Food Security Technical Director, Zimbabwe 86 views0 applications

*Position contingent upon funding and donor approval.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

World Vision seeks a Food Security Technical Coordinator for the proposed USAID/Food for Peace -funded Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Zimbabwe.

The Food Security Technical Coordinator (FSTC) will be charged with ensuring that all of the technical sectors work together to create multiplier effects across and between sectors. The FSTC will also ensure that overall technical implementation quality remains consistent and of high quality among all of the sub-awardees and implementation locations in the award. The FSTC will also ensure technical interventions are integrated, layered and sequenced appropriately at all levels of implementation within the FFP activity.

S/he will work closely with the Community Visioning (CV) Lead to ensure that the implementation meets the needs of the people in the targeted communities and aligns with participant aspirations. In collaboration with the CV Lead, the incumbent will lead any necessary adaptation to the technical approach of activities in order to address challenges articulated by participants in their journey to realize development aspirations. The FSTC will work closely with the M&E Lead and the CLA Lead to ensure that M&E and learning feedback loops are properly fed into and utilized by the technical field staff.

S/he will also provide technical guidance and supervision of sub-grantees and/or sub-contractors on a broad spectrum of food security technical focus areas. S/he will supervise technical specialists in the relevant sectoral areas.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide technical support and guidance to ensure technical interventions are integrated, layered and sequenced appropriately at all levels of implementation within the food security related activities in accordance with World Vision strategies and USAID/FFP guidelines.
• Responsible for ensuring that all of the technical sectors work together to create multiplier effects across and between sectors.
• The FSTC will also ensure that overall technical implementation quality remains consistent and of high quality among all of the sub-awardees and implementation locations in the award.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor implementation, deliver technical support to field staff, conduct trainings, provide resources, and make clear recommendations on ways to strengthen the program and share learning across programs.
• Ensure that cross-cutting themes such as gender and youth, social cohesion, and social accountability are fully included within the Food Security interventions and strategy.
• Work closely with the M&E Lead and the CLA Lead to ensure that M&E and learning feedback loops are properly fed into and utilized by the technical field staff.
• Work with the Strategic Coordination and Learning Adviser to ensure high quality, coordinated, and demand driven learning, knowledge management and capacity strengthening activities.
• Liaise with different stakeholders at HQ level – and at the field level to ensure up-to-date knowledge of the global food security policies, including USAID policies and strategies, for improving food security and nutrition for the most vulnerable.
• Supervise technical specialists that report directly to this position. Conduct regular coaching and implement the Performance Development Management system. Ensure the Technical Working Groups are implementing the technical design and the learning agenda.
• Act on behalf of the Deputy Chief of Party when requested and carry out additional responsibilities as assigned.
• Perform other duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Required:

• A master’s degree in development studies, international relations, agriculture, nutrition, public health, business administration, or a related field, plus six years of relevant experience is required, or a PhD plus a minimum of five years relevant experience, or a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven years of relevant experience is required.
• Highly experienced in a broad spectrum of food security technical focus areas such as nutrition and health, disaster risk reduction, livelihoods as well as cross cutting interventions such as gender, youth and social dynamics that affect food security and nutrition.
• Demonstrated experience in developing—and ensuring quality control over—technically rigorous food security activity integration and collaboration.
• Knowledge of nutrition, agriculture and food security programming in both humanitarian and development settings.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with international assistance program preferably USAID Office or Food for Peace (FFP) policies.
• Experience working/living in Southern Africa. Familiarity with the Zimbabwe context.
• Previous experience managing local staff.
• Previous experience with managing sub-contractors is highly desirable.
• Ability to work cross-culturally with diverse teams.
• Strong presentation and report writing skills.
• Ability to achieve results through partners.
• Experience as a Food Security Specialist required.
• Experience working with sub grantees and contracts under grants for complex projects.
• The candidate must be professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken English.

Preferred:

• Strong management and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Mentoring and facilitation skills.
• Ability to network and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience working overseas in low-resource environments.
• Previous experience with Development Food Assistance Programs (DFAP)s, Multi Year Assistance Programs (MYAP)s, and/or Development Assistance Programs (DAP)s is preferred.

Work Environment:

• Mandatory travels to implementation sites and regional, global meetings as required.