Company Profile

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. CRS Ghana was established in 1958, a year after Ghana gained independence. In Ghana, CRS works with local partners to tackle poverty on several fronts including improving health and nutrition; increasing access to safe water and improved sanitation; promoting agriculture to enhance food security; and increasing financial assets through Savings and Internal Lending Communities. 

Job Description

• Location: Tamale
• Contract duration: Through September 2016, including a probation period of 6 months, with possibility of extension
• Supervisor: Program Manager- Agriculture
• Desired Start Date:August 1, 2015

Project Background    
The USAID Feed the Future Innovation Laboratory for Soybean Value Chain Research (Soybean Innovation Laboratory, or SIL) is a five-year (2013-2017) strategically designed and fully integrated research program that provides the science necessary so small producers can share in the rising demand for soybean and, more broadly, further enable producing countries to address problems of food insecurity and protein malnutrition. The SIL brings together leading U.S. and African soybean researchers, both natural and social scientists. 

The SIL Project’s overall strategy provides a sound research foundation by filling critical research gaps that limit the development of soybean in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The approach is based on five pillars that comprise the essential components of sustained production, improved household nutrition and sustainable market linkages for soybean farmers focusing on (I) Genetic Improvement, (II) Enhanced Crop Productivity and Quality, (III) Value Chains and Local Processing, (IV) Nutrition, and (V) Socio-Economic Research with a novel SMART Farm concept (Soybean Management with Appropriate Research and Technology) as its platform. SIL is managed by the UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, Urbana-Champaign campus in the US.

Summary
The Soybean Innovation Lab Country Communications Coordinator will serve as the primary in country contact for coordination of SIL activities in Ghana. S/he will lead the in-country planning and strategic communication of activities of the various components of SIL and facilitate interactions with partners and other key local soy industry stakeholders including INGOs, the private sector and the local USAID mission.

S/he will facilitate learning and sharing of experiences with relevant institutions within Ghana. S/he will proactively raise issues of concern that may impact the achievement of the project objectives with country and program leadership. S/he will also lead information gathering and documentation of evidence to support program opportunity development, in building business cases surrounding the soy value chain.

The SIL Communications Coordinator will report to the Agriculture Program Manager in Accra and maintain close liaison with the Principal Investigator and Program Manager of SIL at the University of Illinois. S/He will ensure adherence to CRS technical and program quality standards in implementation and the timely submission of all required deliverables to the donor through the University of Illinois.

Key Responsibilities

Communications and Reporting :

• Chair quarterly planning meeting of in country partners
• Document important lessons for sharing 
• Develop appropriate communication materials 
• Prepare technical briefs that expand and improve USAID mission understanding of SIL activities
• Develop tools and products that enable USAID and stakeholders to make informed decisions
• With support of SIL secretariat, conduct public presentations and events, including online events such as webinars, to showcase SIL interventions in Ghana 
• Coordinate reporting of in country SIL partners for submission to the donor

Stakeholder Coordination :

• In coordination with  Agriculture Program Manager , lead interaction with key stakeholders at national level, ensuring that communication is consistent and aligned with changing needs of SIL
• Lead planning for soybean stakeholder event, scheduled for October 14th, 2015 in Tamale
• Develop and maintain close working relationships with key personnel in government that have a vested interest in soy
• Develop and sustain trust-based relationships with key industry personnel at national and international level 

Business Development

• Lead on the identification of new business development in the soy value chain 
• Assist PM Agric. with technical proposal development
• Support the development of and implementation of a program growth strategy with CRS-Ghana staff and implementing partners.

Representation and Advocacy

• In collaboration with the PM Agric., act as primary program contact to stakeholders in soy 
• With support and collaboration of Head of Programs and PM Agric., develop and strengthen linkages with USAID, Government agencies and civil society organizations in the agriculture and allied sectors.

Miscellaneous

• Assist with logistics, administration and program management of the SIL program, as requested by the  Agriculture Program Manager
• Assist with monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) of the SIL program, in coordination with the MEAL Coordinator
• Complete other duties as requested by the Agriculture Program Manager

Key Working Relationship
Supervisory: 
Agriculture Program Manager for CRS Ghana,  Principal Investigator and Program Manager of SIL at University of Illinois, Head of Programming (HoP) for CRS Ghana

Internal:
Senior Agric. Program Officer (SPO) for CRS Ghana; Monitoring, Evaluations, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator for CRS Ghana, other administrative and logistics staff.

External:
Researchers at SARI, Other SIL component leaders, and Implementing/Collaborating Partners, USAID contacts.

Agency-wide Competencies    

• Agency-wide competencies are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfil his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

CRS Competencies for Program Managers

• Sets clear goals and manages towards achieving them
• Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
• Manages financial resources with integrity
• Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning

Required Skills or Experience

• Master’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, or related qualifications in Communication Studies, Marketing/Enterprise Development.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in project coordination, communication agricultural or community development work at national level.
• Familiarity with USAID's Feed the Future Initiative.
• Experience with participatory methods and partnerships required. 
• Demonstrated capacity and experience with stakeholder management.
• Demonstrated personal accountability and drive to serve others.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving gender equality and gender responsiveness in programming and operations.
• Proven experience in building and maintaining institutional linkages.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally as required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Outlook required. Familiarity with creativity tools is added advantage.

Personal Skills

• Strong leadership skills, including strategic thinking, problem solving, effective communication, advocacy and negotiation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated strengths in relationship management with a strong client service focus;
• Able to interact in a mature, professional and friendly manner with local and international colleagues of differing religious and cultural backgrounds;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills;
• Diplomacy, tact and strong negotiation skills;
• Maturity and discretion; able to work with, and maintain, confidential information;
• Comfortable working within a Roman Catholic organization and upholding the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Foreign Language Required:
Excellent English language oral and written communication skills required