Description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

FUNCTION

Heifer International is partnering with Cargill Inc. on the upcoming USAID project in India and Kenya. This anticipated five-year-multi-country activity will require the expertise of a qualified full-time Project Manager for Heifer International Kenya’s role on the project, which is implementing an innovative and market-driven solution that will inform research and development to increase access to safe, affordable, and high-quality animal-source nutrition and prevention of emerging zoonoses, transboundary animal diseases. 

The Project Manager will have wide-ranging responsibilities; including, but not limited to the following:  

• Responsible for management and coordination of project activities in Kenya to achieve the agreed impact.


• S/he provides leadership, technical, and administrative oversight to the project team to ensure high-quality programming and alignment with the prime and consortium members, through reporting to the Project Director.


• Manage sub-awards

Please note the position is contingent on the award. 

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS

 Heifer International Kenya is looking for a self-motivated and result-oriented person to fill in the position of the Project Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES

A. Project Technical Management, and Private and Public sector linkages, partnerships, (40%)
All in collaboration with the Project Director

• Manage the implementation of the various project studies and activities to drive the project towards the achievement of the planned outcomes and following USAID compliance regulations for implementation.


• In collaboration with the prime, lead the review, preparation, and development of training curriculum and materials on biosecurity and farm management as well as animal nutritional health-related issues with USAID approval.


• Mobilize CAVES and technical experts as appropriate as well as arranging their trainings on biosecurity, improved animal health and husbandry as well as farm management practices.


• Provide overall coordination in designing, engagement and implementing partnerships that will entail the provision of specialized biosecurity/ animal health advisory services, agro-inputs and training to address the commercial needs of various animal health/production value chain actors within the Project.


• In collaboration with PD, develop and deploy a data management system for antimicrobial usage surveillance to help assure the public of responsible antibiotic use as well as monitor Inappropriate use of antimicrobials.


• Establish and document comprehensive disease surveillance, early warning, and response, offering disease detection within days and up to to-the-moment knowledge as data is gathered.


• Establish traceability systems with evidence of certain practices or inputs, which will allow farmers or input suppliers to secure accreditation or achieve market benchmarks, increasing their competitiveness in the market and potentially opening new market channels.

DELIVERABLE

• Impact study on holistic nutrition of market-based feed additive on animal health, performance, antibiotic use, vaccine efficacy, ROI and prevalent foodborne pathogen presence.


• Design and conduct pilot study for a nutritional small pack feed additive by identifying smallholder farmers and farmer groups for validation.


• Contextualization and feasibility, support through Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC)the messaging to ensure proper adoption and use of the product.


• Feasibility study highlighting key socio-economic factors that affect the position of smallholder farmers to sustainably adopt the product including determining appropriate price points for sustained use.


• Revised and USAID approved training manuals and guides


• Comprehensive capacity building of CAVES on animal nutrition and farm management undertaken.


• Training deployed through CAVES to producer organizations- targeting poultry and dairy farmers on biosecurity and farm management practices towards increasing household income.


• Manager research the impact of holistic nutrition of market-based feed additive on animal health, performance, antibiotic use, vaccine efficacy, ROI and prevalent foodborne pathogen presence.


• Developing and deploying a data management system/ Animal Health Production information system


• Early warning and response system developed and embedded into extension systems operational in the determined Counties


• Livestock and farm produce traceability and farmer accreditation systems established for the farmer-owned agribusiness/producer organizations under the project in the determined counties


• Quality Assurance and accreditation system established for feed input suppliers to producer organizations in the determined counties

B. Project Planning, Administrative Management, Budgeting and Reporting (25%)
All in collaboration with the Project Director

• Develop an overall project operational plan aligned to the project results framework that will guide in project implementation.


• Development and implementation of project work plans per prime and donor requirements.


• Per prime and USAID requirements maintain monthly budget projections aligned to the project work plan and manage/ report on the spending as per the budgets.


• Assume overall responsibility for the management of the Project including project resources ensuring adherence to the compliance and accountability of USAID policies.


• Facilitate the establishment of project management structures within the targeted cluster/project area. Maintain and manage internal Heifer relationships including the director for programs and country director.


• Promote team effectiveness and organization through coordination of team meetings and events and manage the performance of employees engaged in the implementation of the project.


• Adhere to the USAID contractual reporting as well as internal Heifer reporting.

DELIVERABLE

• Overall project operational plan developed and implemented.


• Project Workplans developed and approved by prime and donor as applicable for implementation


• Budget monitored, expenses tracked and within budget (monthly, quarterly, annual projections) developed and managed to ensure spending variance is within +/- 10% through monthly and quarterly reports.


• Project physical resources are maintained in good condition in compliance with both Heifer and USAID requirements.


• Project Management structures operational and meetings documented.


• Employees engaged to work for the project effectively achieving project objectives and performance objectives are achieved per required by Heifer HR Policies.


• High- quality timely contractual reporting documents submitted.

C. Communications & social behavioral change (15%)

• Provide technical input into the development of messaging and guiding instructions that will accompany the small pack feed additive product for small-scale farmers. 


• Provide technical input into the development of social behavioral change messaging and communication.       

DELIVERABLE

• Adoption and proper use of feed additive messaging deployed in the target counties.


• Technically sound social behavioral change messaging deployed for the target counties.

D. Monitoring and Evaluation (15%).
Work closely with the M&E officer to:

• Track the achievement of project outcomes.


• Undertake quarterly technical reviews for the project.


• Develop and implement a system for monitoring the delivery and effectiveness of capacity building on biosecurity animal health and farm management practices.


• In coordination with PD and Project Staff prepare project reports, presentations, develop project materials, in compliance with requirements.

DELIVERABLE        

• Project outcomes tracked and reported on a quarterly basis.


• Technical Reviews of the project based on the M&E framework developed.


• Project issues and risks monitored and reported.  


• Improved biosecurity and animals’ health and husbandry practices attributed to trained Community Agro-Vet Entrepreneurs (CAVES).


• Project reports timely and effectively submitted in compliance with requirements.

Any other duties as assigned needed (5%)            

• This will be dependent on the specific duties assigned

Minimum Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science or equivalent plus seven (7) years of job-related experience is required. Demonstrated experience in project management including in USAID-funded project budgets management, proposal development and monitoring and evaluation.

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Veterinary Science (Epidemiology) or equivalent in the fields of Agriculture (Animal production), or other related fields, plus five (5) years in a mix of animal production, epidemiology research and monitoring of transboundary diseases, livestock value chain competitiveness or project management.


• Minimum of five (5) years’ in epidemiology research combined with project management and human resource management level work experience.


• Significant experience in building public/private partnerships, preferably in the Agriculture/ Veterinary/Animal health sector.


• Proven experience in building the capacity of partner institutions, manage knowledge, measure progress and plan and innovate within the Agriculture/Veterinary industry.


• Demonstrated project reporting and donor reporting experience.

Most Critical Proficiencies

• Strong project cycle management skills and financial management skills including planning, management of project budgets and reporting.


• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in animal wellbeing/farm management /animal production and veterinary practice.


• Strong communication skills both in English, Swahili, and other local languages of the cluster area.


• Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies aimed at providing institutional capacity building’ to Producer Organizations with a view to build more efficient, competitive, and sustainable animal/livestock value chains by project end.


• Experience and ability to manage training programs targeted at farmers in animal health & husbandry, Biosecurity, nutrition, and farm management.


• Experience in facilitating the establishment of strategic alliances and joint ventures with local and foreign partners including the collation of data to support research and development in the field of animal health and production.


• Experience in influencing policy formulation and decisions in the livestock/animal health industry.


• Previous experience in the establishment/implementation of good agricultural/ farm management practices relating to animal health and production.


• Strong computer literacy, preferably with Microsoft Office Suite.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to individuals diplomatically and tactfully.


• Ability to integrate financial services within a value chain with the view to foster trust and build a strong relationship between chain actors and financial service providers.


• Must be courteous, honest and of high integrity, especially in high-pressure situations.


• Proven interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully.


• Self-starter and self-motivator with the ability to work in a multicultural setting.


• Must be a team player and the ability to execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.


• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.