• Application Deadline:
• Position: Signature Program Technical Lead - West Africa


• Job Type Full Time


• Qualification BA/BSc/HND


• Experience 15 years


• Location Lagos


• Job Field Project Management 
  

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.