Program Director

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.

Passing Gifts Private Limited (PGPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heifer International USA and it provide services in educating, consulting, training, advising, and providing professional and technical services to individuals, associations, and entities in India and abroad, particularly those who support or are working in the areas of social advancement and sustainable development. This position may also require service agreements, secondment agreements, between entities, etc.

PGPL 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:Reporting to the Senior Program Director, the Signature Program Director will autonomously provide strategic technical Signature Programs leadership and implementation. S/he will be responsible for Signature Program design for the needed permanency, scale, and impact through collaborative working. The Director will be a market systems and value chain expert. S/he must have a strong understanding and practical hands-on experience in Access to Finance, Access/Route to Market, Cooperative Movement/FPO and capacity building. Business Acumen and management will be critical for effective management and leadership.

The Signature Program Director provides overall leadership and management for all PGPL programs including leading the planning, design, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the country program and ensuring that the quality of projects, implementation, donor reporting and field level management is of the highest standards. The Director provides line management support to all Program Managers and Program Officers including overall management of their performance and of all PGPL Program staff.

The Signature Program Director supports the planning and implementation of accelerated, viable and profitable intervention strategies to scale up program impact on the ground, creating strong demand-driven market components as a part of the PGPL strategy. With the support of the Sr. Program Director, the Signature Program Director leads the process for developing and growing PGPL’s Program to reflect a fair balance in the project portfolio.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES: (including approximate percentage effort)

Ensure Programmatic Excellence - Quality and Effective Management (30%)• Program Implementationo Maintain excellent oversight of all program components and meet expectations for program successes and impact.o Ensure that all projects are on time and within project budget and scope.o Ensure application of best standards, best practices, partnership principles, processes, and tools, towards high quality implementation of signature programs.o Mainstream VBHCD and 12 Cornerstone model in signature project (SHG, PMC, PIMC, CAVE, PSRP and personal leadership.o Monitor and provide feedback on program quality through regular team meetings, field visits, and regular communication.o Ensure that program Managers and Coordinators execute approved work plan activities and operations in response to technical direction and recommend appropriate adjustments to achieve program objectives.o Develop and adopt standardized approaches, practices, tools, and measurements in partnership and capacity strengthening.o Guide in-country program team in developing comprehensive plans and materials, developing and implementing capacity-strengthening strategies in the Signature Program area.• Program Designo Build co-designing relationships for in-country signature programming effectiveness (set up right from the onset.o Develop and implement strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in program quality that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments.o In consultation with Senior Program Director and the Regional Signature Program Technical team, creatively design initiatives that uphold and improve program quality, innovation, and learning on signature programs.o For effective co-design outcomes, enable strong relationships with donors, peer organizations, research, and other institutions, towards enhancing program quality and impact.

Project Partner Management (20%)• Ensure that the Triadic Partnership model is established between the program team, project partner and community.• Lead the assessment and selection of the appropriate project partners for project implementation.• Ensure the execution of Letters of Agreement (LOAs) with project holders.• Ensure the highest quality of program implementation by providing dynamic leadership to project holders.• Conduct regular monitoring and periodic evaluation of project holders’ performance including budgeting, spending and variance analysis.• Ensure timely reporting from the partner level.• Review project compliance and finalize regular quarterly, semi-annual and annual programmatic and financial reports for transparency and efficiency.• Integrate HQ requirements (reporting, financial, operational etc.) into partners’ management and implementation systems.• Facilitate various evaluations and surveys with support from the MELs team.

Donor and Stakeholder Relationship Management (20%)• Effectively maintain strong communication with all relevant stakeholders throughout program implementation and successfully manage a matrix program management structure when necessary.• Network with likeminded agencies and government line departments by organizing and attending state or district level meetings and workshops.• Collaborate with local government and non-government bodies as well as ensure the convergence of project activities.• Ensure that block, district and state level stakeholders are involved in project implementation and monitoring through the establishment of a project management structure.• Build and maintain relationships with project donors

Program Operations Management (20%)• Ensure adherence to set compliance standards within Heifer and donor program and project guidelines and standards, including transparency, policy compliance, accountability, and communication with HQ, donors, and external stakeholders.• Ensure all program teams develop annual budgets and work plans consistent with program documents.• Provide support to program teams in undertaking the necessary review and updating of the work plans and budgets to respond to any emerging field implementation challenges and program review processes.• In liaison with the Finance department, undertake monthly budget monitoring and variance analysis with all Program Managers, while reviewing and tracking spending to adhere to annual budgets.• Ensure Program Managers undertake corrective management actions arising out of budget monitoring reports.• Ensure that all donor reports and project progress reports are compliant with the highest quality standards, timelines, and formats.• Ensure timely reporting and evaluation in line with Heifer’s MELS requirements and in-country statutory requirements.• Lead in the provision of critical services to the project in the areas of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and other thematic areas (social capital, women’s empowerment, climate smart agriculture, market development, etc.).

People Management (10%)• Build the capacity of program staff. Supervise, monitor, coach and provide regular backstopping.May perform other job-related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:• Bachelor’s Degree in Rural Development or equibalance subjects, Project Planning and Management, Agriculture, Agribusiness and Animal Science or other relevant qualification plus ten (10) years of relevant experience, OR master’s degree in the same fields plus eight (8) years of experience.• Five (5) years of supervisory/managerial experience.• Thorough understanding of programming processes, systems and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at the community level.• Sound understanding of value chain development on various agricultural commodities and the livestock sector.• Sound understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of the root causes of poverty in India.• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning processes.• Good experience in annual work planning and budgeting and budget monitoring.• A good understanding of monitoring and evaluation processes.• 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.• Excellent leadership qualities, communication skills, and organizational skills including strong attention to detail.• Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and Internet.• Demonstrated proficiency in English and Hindi, both oral and written.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES:• 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 junior and senior staff.• Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public to scale up BSLD and Country program 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.