture and line manager.

The incoming Project Manager is responsible for the overall management of the project and for coordination with the partners, other ongoing projects and the donor. He or she is responsible for the internal coordination with the pool of Short Term Experts and the Backstopping team. Furthermore (s)he will assure the technical supervision of the project implementation activities and be responsible for quality assurance.

The project manager will lead a small but seasoned team consisting of a senior Field Coordinator and an experienced logistics officer/driver. The project is based at the Katete FTC where the main demonstration sites are. Field locations include Kagoro and Chipata. A key partner is the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), based at Msekera Research Station in Chipata, where the project also maintains demonstration plots. The second key partner is the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Joint activities center on alternatives to charcoal and promotion of forest products.

Key responsibilities

• The Project Manager is responsible for steering the team and offers quality control and monitoring.
• The PM reports to SNV Management and prepares donor reports and proper archiving.
• The PM is responsible for detailed annual work-planning and timely execution of activities.
• This includes proper budgeting and timely expenditures according to budget and schedule.
• In implementing the project, the PM maintains a close collaboration with partners with clear delineation of roles and responsibilities and an emphasis on constructive, cordial and transparent working relations.
• Networks and synergizes with regional stakeholders to promote the project’s objectives.
• Leads Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning efforts,
• Leads administrative day to day operations of the field office.

Essentially, the project is developing two models: a resilient and profitable agro-forestry farming model and a government extension model. With SNV’s focus on scaling activities for impact and sector change, the PM designs and implements current project activities with the future in mind.

Qualifications

With the future in mind, and considering the project is pushing the boundaries of agroforestry in Zambia, the ideal profile of the Project Manager would be someone who has:

• Masters’ level education with minimum 7 years working experience OR a Bachelors’ degree with 10 years professional experience
• At least 4 years of demonstrated managerial experience
• Proven track record with over 5 years of experience in agroforestry, including practical experience in policy development
• Ability to develop Terms of references for consulting assignments and ability to assess consulting outputs and steer these to become high quality and innovative outputs
• Experience in one or more of the following topics would be advantageous: Forestry, Renewable Energy, Gender, Youth (self) Employment; basic knowledge on all topics is required
• Strong communication skills and demonstrable ability to negotiate and moderate with senior officials, senior research and NGO partners, traditional leaders and senior business executives; at the same time the PM needs to be able to listen and respond to the needs of ordinary farmers
• Given the strong business focus of the project, private sector experience is very much welcomed
• Given the equally strong training focus of the project, experience in training, but also in development of training and/or communications material is a clear asset
• Strong ICT / Computer Literacy
• Fluency in written and oral English, proficiency in multiple local languages is an asset.

Additional Information

Terms of Appointment

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and you will be able to see the status of your application through the link you will receive once you have applied.
SNV will only contact you if there is an open position available and your qualifications and experience match the role we are looking for.

Working at SNV

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of Agriculture experts. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org

The qualities that SNV is looking for are entrepreneurial drive and passion. A highly pro-active approach is imperative, considering that SNV aims for a follow-up project. The incumbent needs to thrive in a creative but complex and busy atmosphere. In a self-critical process of continuous improvement, the incumbent will be on the road 60% of the time contributing to quality control and transparent implementation of the project, while at the same time advancing knowledge on agro-forestry practices.

This is a full-time international position with the successful candidate being contracted on the May 2020 for a period of 6 months initially. Project extension is foreseen but dependent on the outcome of an external evaluation to be held in April 2020. Salary is comparable to other international NGOs in Zambia and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

How to Apply

If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and letter of motivation before/on April 5, 2020

Please submit your application via SmartRecruiters. All information will be in the strictest confidence. We will revert to you as soon as feasible when we have reviewed your application.

We will require that you provide us with full details of three people who are willing to act as a referee. We will not contact these referees without your explicit permission.

Should SNV wish to proceed with your application, two interviews with the Selection Committee will take place.

- We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement -

About the Organization

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation that applies practical know-how to make a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. We use our extensive and long-term in-country presence to apply and adapt our top-notch expertise in agriculture, energy and WASH to local contexts. SNV has over 1250 staff in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organisation that uses project financing to implement our mission. This requires us to work efficiently and to invest in operational excellence.

In its new Strategic Plan period (2019 – 2022), SNV will more explicitly aim for systems change during project preparation and implementation - by strengthening institutions and kick-starting markets that help many more to escape poverty beyond our projects. We will continue to position ourselves as a premium organisation and invest in making knowledge flow to and from the frontline.

For more information on SNV, visit our website: www.snv.org