Job Purpose
The Programme Manager will provide technical, managerial and leadership oversight to the DMDP project and ensure successful implementation of the programme. Specific tasks include;
Lead and manage all aspects of the programme i.e., planning, implementation, quality, and accountability, monitoring and evaluation.
Work in close liaison and ensure effective communication with the County Government and consortium partners i.e., ORANA and WANDA Agricultural Group to coordinate coherent and consistent delivery of the programme objectives
Provide technical input for the implementation of the programme including in the preparation of work plans, strategies, training materials, guides and manuals and value chain integration;
In liaison with the Programme Team, ensure effective integration of Green and Responsible Business Conduct in the programme
Key Responsibilities
Project Management
Ensure project phase in, phase out and sustainability planning is in place. Ensure yearly budget, detailed implementation plan, and operational strategy are in place and approved in line with the Development Engagement Document (DED) and donor requirements
Ensure annual Project budget utilization is achieved by 100%
In liaison with the MEAL Manager, facilitate Baseline survey, project reviews and evaluation according to the schedule
Ensure high quality coordination is maintained at county, regional and national levels
Provide Project stakeholders with comprehensive documentation and each stakeholder clarified on duty bound activity
Conduct regular meetings among Project teams including implementing partners on work progress and further analysis on needs for change to donor requests through open and constant channels of communications with donors
Operationalize implementing partner agreements, review meetings, and follow-up on agreed items with all key stakeholders
Provide leadership through institutionalization of line management, mentorship, coaching and appropriate staff development.
Develop and implement appropriate tools for progress monitoring to ensure desired quality and impact is achieved.
Ensure issues coming up during project implementation are appropriately resolved
Communicate significant issues in a timely manner to the line supervisor
Ensure the programme has sufficient systems in place to meet programme management standards and comply with donor regulations and good practice
Staff Performance Management
Coordinate the overall performance of the team, by managing the preparation of individual annual work objectives and targets & facilitate biannual and annual performance reviews and appraisals
Use performance management to ensure high quality programme output.
Participate in programme staff recruitment process.
Ensure proper succession planning for the programme team.
Ensure all MESPT safety and security guidelines are followed and that all safety or security incidents are recorded and reported as soon as they happen
Facilitate effective teamwork, coordination, and work planning
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
In liaison with the MEAL Manager, facilitate the development of the programme’s MEAL plan and ensure that effective mechanisms are in place to monitor activities and outputs and assessments for programme quality and impact.
Liaise and coordinate with the MEAL Manager to standardize MEAL requirements, including formats and procedures in the programme.
In liaison with the MEAL Manager, facilitate baselines, midterm and final evaluations for the programme and assist with other assessments, including rapid or in-depth sectoral assessments, in new or existing project areas as needed
Conduct regular MEAL field visits to collect data with the help of partners, assess the application of MEAL tools.
Ensure programme implementation is within the best practice constraints of time, scope, and budget.
Facilitate operational research for contextual understanding, identifying opportunities, vulnerabilities, capacities, and resources.
Work to ensure that lessons learned, and best practices are incorporated into new program design
Communicate learnings and analysis of monitoring data to ensure that management is able to make informed decisions on a timely basis to scale up and face operational challenges
Track planned evaluations and ensure that evaluation reports are obtained and shared to facilitate learning,
Provide documentation on case studies and success stories
Partnership and Networking
Establish good working relationship with the consortium partners to ensure the realization of the project results
Promote MESPT’s profile and enhance visibility through collaboration, networking and disseminating good practices to relevant stakeholders
Develop strategic relationships and partnership with key stakeholders at National and County Level
Interact, build, and nurture effective working relationships with relevant NGOs, United Nations Agencies, and Civil Society Organizations in order to foster coordination, collaboration, and partnership
Establish adequate referral linkage of project target groups with the appropriate service providers, policy makers and other stakeholders
Ensure efficient systems are in place to qualitatively impact the relationships with donors, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders
Financial Management/Policy adherence
Ensure 100% compliance to contract requirements, financial management policy, procurement, HR, monitoring and reporting, and facilitate training where necessary.
Ensure and monitor the allocation of resources in the most efficient and cost-effective way while aiming for the highest quality of implementation
Manage the programme budget in close collaboration with the Head of Programmes and the Head of Finance and undertake monthly budget variance analysis
Ensure efficient use and management of project resources.
Documentation and Reporting
Ensure timely preparation and submission of monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, and other program and financial reports as appropriate
Ensure high quality reports to illustrate MESPT’s impact and assessment findings are produced, including evidence of good practice and replicable models, and that they are communicated at appropriate events to facilitate
Knowledge, Experience and Skills
Should have at least 8 years of progressive working experience in the implementation of agri-business projects using Value Chain development and Market systems approach
Experience in managing multi-year donor-funded programmes
An understanding of project cycle management approaches and tools – including participatory capacity assessment and planning, project appraisal, monitoring and evaluation and partners’ capacity building,
Experience in community-based programming
Experience in working with Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
Experience in designing strategies and approaches for enhancing agricultural production, food safety, Access to Market, Green Technologies and engaging youth and women
Familiarity and experience with DANIDA regulations
Experience in networking among development partners and government departments
Ability to work in partnership with county governments and the private sector: capable of ensuring best practice and dealing with performance issues
Ability and resilience to cope with multiple internal and external demands
High level skills and experience in capacity building and report writing
Excellent communication, interpersonal and team building skills
Qualifications/Other Requirements:
Minimum of bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, or related field.
A Master’s Degree in Agribusiness/Agricultural Economics, Strategic/Project Management, Development Studies, or other relevant fields will be an added advantage.
A post graduate qualification in project management.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications especially with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook.
Qualified and interested applicants should send their application letters indicating their current/last remuneration, detailed CV with email address, daytime telephone contacts, names, and email contacts of 3 professional referees, 2 must have supervised you at some point, with one being your most recent supervisor to recruitment@mespt.org quoting Job Reference and Job Title in the subject line.The applicant must legally be eligible to live and work full time in Kenya.
Apply via :
recruitment@mespt.org
