Project Manager - Homegarden Scaling in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center is a non-profit, autonomous international agricultural research and development center with headquarters in Taiwan and regional offices around the globe. AVRDC conducts research and development that contribute to improved income and ba l a nc ed diets in the developing world through increased production and consumption of health-promoting vegetables. For more information about AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center, please visit our website: www.avrdc.org.

The Center seeks a Project Manager to manage a multi-partner and multi-country project 'Deploying Vegetable Seed Kits to Tackle Malnutrition in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda' funded by the USAID. The project will scale up and enhance a widespread and rapid adoption of AVRDC's validated home garden concept and associated production and processing technologies by target households in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Through deployment of nutritional seed kits with complementary training and technical backstopping across the entire value chain, over 25,000 target beneficiaries in East Africa are expected to improve their household nutrition, diversify their incomes and improve their social capital over an initial three-year phase of the project. The position will be based at AVRDC's Eastern and Southern Africa hub in Arusha, Tanzania and will report to the Center's Global Theme Leader - Consumption.

The Job

The Project Manager is responsible for the overall management of the project through planning, implementation and technical expertise, monitoring progress and ensuring proper evaluation of outputs, outcomes and impacts, financial accountability and technical reporting.

Specific Responsibilities

• Oversight and planning of project operations, organization of workshops, maintain project schedules, deliverables and evaluation activities and prepare and submit project reports in all 3 focus countries for submission to the donor.
• Manage project finances.
• Supervise and coordinate the work of country site coordinators; jointly responsible with country site coordinators in implementing field activities and meeting program targets.
• Facilitate training for M&E data collection, database management, and serve as lead field monitor when necessary.
• Liaise and coordinate closely with colleagues managing other complementary USAID-funded programs, USAID mission representatives, and with project managers of similar home gardens scaling up program initiatives to document regional experiences, best practices and program evaluation.
• Ensure high-quality science and research delivery and promote gender equity within the project as well as in its outcomes and impacts.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities to strengthen the impact of the project and the donor's investment.
• Represent the Center on project and related issues.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Global Theme Leader - Consumption or his appointed representative. Position Announcement Project Manager: Homegarden Scaling in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

The Person

• Applicants must have a minimum of M.Sc. (Ph.D. is desirable) in preferably social science disciplines, with a minimum of three years of extensive work experience in food (nutrition) and agriculture.
• Strong written and spoken English language skills, proficiency in Swahili an added advantage.
• Extensive knowledge of and work experience i n East Africa.
• Ability to oversee development/implementation of work plans, reports and presentations; ability to write clear and concise technical documents; strong organizational skills.
• Capacity for strong teamwork, partnership building and project management skills as well as supervisory and mentoring skills.
• Abi l i ty to interact with public, private, and civil society leaders and groups on data collection and surveying for project monitoring is an advantage.
• A passion for the generation of scientific knowledge that advances pro-poor development.
• Demonstrated financial management and budgeting skills.
• Flexibility to travel extensively.

The Reward

This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position with competitive pay and benefits. This is a fixed-term appointment for three years, subject to funding availability and performance of the incumbent. The position will be available on or after 2 January 2015.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit a letter of application explaining their suitability for and interest in the position, with a curriculum vitae, a recent passport size photograph, names and addresses (including telephone/fax/e-mail) of three referees, and date of availability. Please send applications stating the job title by e-mail to human.resources@worldveg.org, before 1 December 2014.