Chief of Party at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)

Duties and Responsibilities:

•  Oversee program administration, operations, implementation, and fiscal management to ensure technical and financial activities align with scope and budget allocations, internal policies, and donor regulations;
•  Develop strategic plans, annual and quarterly work plans, and plans for overall management of the program in line with USAID guidelines and within set timelines to achieve objectives;
•  Lead team to provide effective coordination and guidance to local market actors, academic institutions, Government, smallholder farmers, service providers and other key stakeholders;
•  Support the development of strong M&E and learning mechanisms, program monitoring tools, and efficient systems to ensure high-quality implementation;
•  Ensure quality control and provide overall technical and management leadership under the award; adjust operations in response to USAID/Kenya technical direction;
•  Represent CNFA and the program with partners and key stakeholders, at conferences, workshops, meetings, and other industry gatherings; maintain positive relationships with USAID, local authorities, and the country office team;
•  Manage and oversee all contract management and implementation tasks based on established USG regulations, procedures and CNFA guidelines;
•  Identify issues and risks related to activity implementation in a timely manner; and
•  Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

Key Qualifications:

•  Master’s degree or higher in a field related to agriculture, economics, or business administration from an accredited college or university;
•  Minimum of ten (10) years of international experience and expertise in agricultural development, successfully achieving meaningful and sustainable results;
•  At least seven (7) years of experience in working with counterparts at various levels of government, as well as with non-governmental organizations (including private sector associations/organizations) in managing international development assistance activities;
•  Knowledge of and experience with agricultural market systems in East or Southern Africa, with Kenya-specific knowledge and experience preferred;
•  In-depth knowledge of USAID policies, and regulations;
•  Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead large teams and work effectively and collaboratively in a team environment;
•  Strong technical expertise, management skills, and a strong command of English and Swahili technical writing and communication skills required.