Project Leader at World Vegetable Center

Key Responsibilities:

• Scientific Leadership and Project Oversight
• Lead the scientific direction of WorldVeg projects, ensuring activities are scientifically sound and relevant to the local context while collaborating with the Center’s principal scientists to maintain scientific integrity and achieve project objectives.
• Donor Communication and Reporting
• Serve as the primary point of contact with project funders, providing regular updates and ensuring all reports are timely, accurate, and meet donor requirements.
• Stakeholder & Partner Engagement
• Lead efforts to engage project stakeholders and partners, ensuring strong collaboration, visibility, and local ownership of project outcomes while maintaining positive relationships with key partners to ensure continued support and engagement.
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL):
• Oversee the design and implementation of project M&E systems to track progress, assess impact, and identify lessons learned.
• Team Leadership & Development
• Build and maintain a high-performing project team by fostering effective teamwork, collaboration, and a positive work environment.
• Fundraising and Resource Mobilization
• Contribute to the Center’s fundraising efforts by identifying potential funding opportunities, preparing proposals, and engaging with donors and stakeholders to secure resources for the project.
• Risk Management and Business Continuity
• Take the lead in identifying and managing project risks. In collaboration with the Associate
• Director General, Project Management Officer, and project partners, implement risk mitigation strategies and ensure business continuity plans are in place.
• Additional Responsibilities
• Undertake other duties as assigned by the supervisors and as required by the Center.

Required Qualifications:

• A PhD degree in an agricultural science, social science, or public health and nutrition
• A solid academic track record focusing on the contribution of agriculture to nutrition and health
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience
• Experience working in Africa, especially East Africa
• Strong experience in multidisciplinary research
• A team builder with excellent organizational skills and proven experience in managing large projects
• Experience working for international agricultural research organizations
• A good understanding of the vegetable production systems in Africa
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English
• Willingness to travel extensively