Project Leader for Regional Going-to-Scale Intervention

Project Leader for Regional Going-to-Scale Intervention (Ref: 13-45 PLR/IRS/SSA)

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a Project Leader for a Government of the United Kingdom Department for International Development sponsored going-to-scale integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention using Orange-fleshed sweetpotato as a key entry point.   The position is to be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. The CIP Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) main regional office is in Nairobi, Kenya. CIP also has offices in 7 other African countries.

Position Summary: The Project Leader will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of the project, while managing staff and resources to ensure that the project meets its targets and deliverable on-time and within budget.  The Project Leader will supervise key project staff and ensure accountability to the International Potato Center policies and donor rules and regulations.  S/he will be the primary program representative to donor, relevant government entities, partners, other implementation and external stakeholders of the going-to-scale project in four countries (Rwanda, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique) to improve nutrition benefits with pro-vitamin A rich orange-fleshed sweetpotato.    The position will be part of the regional project team and will report to the Leader of the Sweetpotato Regional Science Program in SSA. The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Project Implementation:

Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of project implementation, research and management.  Ensure that project implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with CIP principles, values and strategic plan.  Monitor adherence to grant agreement, CIP policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations including the CGIAR Consortium.  Oversee performance of partners and sub-grantees.  Lead the reporting requirement of technical and financial progress and annual reports.  Producing and contributing to scientific publications, policy briefs and other information materials.

• Coordination and Representation:

Represent the International Potato Center at government, donor, NGO and other relevant international and regional agricultural and nutrition forums to contribute to evidence-based planning and policy development in close coordination with Regional Science Leader and Operational Leaders.  Coordinate activities with partners, private sector food processors, sub-grantees, local government and other related DFID projects.

•  Staff Management, Professional Development and Team Building:

Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels. Implement, and ensure all staff members are effectively using, the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback. Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that supervisory staff members do the same. Contribute to project team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

• Project Support Operations:

Coordinate with research and finance and administration staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities including logistics, procurement, security, administration and human resources. Propose and design of new local policies as needed and in accordance with donor and CIP regulations.

•  Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting:

Ensure interventions are based on sound design research principles, including needs assessments and baselines and impact assessments. Ensure an effective collaborative relationship with the external impact assessment team linked to the project.  Establish and maintain effective and timely project/grant reporting systems for the donor. Ensure that M&E staff members focus on assisting programs to generate practical information that can be used for ongoing research and project decision-making while also capturing results at the impact level.

• Gender

The Project Leader is expected to take a leadership role in the mainstreaming of gender sensitive project interventions, through support and promotion of gender throughout all areas of the project.

Selection Criteria:

•  Ph.D. degree in an agricultural economics, nutrition, marketing, biological or other social science or rural development degree. Specific training related to sweetpotato, nutrition, or gender is an added advantage.
• Relevant experience of 10 years as a senior project manager, including at least 5 years as a project leader working on large-scale projects (at least $10 million) in an agricultural research and development context, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Extensive experience in developing agricultural markets and value chains.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate international and local staff into a cohesive team.
• Demonstrated awareness and responsiveness to gender and social issues in cross-cultural and gender integration programming.
• Strong experience with communication technologies as research and development tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required.  Working knowledge of Portuguese and/or French desirable.
• Record of publications and citations.
• Willingness to travel frequently and work under field conditions.

Conditions: The employment contract will be for a three-year term (with a three month probation period) with the possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding.  The salary will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.

Applications: Applicants should apply by email, sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full C.V. and the names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to cip-recruitment@cgiar.org, copied to Jan Low (j.low@cgiar.org ). The reference name of the position should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message. Screening of applications will begin on October 01, 2013 and will continue until the post is filled.

CIP seeks diversity and gender balance in its staff.

Women and citizens of developing countries are particularly urged to apply.

To learn more about CIP please visit http://www.cipotato.org/