Sustainable Agriculture Sector Manager at Action Against Hunger | ACF-International

Action Against Hunger works to save lives by combating hunger and diseases that threaten the lives of vulnerable communities, through nutrition, food security, water and sanitation, health and advocacy.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Sustainable Agriculture Sector Manager

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Job Type: Full Time
Start date: as soon as possible
Direct Line Manager: National Project Coordinator

Objective 1

• Strategic planning and operations set-up for Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 of the RESILAC programme (Cash for work rehabilitation of productive assets and Sustainable agriculture)

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Lead and/or contribute from a technical perspective to relevant feasibility studies, assessments and internal evaluations related to Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 or to the wider RESILAC strategy;
• Support Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 beneficiary targeting on the basis of a clear methodology agreed with the national Project Coordinator;
• Participate in the definition of the wider project intervention strategy in collaboration with the national RESILAC project Coordinator, with the other Sector Managers and relevant staff;
• Develop and maintain a good working relationship with key government and civil society stakeholders, private sector and humanitarian partners working in the same target areas;
• Contribute to the development of technical and operational capitalization documents based on knowledge management and learning plans.
• Contribute from a technical perspective to the creation of a project monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning system, in close collaboration with the project’s MEAL Manager, other Sector Managers and the national Project Coordinator;
• Work with all key stakeholders on the ground (Government, civil society, INGOs, community leaders, private sector etc.) to gain a better understanding of the context and generate synergies that can enhance the impact of RESILAC.

Objective 2

• Technical and operational lead of Sustainable Agriculture (Cash for work rehabilitation of productive assets and Sustainable agriculture) activities in target areas

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Actively participate in the recruitment of Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 teams, made of officer and assistant level staff;
• lead the costed planning for Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 in close coordination with the national Project Coordinator;
• lead beneficiary targeting on the basis of a clear methodology;
• contribute to the definition of innovative and adaptive agricultural practices that can be tested in the operating environment in Borno State;
• Manage and closely oversee all activities inscribed under Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 in compliance with technical guidance provided by the RESILAC Regional Technical Advisor and line with the workplan validated by the national Coordinator;
• Critically assess progress against Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 plans and output trackers and propose course-corrections or impact enhancing modifications when required/possible;
• Ensure the optimal roll-out of beneficiary support and accountability mechanisms agreed with the project’s MEAL Manager and national Project Coordinator;
• Support relationship building and management with technical Government and non-governmental implementation partners.

Objective 3

• Project management, oversight and reporting

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Ensure the technical and operational support and oversight of the field teams;
• Ensure complementarity and synergy between field teams and across all project components (Pillars);
• Ensure optimal management of Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 from a budgetary, administrative, and logistic perspective, leading communication with internal departments in AAH-Nigeria, in close collaboration with the national Project Coordinator and on the basis of agreed plans / internal policies;
• Closely collaborate with the project’s MEAL Manager to define Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 M&E plan and to design internal monitoring and evaluation tools as required (e.g.  trainings pre/post-tests);
• Monitor Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 performance indicators, communicate any target variance to the national Project Coordinator while proposing solutions for getting back on track;
• Ensure quality and timely activity reporting for Pillar 2.1 and 2.3, to feed into either internal or external donor reports on the basis of the project reporting schedule;
• Flag-up any need for support and/or training from field staff.
• Moderate technical or team meetings;
• Provide line management to field teams working on Pillar 2.1 and 2.3 on the basis of the organisation’s HR standards and protocols.

Objective 4

• Represent Action Against Hunger externally at the local government level and technical work groups.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the mapping of relevant external stakeholders;
• Participate in external meetings with partner organisations, Government actors, civil society and international stakeholders, as requested by the national Programme Coordinator;
• Cultivate positive and collaborative relations with key technical and political partners, in close collaboration with the national Programme Coordinator;
• Actively create opportunities to share key messages with relevant stakeholders is strict compliance with the RESILAC communication and visibility protocols and in close collaboration with the national Project Coordinator.

Internal & External Relationship
Internal:

• National Project Coordinator: Line management, support, reporting, collaboration, coordination, exchange of information.
• Sector Managers Pillar 1, 2.2, 2.4, 3: support, collaboration, exchange of information, coordination.
• Pillar 2 Regional Technical Advisor as RESILAC Regional Coordination level: Functional management, technical guidance, support, exchange of information, reporting, collaboration, coordination.
• Abuja and field-based FSL team: exchange of information, collaboration and coordination.
• Pillar 1, 3 and 4 Technical Advisors at RESILAC Regional Coordination (Njamena): exchange of information, collaboration, support, technical guidance.
• Maiduguri/Abuja HR, Finance, Logistics Departments: support, exchange of information, collaboration.
• Borno Area Base Coordinator: collaboration, exchange of information, coordination.

External:

• Governmental and non-governmental implementing partners: Exchange of information, coordination, training, supervision, influence on the choice of technical options.
• Representatives of international aid organizations: Exchange of information.

Position Requirements/Qualifications

• Degree or Post Graduate Qualification in Agro-engineering, Agronomy and similar field.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in food security and livelihoods projects and at least 1 year in managerial positions.

Skills & Experience
Essential:

• Proven experience with rehabilitating productive assets or developing improved production systems in a similar socio-environmental context.
• Strong drive for innovation in food production techniques.
• Proven management and coordination skills (HR, projects, and stress management).
• Proven ability to translate analysis and evaluation into operational planning and strategy.
• Experience with evaluations and monitoring as well as Program Cycle Management.
• Clear understanding of child and gender protection issues in the field.
• Good understanding of the North East Nigeria social and operational environment.
• Disciplined and able to work and arrive at decisions autonomously and with minimal guidance.
• Fluent in English language.
• Excellent English writing skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft office applications.

Preferred:

• Combined agronomy and engineering profile.
• Previous experience with Action Against Hunger in a similar position.
• Understanding of Hausa and/or Kanuri language.

Application Closing Date
23rd April, 2019.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.