County Program Manager at ACDI/VOCA

The Program Manager will be responsible for using community-driven, participatory approaches to support and develop efforts that facilitate a more competitive livestock value chain for pastoralists moving up in the livestock market system.

He will also support in establishing viable, diversified livelihood opportunities for those moving up or out of the sector within the Counties.

With direct reporting line to the Deputy Chief of Party, the County Program Manager will supervise all the Project team in the county office.

He/She will work closely with the other technical teams to ensure quality and timely delivery of the Project.

Job Responsibilities:

• Oversee the technical quality of Program activities in respective counties that, among others, include: creating incentives for commercial investment in the livestock and supporting services sectors, facilitating market linkages.
• Support Deputy Chief of Party in providing leadership management and general technical direction of the project.
• Maintain a daily, operational commitment to the program’s systemic and inclusive implementation approach.
• Coordinate with other LMS technical staff in conducting continuous community-level market research and value chain analyses of the project which will serve as the basis for project external and internal communications, annual work planning and strategy formulation.
• Based on community consultations and constraints analyses, identify and implement activities into rural areas collaboratively with other partners.
• Coordinate with the technical team on a regular basis to participate in regular planning processes; discuss field activities, successes, and potential issues and risks; and contribute to knowledge management.
• Ensure implementation of the Gender Integration Strategy including Coordinating with the Gender Advisor to ensure that gender considerations can be meaningfully and efficiently integrated throughout all of LMS activities and operations in the County.
• Identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner, and suggest appropriate program adjustments.
• Ensure quality control and timeliness of all deliverables. Prepare and contribute to work plans, financial, logistical and other documents as requested to facilitate the successful, responsive implementation of the program.
• Maintain appropriate files and documentation of all project and program development activities including correspondence and minutes of meetings where decisions are made
• Support the overall knowledge management process, contributing to quarterly reports and the M&E process.
• Collaborate closely with the Government, PREG Members and other donor-funded projects operating in the counties to build synergies, Layering and Integration of activities.
• Provide leadership in the LMS Agenda interventions to strengthen livestock value chains and improving the benefits of market participation for pastoralists.
• Maintain strong relationships with groups, associations and government partners supporting various actors in the livestock sector.
• Work with target actors to provide opportunities to participate in entrepreneurial/ innovations/ capacity building or training, as well as other market-based opportunities by building linkages.
• Maintain regular constructive communication with all project sub-contractors.
• Develop project collaboration with the public authorities in the Counties and particularly with the line Government departments.
• Promote the project in Counties and seek leverage with other projects, donors, and investors.
• Regularly visit project sites to monitor project implementation progress.
• Provide day to day office operations and administrative leadership for various program partners operating in the county and ensure cost allocations to relevant program partners for various office activities.
• Oversee technical and operational staff in the County office and manage relevant finances/budgets.
• Develop briefs to the DCOP about all issues which could cause serious harm to the project as well as to ACDI/VOCA’s reputation and business.
• Ensure that appropriate security procedures and roles are followed by the project staff and any other assignments or tasks at the request of his/her supervisor.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship, Business Management, Livestock Marketing, Agribusiness Management, International Relations,
• Development Studies, Pastoral Livestock Systems Development or a related field. A Master’s Degree in a related field is highly preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of practical experience in the Livestock Sector and value chain and/or MSME development or closely related field.
• Strong oral and written communication skills is required.
• Good problem solver, self-starter, creative and innovative, good communication, leadership and reporting skills required.
• Ability to travel within the designated counties (Wajir, Marsabit or Turkana). The position requires extensive field travel.