Job Description

Our client, an international humanitarian agency committed to support the less privileged is currently seeking to hire the services of a proactive Project Coordinator to support their operations in the northern part of Ghana

Role Profile

The successful candidate will work closely with the Agriculture Program Manager (APM), to lead a team in the management and implementation of the Agriculture Technology Transfer (ATT) Project activities in Northern, Upper West and Upper East Regions.

DUTIES/ RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide dynamic leadership, technical support and team coordination to the project team and implementing partners of the beneficiary districts
• Identify and establish agreements with lead agro-input companies to commercialize project identified technologies including success kits
• Manage and ensure effectiveness of project implementation partners, agro-dealers and other service providers
• Ensure the effective technical input from and collaboration with International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)/ATT personnel and management as well as other research partners as specified in project design
• Ensure optimal project quality and efficient delivery of project activities
• Ensure that all implementing partners pursue a project of continual learning, documenting and capitalizing on experiences.
• Represent the program to Government, decentralized authorities, NGOs, private sector, etc., and to existing and potential donors as appropriate and other representation as may be required from management.
• Ensure the security and efficient management of all resources, equipment and documentation linked to the project.
• Ensure the efficient use of the human and financial resources available to deliver on the project targets.
• Provide an effective reporting interface with implementing partners at the Regional and District levels.
• Develop and lead the successful networking of actors engaged in the sector.
• Participate in the recruitment and evaluation of consultants for the Project within the framework of organisation’s policies and regulations.
• Facilitate and oversee the dissemination of best practices and lessons learned from project sites locally and nationally as a way of facilitating the visibility of the project model

Management and Administration

• Manage project budgets, including tracking of financial and material resources.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of project finances and progress status, review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis.
• Ensure staff compliance with all organisational administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations.
• Approve project expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.

 Representation and Advocacy

• Provide overall leadership and oversight to the implementation, ensuring that partners and field staff adhere to their assigned scopes of work and memorandum of understanding/agreements, and ensuring all members of the implementation team work cooperatively and productively to achieve project objectives.
• Act as primary project contact and representative, taking responsibility for addressing all project matters, collaborating with the organisation’s Country Representative, Head of Programs and the Agriculture Program Manager and the Senior Agriculture Program Officer on overall partner and donor relationships.
• Strengthen linkages with existing and potential partner agencies, in collaboration with organisation’s Country Representative, Head of Programming and the Agriculture Program Manager and the Senior Agriculture Program Officer.
• Oversee project communication strategies, in collaboration with Agriculture Program Manager and the Senior Agriculture Program Officer, including compliance with donor’s branding and marketing requirements as well as organisation’s marketing and communication procedures

 Human Resource Management

• Lead, manage and supervise a team of partner staff to meet project objectives.
• Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with organisation’s performance management system and mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability

• Work with teams to ensure systems comply with agency standards and donor specifications.
• Conduct regular site visits to monitor progress in project implementation, check on quality assurance and address emerging technical operational/management issues.
• Ensure technologies are used appropriately in the project system.

 Growth Opportunities

• Support the Agriculture Program Manager and the programming department to gather intelligence on the next level of funding opportunities and coordinate reviews of key funding calls to determine go/no go decisions.
• Participate in meetings relating to growth opportunities and document proceedings, follow-up action points/recommendations and ensure executions on timely basis.
• Support program managers to develop Project Idea Notes, draft concept papers, production plans, budget and budget narrations in response to growth opportunities.

 Other Duties/Assignments

• Carry out any other duties/assignments as shall from time to time be directed by the Agriculture Program Manager, the Head of Programs or Country Representative.

Required Skills or Experience

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in agriculture, agronomy or other related field.
• Minimum five years’ experience in agricultural or community development work at the field level.
• Knowledge of Ghanaian agricultural landscape and key actors.
• Previous experience managing an NGO agriculture project at the district level.

REQUIREMENT

• Demonstrate capacity and experience with stakeholder management.
• Experience working with smallholder farmers and farmer-based organizations (FBOs).
• Demonstrate personal accountability, integrity and drive to serve others.
• Demonstrate commitment to improving gender equality and gender responsiveness in programming.
• Proven experience in building and maintaining strong linkages between partner agencies, including government and research institutions.
• Demonstrate strong writing ability.
• Excellent English language communications skills– both oral and written.
• Proficiency in local languages of target districts in the three northern regions of Ghana.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well as part of a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

DESIRED COMPETENCIES

• Proven analytical skills, demonstrated creativity in analysis of situations and data
• Proven experience in managing partnership relationships in a participatory manner, managing teams and project implementation plans
• Experience in budgeting and budget management.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, cultural sensitivity, ability to work with people, good judgment and commitment to the agency’s mission
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Internet, etc.).
• Willingness to travel in-country and internationally as required by the agency.

PERSONAL SKILLS

• Experience in training and providing technical support to partners/community-based agents
• Strong work ethics and team building skills
• Excellent human relations and enthusiasm for new challenges
• Good networking skills and professionalism

COMPETENCIES

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

AGENCY-WIDE COMPETENCIES

• Upholds a Spirit of Service and Integrity
• Cultivates Constructive and Collegial Relationships
• Models Principled Stewardship
• Promotes continuous learning and innovation