Sector Manager - Value Enhancement at Action Against Hunger

Location: Maiduguri, Borno State
Start date: As Soon As Possible
Direct Line Manager: Resilac Project Coordinator

Job Summary

• The Sector Manager - Value Chain Enhancement, will play a key role in supporting the RESILAC Project Coordinator, developing and leading the identification of major sectors with potential for competitiveness and the enhancement of key value chains.
• He/she will also take on the Youth Employment component of RESILAC which is closely interlinked with the value chain intervention.
• The other components fo the project are: Social cohesion/mental health (Pillar 1), Agriculture (Pillar 2.1 and 2.4), Governance (Pillar 3) and MEAL (Pillar 4). Such post-emergency intervention will feed into the wider scope of the programme, which is promoting economic recovery and resilience of most vulnerable population in Borno State (Particularly youths and women).
• A strong project management and food security and livelihood work experience is required. The position is based in Maiduguri, with frequent travel to Monguno and Kukawa LGA in Borno State.
• He/she will report to the National Project Coordinator and will received technical guidance from a Technical Advisor for the RESILAC Regional Coordination based in Njamena - Chad.

Tasks and Responsibilities
Objective 1 - Strategic planning and operations set-up for Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 of the RESILAC programme (Youth Employment and Value Chain Enhancement):

• Lead and/or contribute from a technical perspective to relevant feasibility studies, assessments and internal evaluations related to Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 or to the wider RESILAC strategy;
• Support Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 beneficiary targeting on the basis of a clear methodology agreed with the national Project Coordinator;
• Define a strategy and plan of action for Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 of the RESILAC project in Nigeria, in close collaboration with the national Project Coordinator, the project’s MEAL Manager, other projectSector Managers and the Technical Advisors at Regional Coordination level.
• Participate to the definition of the wider project intervention strategy in collaboration with the national RESILAC project Coordinator, with the other Sector Managers and relevant staff;
• Ensure an ongoing collaboration with other Sector Managers working on the RESILAC programme (Pillars 1, 2.1, 2.3 and 3), prioritizing an harmonized and integrated approach to strategy implementation;
• Ensure technical and operational harmonization of approaches across all partners working on Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 activities;
• Develop and maintain a good working relationship with key government and civil society stakeholders, private sector and humanitarian partners working in the same target areas;
• Contribute from a technical perspective to the creation of a project monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning system, in close collaboration with the project’s MEAL Manager, other Sector Managers and the national Project Coordinator;
• Contribute to the development of technical and operational capitalization documents based on knowledge management and learning plans.
• Work with all key stakeholders on the ground (Government, civil society, INGOs, community leaders, private sector etc.) to gain a better understanding of the context and generate synergies that can enhance the impact of RESILAC.

Objective 2 -Technical and operational lead of Youth Employment and Value-chains enhancement (Pillar 2.2 and 2.4) activities in target areas:

• Actively participate in the recruitment of Pillar 2.2 and  2.4 teams, made of officer and assistant level staff;
• Lead the costed planning for Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 in close coordination with the national Project Coordinator;
• Lead the identification of key potentially competitive value-chains, key constraints to their development and potential solutions;
• Lead beneficiary/groups targeting on the basis of a clear methodology;
• Manage and closely oversee all activities inscribed under Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 in compliance with technical guidance provided by the RESILAC Regional Technical Advisor and line with the workplan validated by the national Coordinator;
• Proactively assess implementation and impact and propose quality-enhancing solutions or corrective measures on the basis of concrete learning from programme implementation;
• Ensure the optimal roll out of beneficiary support and accountability mechanisms agreed with the project’s MEAL Manager and national Project Coordinator;
• Support relationship building and management with technical Government and non-governmental implementation partners, as well as other key stakeholders.

Objective 3 - Project management, oversight and reporting:

• Ensure the technical and operational support and oversight of the field teams;
• Ensure complementarity and synergy between field teams and across all project components (Pillars);
• Ensure optimal management of Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 from a budgetary, administrative, and logistic perspective, leading communication with internal departments in AAH-Nigeria, in close collaboration with the national Project Coordinator and on the basis of agreed plans / internal policies;
• Closely collaborate with the project’s MEAL Manager to define Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 M&E plan and to design internal monitoring and evaluation tools as required (e.g.  trainings pre/post-tests);
• Monitor Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 performance indicators, communicate any target variance to the national Project Coordinator while proposing solutions for getting back on track;
• Ensure quality and timely activity reporting for Pillar 2.2 and 2.4, to feed into either internal or external donor reports on the basis of the project reporting schedule;
• Flag-up any need for support and/or training for field staff.
• Moderate technical or team meetings;
• Provide line management to field teams working on Pillar 2.2 and 2.4 on the basis of the organisation’s HR standards and protocols.

Objective 4 - Represent Action Against Hunger externally at the local government level and technical work groups:

• Contribute to the mapping of relevant external stakeholders;
• Participate to external meetings with partner organisations, Government actors, civil society and international stakeholders, as requested by the national Programme Coordinator;
• Cultivate positive and collaborative relations with key technical and political partners, in close collaboration with the national Programme Coordinator;
• Actively create opportunities to share key messages with relevant stakeholders is strict compliance with the RESILAC communication and visibility protocols and in close collaboration with the national Project Coordinator

Internal & External Relationship
Internal:

• National Project Coordinator: Line management, support, reporting, collaboration, coordination, exchange of information.
• Sector Managers Pillar 1, 2.1, 2.3, 3: Support, collaboration, exchange of information, coordination.
• Pillar 2 Regional Technical Advisor as RESILAC Regional Coordination level: Functional management, technical guidance, support, exchange of information, reporting, collaboration, coordination.
• Abuja and field based FSL team: exchange of information, collaboration and coordination.
• Pillar 1, 3 and 4 Technical Advisors at RESILAC Regional Coordination (Njamena): Exchange of information, collaboration, support, technical guidance.
• Maiduguri/Abuja HR, Finance, Logistics Departments: Support, exchange of information, collaboration.
• Borno Area Base Coordinator: Collaboration, exchange of information, coordination.

External:

• Governmental and non-governmental implementing partners: Exchange of information, coordination, training, supervision, influence on choice of technical options.
• Representatives of international aid organizations: Exchange of information

Position Requirements
Qualifications:

• Degree in Agricultural Economics, Business management, Agricultural Sciences, Livestock Management Studies or similar.

Skills & Experience
Essential:

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in economic recovery projects, market enhancement, commerce or agro- environmental initiatives and at least 1 year in a managerial position.
• Proven experience with supporting the rehabilitation of productive systems and/or developing value chains in a similar socio-environmental context.
• Strong drive for innovation in food value-chains development.
• Proven management and coordination skills (HR, projects, and stress management).
• Proven ability to translate analysis and evaluation into operational planning and strategy.
• Experience with evaluations and monitoring as well as Program Cycle Management.
• Clear understanding of child and gender protection issues in the field.
• Good understanding of the North East Nigeria social and operational environment.
• Disciplined and able to work and arrive at decisions autonomously and with minimal guidance.
• Fluent in English language.
• Excellent English writing skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred:

• Previous experience with Action Against Hunger in a similar position.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Excellent communication skills including excellent written and verbal skills in English; fluency in Hausa and Kanuri will be desirable
• Experience in farmers institution development and management
• Value chain development and marketing
• Evidence of good interpersonal networking and communication skills.

Remuneration
Minimum Monthly Basic Salary: NGN 308,589 per month.