Project Director, Linguere, Senegal 179 views0 applications

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 seeking qualified candidates for the Project Director position for the Dolly Ranch Holistic Land Management Project in Senegal. The purpose of the Project is to work with the pastoralists to regenerate the grasslands of the Dolly ranch to improve soil health, water retention, and the ability of the land to support livestock and farming which leads to economic sustainability for the pastoralists. The COP will oversee all aspects of project implementation and should have significant experience managing multisector development programs, leading teams, and working in Senegal with pastoralists.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to ensuring efficient management of project resources; review and approve project plans and budgets and monitoring expenditures; supervision of field operations; procurement; supervision of monitoring and evaluation; and ensuring quality control and timeliness of all deliverables as required. S/he will ensure an unified vision among project stakeholders and a focus on achieving results. S/he will ensure full compliance with the Heifer Project Management and compliance policies and procedures and will oversee the project reporting process to the donors/stakeholders (quarterly, midterm and annual reports; evaluation report and end of project report). S/he will oversee performance management of all project staff working exclusively in this project as well as technical implementing partners and will ensure timely reporting on the progress of the project and its financial status. 

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS

Heifer International Senegal is looking for a self-motivated, result oriented individual of high integrity and accountability to fill in the position of the Project Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES

Project Management (20%)

• Assume overall responsibility for the management of the Dolly Ranch Project and provide line management support to all field staff.
• Support field staff in the management of the field resources and project budgets and ensure these are used in compliance with approved guidelines.
• Implement annual performance management process for all field staff.
• Identifying programmatic challenges, bottlenecks, risks and any obstacles to implementation, and informing and troubleshooting solutions with Heifer Headquarters.

DELIVERABLE

• Staff performance management system for all project field staff implemented on a quarterly and annual basis for all staff ensuring the achievement of at least 80% of the set performance targets.
• Enhanced compliance and accountability in the management of project resources, achieving 100% compliance.
• Over 80 % of the planned milestones are achieved by the project.
• Ensure 100% compliance with donor contractual obligations by all the project field staff.
• All implementation challenges handled in a timely manner and with consultation with Heifer HQ and Savory Institute as needed.

Program Reporting and Relationship Management (20%)

• Review regular quarterly, semi- and annual reports from the Program Officers and support them to comply with requirements of quality reporting and timeliness.
• Compile quarterly reports to provide oversight of the Project implementation.
• Develop and maintain key stakeholder relationships, especially with the Savory Institute, the Government of Senegal, pastoralist groups, and other key project partners to facilitate efficient coordination of resources and a community-driven approach.

DELIVERABLE

• All project progress reports (quarterly, semi- and annual reports) from the Program Officers are compliant with expected quality standards and timelines.
• Project Quarterly Reports are compiled within the stipulated timelines

Budget Management and Monitoring (15%)

• In coordination with the finance department, undertake monthly and quarterly budget monitoring and variance analysis with all Program Officers and support the project in reviewing and tracking spending to adhere to annual budgets.
• Lead the Program Officers in undertaking corrective management actions arising out of budget monitoring reports.
• In coordination with the Finance department, approve program related requests for imprest and reconciliations in line with work plans and financial management procedures.

DELIVERABLE

• Monthly and Quarterly budgets reviewed highlighting status of project spending and presenting these in the monthly operational meetings.
• Implementing and tracking all the proposed corrective measures to address any variances beyond +/-10%, ensuring that the spending is brought on track within the planned period.
• Ensure program request for imprests and reconciliations approved in line with workplans and financial management procedures.

Resource Mobilization (15%)

• Lead resource mobilization efforts to acquire donor funds to support the project from both local sources (in Senegal) as well as external sources (including but not limited to institutional, foundation, private sector or major gift donations).
• Write grants and/or applications for funding to support the project.

DELIVERABLE

• Additional funding outside of Heifer’s funds are available for project implementation and impact.

Project Planning and Budgeting (15%)

• Assisting in project design and work plan development in consultation with the in-country stakeholders, Heifer International and Savory Institute.
• Support all project teams to develop annual budgets and workplans consistent with project documents and donor contracts.
• Support teams in undertaking the necessary review and updating of the workplans and budgets to respond to emerging field implementation challenges and project review processes.
• Lead the field program in the LOA revision process with partners based on the ground performance and realities, as needed.
• Compile regular programmatic and financial reports per donor and partner requirements.

DELIVERABLE

• Project workplans and budgets (annual, quarterly and monthly) developed for and implemented in line with project proposal documents and workplans.
• Periodic and timely reviews of budgets and reforecasting of all approved projects workplans undertaken and shared with Savory Institute and respective donors, ensuring alignment with the donor contracts.
• Effective management of partnerships between beneficiary groups and project stakeholders who are supported by the project, to ensure smooth implementation.
• Programmatic and financial reports are prepared as per donor and partner requirement.

Outcome Documentation and Lessons Learned (10%)

• Support the project in developing and documenting lessons learnt and experiences for dissemination and sharing to inform future project development.
• Provide leadership with data on outcomes of the project and Lessons Learned to inform other projects being designed and implemented for potential scale up.

DELIVERABLE

• Works with Project and MELS staff as well as Savory Institute and others to measure project specific indicators on a regular basis.
• Lessons learnt from projects documented and disseminated to stakeholders before end of each project.
• Successful models documented before end of projects for replication or scale up.

Other job-related duties as assigned by the supervisor (5%)

Required Experience

Minimum Requirements

• A Master’s degree in international development, agriculture, economics, environmental management, or related field of study or equivalent work experience.
• Seven (7) years or more of progressively responsible work experience in managing or implementing development programs in West Africa.
• Fluency in French and Fulani and proficiency in English.

Preferred Requirements

• Expertise working on sustainable and resilient agriculture, livestock, or environmental management/conversation.
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, proven capacity to lead and coordinator multiple stakeholders
• Fluency in English.
• Preference given to candidates who have experience working in Senegal.
• Sound understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of the root causes of poverty and land degradation in the Sahel.
• Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning processes, social capital development and Markets for the poor (M4P) approach.
• Demonstrated experience of working with the private sector.

Most Critical Proficiencies

• Good understanding of annual work planning and budgeting and budget monitoring.
• A good understanding of monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Solid project management and reporting skills.
• A good understanding and sensitivity to issues associated with poverty, hunger and environment, and knowledge of the context to which non-profit organizations operate.
• Solid knowledge and experience in extension methodologies.
• Experience in agribusiness development, especially developing livestock value chains, market facilitation approaches and development of farmer business institutions.
• Knowledge and experience in training and participatory training methodologies.
• Team leadership skills, with good abilities of addressing conflicts among diverse teams and constituents.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and Internet.
• Demonstrated proficiency in English, French and Fulani, both oral and written.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

• Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision.
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule.
• Preparing and presenting project reports and presentations in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail.
• Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully and diplomatically with culturally diverse groups of people.
• Willingness and ability to assign and review the work of line managed staff and to use participatory management skills with direct and project partner staff.
• Proven team leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to train and work cooperatively with a diverse staff.
• Regularly conduct stakeholder analysis to strengthen partnerships and leveraging of resources.
• Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public to scale up Heifer’s visibility and publicity.
• May require constant sitting; working at a computer and focusing for extended periods of time and performing office work in the field and/or in remote conditions.
• Working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting sometimes inflexible deadlines.