Program Manager - FIPS-Africa for NAFAKA Staples Value Chain Project - Tanzania

FIPS-Africa Program Manager – FIPS-Africa; NAFAKA Staples Value Chain

Duration: 12 months (Jan – Dec 2015) with possibility of extension.

Location: Morogoro, Tanzania with frequent travel to Nairobi, Kenya (or based in Nairobi, Kenya, with travel to Tanzania); this includes regular travel throughout field operations in Tanzania.).

Farm Input Promotions Africa (FIPS-Africa) is a not-for-profit organization, based in Kenya, with a vision that all farming households in sub-Saharan Africa become food secure. Our mission is to quickly and cost-effectively improve on-farm agricultural productivity through provision and promotion of appropriate farm inputs, services and advice to large numbers of small-holder farmers. We work with farming communities through local Village Based Advisors (VBAs).

The NAFAKA Staples Value Chain Activity is USAID-funded, under the Tanzania Feed the Future (FtF) Initiative, with the goal to sustainably reduce poverty and food insecurity by increasing incomes for smallholder farmers. The project activities work to improve smallholder farmer productivity and profitability within the maize and rice value chains in Morogoro (Kilombero and Mvomero Districts), Dodoma (Kongwa district) and Manyara (Kiteto District). FIPS-Africa’s role within NAFAKA is to improve farmer productivity through VBAs.

This Program Manager post is a senior management role with FIPS-Africa, overseeing our activities within the NAFAKA program. The Program Manager supervises one Extension Manager and a team of Business Development, Field Monitoring, Data/Clerical and Communications staff in the Morogoro office.

Reporting to the Assistant Director (FIPS-Africa) in Nairobi Headquarters, and working day to day with the FIPS Tanzania Country Manager, the Program Manager will manage the following areas of responsibility:

• Representation & Communication with NAFAKA Senior Management; acting as liaison and key contact person within NAFAKA for FIPS-Africa.
• Coordination with FIPS-Africa Tanzania Country Manager and HQ team in Nairobi on activity progress, milestones, reporting, monitoring & evaluation.
• Oversight of work planning and implementation of activities as planned, both in terms of field operations (through Extension Manager), and in the support functions (taking place both in office and in field, including monitoring, data collection, reporting and administration).
• Staff supervision and follow-up including clarification of job descriptions, recruitment for vacancies or replacements, feedback and coaching.

Required Competencies:

• Program Management; a confident and effective manager able to plan, delegate, track and monitor field activities across multiple work sites
• Communication; ability to maintain effective and positive lines of communication with a wide array of stakeholders (project beneficiaries, line staff, supervisors, colleagues in partner organizations within NAFAKA project, funders and donors, public, FIPS-Africa HQ office); excellent verbal and written skills
• Organized and efficient; respects deadlines, flexible and able to prioritize/re-prioritize work based on project needs and new information
• Accountable and committed; takes personal responsibility and commits time and energy needed to complete tasks well and on time
• Supervisory skills; able to manage people, facilitate positive workplace relationships and teamwork, instill commitment and enthusiasm in team members, take corrective action as required

Qualifications & Experience:

• Master’s Degree in a relevant field (may include agriculture, international development, business/economics)
• 5+ years experience in development, preferably with 2 or more years in East African context, in a similar or relevant role; exposure to agricultural programs is an added advantage
• Recognized training or certification in project management
• Working knowledge of Swahili an added advantage

How to apply:

If your skills, qualifications and interests match the above, apply by emailing your CV and covering letter tofarminputpromotionsafrica@gmail.com, citing NAFAKA Program Coordinator in the subject line. Due to the volume of applications we receive, FIPS-Africa can only reply to those shortlisted for consideration.