The Soils4Liberia, an EU Productivity to Product, Linking Peers to Peers (P2P) funded Action, seeks to develop a Land and Soil Information System for managing land and soil data and to generate information on the status of the land and soil resources in Liberia. The information will be disseminated to enhance knowledge on land and soil information and support stakeholders in the use of the information for their own decision-making, whether for policy development, or the planning of development action and targeting interventions for improved resource conservation, sustainable increase of productivity, or for making agriculture climate smart and for interventions in agriculture for mitigation of climate change.
IITA requires a national-level staff on the Soils4Liberia Project for general management of the project, internal and external communications and maintain good relationship with major stakeholders like the MoA and other government entities and with good oversight of initiatives and actions in relation to agricultural development in Liberia (and history in Liberia). Must demonstrate knowledge and experience of EU-funded Programs and Projects\u2019 management and have a strong understanding of program coordination and management in the MoA with relevant experience. Support the establishment of effective partnerships and collaborations with governments, donors, civil societies, NGOs, and other international organizations. Must demonstrate broad intercultural competence and ability to cope in a multinational team.
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RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide technical expertise to ensuring effective and efficient management, implementation and monitoring of Soils4Liberia project and its compliance with relevant national policies and procedures. ย Coordinate project activities, ensure implementation of strategies and actions as scheduled and agreed-upon, and facilitate stakeholders and partnerships coordination, supporting the implementation of Soils4Liberia, and national agriculture development programs and contribute to improved standards, processes and tools.ย Develop, maintain and enhance collaboration with diverse national sector actors (MoA, CARI, FDA, LLA, NBC, EPA, NaFAA, etc), academia (colleges & TVET centers), donors (EU, World Bank, AfDB, IFAD, etc.), and technical partners (CGIAR center, FAO, UN agencies, etc.) involved with agriculture research for development.ย Advise and collaborate with donor and international partners to raise awareness of the country priorities and needs and support their inclusion into relevant programming activities for Liberia. ย Positively represent the IITA/Soils4Liberia Project\u2019s aims and objectives, advocate IITA\u2019s policy positions relevant to the EU-funded P2P Programming and Projects\u2019 coordination in relevant national fora. ย Support program/project innovation through research and close monitoring of development. Monitor and identify funding sources, facilitate the preparation of concept notes and proposal and ensure high-quality donor servicing and grant management in compliance with donor and IITA regulations, policies and procedures.ย Sustain and increase the confidence among stakeholders in the reliability, resilience and efficiency of the overall management systems for the Soils4Liberia project. Keep the Project Team informed of major economic and social developments in the country and monitoring the situation of the agriculture sector in the country.ย Demonstrate excellent communication and organizational skills and be responsible for internal and external communications, including maintaining relationship with stakeholders, carrying out project awareness and campaign activities, and ensuring regular and proactive communication between internal stakeholders at the international, regional and national levels as well as with external partners. ย Lead and/or participate in cross-functional processes to increase quality institutional partnerships. Contribute to organizational learning by facilitating capacity building activities in the project implementation cycle by leveraging knowledge management systems to capture, store, and share information as well as create a culture of continuously learning. ย Provide administrative and operational support to project staff. Contribute and ensure strategic and timely planning of material resources and logistics support in collaboration with designated project team, including finance and procurement. Assist in coordinating all local and international procurement activities in compliance with IITA policies and donor rules.ย Provide logistical support and advisory for the procurement and delivery of needed supplies and equipment.ย Support travel arrangements and field supervision missions by IITA, EU Delegation and collaborating national stakeholders, including the MoA and CARI. Assist in managing all matters related to the security and safety of project personnel and assets while ensuring full adherence to relevant security policy, etcย Contribute to periodic technical reporting and reports to Donors.ย Perform any other duties as requested.Requirements
EDUCATION
Master\u2019s degree in agriculture, natural resources or environmental sciences with minimum of 5 years experience performing similar tasks in a well-structured environment.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively interact with all levels of staff, members, government personnel, and others Strong written and oral communication skills in English; and working knowledge of French would be plus Capable of handling changing and competing priorities, particularly in periods of heavy workload or under tight deadlines Team player with a positive attitude, also capable of working independently. Takes initiative to effectively support project management and coordination to complete project activities in a timely manner Knowledge in arranging trainings, workshops, and travel logistics Detail-oriented, eye for accuracy, and strong numeracy skills Knowledge and skilled in project management, logistics, laboratory, and administrative support Ability to maintain an approachable attitude, act consistently, and provide realistic advice in the context of resources Demonstrated abilities to work in multicultural and diverse environment of stakeholders with varying priorities Ability to work with stakeholders to prioritizeย needs and guide the planning process. Evidence of significant Leadership, management and organizational skills including change management and emphasis on details.. Good management of conflicts situations. Experience in backstopping and providing technical advisory on project management and coordination especially in the MoA and CARI. Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a team and across multiple partners. Skills in using software, including Microsoft Office Suite (MS Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Zoom, SharePoint). Proven experience with planning and data collection methods. Ability to compile information and write routine reports. Ability to travel within Liberia to work for short-term assignments that may be outside of commuting distance to home.Benefits
REMUNERATION:
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.