Signature Program Technical Lead - West Africa at Heifer International

Job Description

Essential Character Traits

• Detailed-oriented, self driven, action oriented, team player.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES

A. Program Quality Initiatives (45%)

• Advise countries on Market Systems, Access to Finance, Corperatives & Off-takers capacity/capability building and Value Chain analysis to inform co-design relationships for in-country signature programming.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategies, standards, tools and best practice in Program Quality, that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments.
• Provide technical advise to Country Program teams, remotely and on-site, in strategic planning and how best to apply standards, best practice, partnership principles, processes and tools, to ensure high-quality implementation of signature programs.
• In consultation with Country Directors and Country Signature Program Technical Leads, creatively design initiatives that uphold and improve program quality, innovation and learning on signature programs.
• Provide technical process advisory for the preparation, design, submission and approval of project concepts and full-fledged proposals. Act as a second line of defence for in-country technical writing on proposal development, advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into Heifer’s approach.
• Roll out capacity strengthening initiatives in Program Quality for staff and partners, develop learning and training strategies and agenda, conducting trainings and workshops.
• Collect and analyze program data, capture and share lessons learnt and best practice for specific projects, to facilitate improvement in decisions.
• Enable strong relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions, towards enhancing Program Quality.
• Monitor and provide feedback on Program Quality through regular team meetings, field visits and regular communication.

B.  Partnerships and Capacity Improvement (30%)

• Ensure adherence to set compliance standards within Heifer and donor program and project guidelines and standards, including transparency, policy compliance, accountability, communication with HQ, donors and external constituencies.
• Enable new partnerships and nurture existing ones.
• Develop and adopt standardized approaches, practices, tools and measurements in partnership and capacity strengthening.
• Support relevant country program, Regional and HQ staff in the development of comprehensive plans and materials, for the development and implementation of capacity strengthening strategies in the Signature Program area.
• On a delegated authority, ensure country programs monitor and evaluate partnership and capacity strengthening activities and initiatives.
• Identify and ensure the creation of strong inter-organizational networks and efforts to strengthen the capacities of local partners.
• Represent Heifer Africa in external professional fora and with donor agencies in support of resource acquisition for capacity building.

C. Strengthen Core Global Operating System (20%)

• Provide support to country offices to ensure compliance with Heifer International policies and procedures and other accountability standards through trainings, event participation and field visits.
• Liaise with departments at HQ on behalf of the country programs and the Africa Regional Program, with regard to Signature Programs.
• Ensure Signature Program proposals and concept notes are entered into HQ tracking systems, to avoid delay in activation.
• Support the adequate development, implementation, evaluation and systematization of signature programs implemented by country programs.
• Review signature program and field office monitoring and evaluation reports and make recommendations.
• Maintain Signature Program files and documents.
• D.  Any Other Assigned Function (5%)
• May perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree plus ten (10) to fifteen (15) years’ job-related experience.

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s degree preferred.
• At least seven (7) years in technical signature programming leadership.
• At At least five (5) years in management.

Most Critical Proficiencies

• Knowledge of strategic planning, program and project development and implementation processes (including planning, monitoring and evaluation).
• Knowledge and work experience in agriculture and community development in a developing country context (market systems, value chains, access to market, access to finance, etc).
• Excellent knowledge on monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects.
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills including strong attention to detail.
• Knowledge of grant acquisition and management.
• Basic knowledge of finance controls and systems.
• Proficiency in basic statistics sufficient to analyze data.
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, database and electronic mail software (Microsoft preferred).
• Strong English language skills – oral and written.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully and diplomatically with a culturally diverse group of people.
• Ability to produce accurate documents in a well-designed and attractive format with impeccable attention to detail.
• Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public.
• May require constant sitting; working at a computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability and willingness to extensively travel 30% of the time both domestically and internationally.
• Ability to develop and present training materials.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.