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, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of specially-abled. FUNCTION: The Regional Program Manager (RPM) will serve in accordance with HPIBโs vision, mission, goal, objectives, policies, and procedures. The RPM will lead coordination and collaboration with local government in project design and resource leverage at the local level and ensure local needs and national development goals are considered. S/he will provide strategic guidance for effective implementation and coordinate with thematic leads to ensure social capital, supply chain, market system development and cooperative development aspects of the project are impactful. The position will provide continuous backstopping to project partners and manage all stakeholders for optimum project results. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES: (including approximate percentage effort) Quality Assurance in Project Implementation (30%)
- Provide oversight of the entire project management cycle and ensure project plans and milestones are on time, budget, and scope.
- Develop project strategies and implementation guidelines for smooth implementation of project activities.
- Build the capacity of staff and project partners; supervise, monitor, coach and provide regular backstopping.
- Ensure the quality of project input delivery such as trainings, materials, animals, and infrastructures.
- Ensure the implementation of the Values Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) approach (strong social capital) in the project communities.
- Coordinate with thematic leads (Cooperative and Market Development, Access to Finance, Social Capital Development, Livestock Technology and One Health, MELS, etc.) to ensure timely and quality project service delivery and to ensure that the thematics are integrated in the programs.
- Maintain transparency and meet compliance during project implementation.
- Conduct monitoring and provide support to Heifer field staff and project partner staff to ensure quality and achieve project objectives and goals.
- Responsible for all project program reporting to the government.
- Organize regular monthly meetings to review and prepare the plan for the next month and trimester; attend quarterly program review meeting at the CPO.
- Systematically document project successes and learnings.Market System Development (20%)
- Facilitate market research, value chain and supply chain analysis, and stakeholder analysis for identification of viable new business opportunities for cooperatives and for strengthening existing businesses.
- Identify market opportunities, facilitate producer organizations to set marketing goals, connect producer organizations/unions with the market to sell their products.
- Establish functional partnerships for producer organizations with relevant stakeholders (private sector, government agencies, other cross-cutting providers, etc.) for sustainable product marketing.
- Facilitate market linkage activities for cooperatives and ensure all deliverables in relation to product marketing strategy in a sustainable manner.
- Analyze a system of interconnected actors and strategically act to change this system by identifying key leverage points and creating mutually beneficial opportunities for the actors.
- Lead the development and implementation of a marketing and branding strategy for Heifer promoted products and services.Develop Partnership with Local Government for Mobilizing Financial Resources (20%)
- Identify potential local government authority for partnership. Consider socio economic context, technical feasibility of selected value chains and strategic importance for market development.
- Understand national and local government priorities and analyze how the project and Heiferโs VBHCD model can play a catalytic role.
- Engage in continuous discussion with the local government and develop a common understanding on how the partnership can be strengthened with the support of local government authority.
- Provide leadership in the selection of partners and developing technical and financial proposals for partnership with private sector and government departments to mobilize financial resource and other leveraged resources for projects.
- Provide leadership in fulfilling all program and government requirements for project implementation.
- Provide support and guidance for organizing regular meetings with Project Implementation and Monitoring Committee (PIMC) at the upazila and union level.
- Maintain a good working relationship with local government and other line departments (DAE, DAM, DLS, BADC, BARI etc.) for smooth project implementation.Coordination with Stakeholders (20%)
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders - government, private sector, NGO/INGOs and civil society organizations.
- Develop and maintain links with relevant professional bodies.
- Bring all related stakeholders to a common platform. Analyze gaps, opportunities, and solutions in the context of smallholder friendly practices.
- Coordinate with related private sector (market actors, BFIs, insurance companies, agri companies, etc.) and value chain actors to ensure required services are available in an efficient manner. May perform other job-related duties as assigned (10%) QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
- A bachelorโs degree from a recognized university in Business Administration, Agri-economics, Rural Development, Enterprise Development or other related field and a minimum of seven (7) years of experience with an international organization in a similar context is required, OR
- A masterโs degree or equivalent from a recognized university in the fields of Agriculture Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development, Enterprise Development or other related field and a minimum of five (5) years of field and technical experience with the commercial sector, agri business development in a mix of economic growth/trade, value chain competitiveness, investment promotion, or agriculture development
- Experience in leading/facilitating business development/market linkages/access to finance or development of business and production plans
- Knowledge in agriculture cooperative development
- Fluent in local language and English, both spoken and written
- Possess a working knowledge on sustainable livelihoods, value chain and market development
- Knowledge of community organizations โ SHGs, farmer producer groups, etc.
- Experience of field data collection
- Good analytical skills and ability to verify information
ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES:
- Ability to meet and deal with others in a courteous and tactful manner
- Ability to prepare and present documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail
- Proven team and customer care skills with the ability to train and work cooperatively with a diverse staff, including field staff in several locations
- Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues both within and outside the country
- Constant sitting, standing and walking, with occasional bending and lifting; may work at a computer for extended periods of time
- Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality
- Ability to perform multiple tasks with minimal supervision
- Willingness to work with a flexible schedule
- Willingness to travel both locally and internationally
- Able to effectively promote Heiferโs mission values, and objectives
Job Location: Heifer International Bangladesh Regional Office Jashore.
The last date of the application submission is March 02, 2024.