Food Income and Markets Programme Manager

Contract Grade:                                                B

Contract Length:                              One Year

Date Needed By:                             ASAP

New Post or Replacement:         Replacement

Accompanied / Unaccompanied: Unaccompanied           

Exact Job Location:                          Nyamlel, Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan

Reports To:                                         Area Coordinator

Responsible For:                              Agri-Business Technical Advisor, Extension Advisor, Project Managers,                                                                                Project                 Coordinators and Technical Programme Staff

Liaises With:                                      Nutrition Programme Manager, Health Programme Manager, Base                                                                         Manager, Relevant Technical Advisers in HQ (Dublin) and Line Ministries                                                            & other stakeholders in South Sudan

Job Purpose: Responsible for overall design and management of the Food, Income & Markets (FIM) programme in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan. The incumbent will be expected provide both strategic and managerial leadership to the programme team, while maintaining effective liaison with relevant internal and external actors. The position will represent Concern Worldwide at various relevant forums.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Programme Design and Implementation.

• Lead in the identification of new programme opportunities and development of cohesive and effective design of FIM programme in line with South Sudan Country Strategy as well as Concern World wide’s Contextual Analysis and Global Strategic priorities.
• Ensure strategies and standards relating to programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation are of high quality and aligned with necessary compliance standards for improved programme effectiveness; and that the programme meets both Concern Worldwide as well as Donor standards.
• Ensure mainstreaming of crosscutting issues/approaches throughout the programme cycle including: accountability to beneficiaries & other stakeholders, HIV/AIDS, equality/gender, DRR, rights based approach and do no harm throughout the programmes.
• In close coordination with the Area Coordinator, Nutrition Programme Manager, Health Programme Manager, identify areas of integration that will complement and supplement the respective programmes through common planning and capacity building.
• Liaise and develop networks with government, non-government and private partners and donors and promote an understanding of Concern Worldwide’s work and to inform the Country Management Team of key trends and best practices.
• Provide information for Annual Accountability Progress Report and ensure that the accountability implementation plan is being carried out

Programme Learning, Monitoring & Evaluation: 

• Throughout the programme cycle regularly monitor and review programme implementation to ensure quality, contractual compliance and timely reporting.
• Responsible for development of an M&E system and plan that will measure the effectiveness and the impact of the programmes, and train and support programme staff in its implementation.
• Monitor and regularly evaluate implementation progress and impact and propose modifications as required to increase effectiveness and impact.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of internal systems and mechanisms for documentation and sharing of lessons learned across the programme.
• Oversee necessary programme review and evaluations and ensure lessons learned are incorporated into current and future programming.
• Together Area Coordinator and ACDP, ensure sharing of relevant programme information and learning both within the Country programme and with appropriate external agencies, partners and stakeholders.

Donor Compliance

• Ensure that donor proposals, budgets and reports are of high quality, up to date and delivered in a timely manner in accordance with Concern policies/procedures, donor requirements and for other interested parties.
• Monitor and manage FIM programme expenditure and budgets, ensuring resources are optimally utilized and spending is in line with Concern financial procedures and Donor requirements
• Together with Area Coordinator and Country Finance Controller, analyse and ensure that programme expenditures are correct and compliant with the necessary procedures, while promoting financial accountability.
• Prepare timely and quality expenditure reports in consultation with Country Finance Controller and Area Coordinator

• Be responsible for ensuring that donor strategy, donor guidelines, formats and processes are understood and being adhered to within programme implementation and procurement.

Human Resources and Capacity Building.

• Identify project staff needs, ensuring that  Job descriptions are developed, properly qualified staff are recruited, inducted and trained as per the needs of the programme and the organisation
• Manage Programme Team with particular emphasis on capacity building of staff through mentoring, training, and ensuring that all staff have up to date job descriptions and PDR as per policy.
• Provide direction, guidance, assistance and support to programme staff as appropriate to carry out their responsibilities, and ensure that they receive adequate professional guidance and development opportunity.
• Lead project managers in identifying, designing and implementing appropriate training and effective coaching and mentoring strategies for the subordinates.
• To facilitate training and capacity building support to civil society organisations (CSOs) including organizational development.
• Ensure necessary performance appraisals are conducted and documented as per Concern Worldwide’s standards and requirements.

Communications/Reporting

• Ensure that timely, good quality reports are prepared for donors, Local and State Government, collaborating agencies, networks/forums as well as for internal use.
• Monitor the production and dispatch of Proramme reports within Concern, for donors and other interested parties as appropriate in accordance with approved reporting schedules
• Ensure that all Concern internal and Donor reports are produced to a high standard and in a timely manner.
• Manage and monitor the Programme Complaints Response Mechanism and ensure analysis of and learning from complaint information

Security and Representation

• As a member of Field Security Focal group, support the Area Coordinator in managing and monitoring the day-to-day application of the Concern South Sudan Security Management Plans (SMP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs
• Participate in the analysis of security incidents and trends in the programme locations and surrounding areas, ensuring that line management is regularly briefed on the security situation and advice as necessary in relation to adaptation of workplans and movement plans as necessary.
• Participate in the revision of SOPs when necessary and other security related duties when necessary.

Other Duties

• Participate in country-level strategic planning initiatives and other duties as determined by line management.
• Contribute to organisational accountability initiatives, including overseeing the roll out of commitments of Concern under the HAP (Humanitarian Accountability Partnership)
• Adhere fully to the commitments and rules of Concern’s Programme Participant Protection Policy and Code of Conduct including the respect of confidentiality.
• Report to the appropriate manager, all violations of the P4 or code of conduct. This is a mandatory duty of all staff.
• Any other duties as may reasonably be requested by line management in order to effectively contribute to achieving the purpose of this role.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL

Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:

• Master’s degree in agriculture, natural resources, or other course of studies related to food security and livelihoods.
• A minimum of 5 years’ of strategic & operational experience in implementing Food Security & Livelihood programmes in developing countries
• Significant experience in working and building the capacity of local government authorities (LGA)
• The post holder should have good practical knowledge and skills in one or more relevant areas (e.g. agriculture, livestock,…)  strong proposal/ report writing experience, significant experience of participatory methodologies e.g. PLA
• Experience in managing large EU, USAID and DFID Livelihoods grants.
• Significant experience in working with a diverse team and capacity building through mentoring & coaching
• Ability to work and contribute as part of a multi-cultural team.
• Willingness to travel frequently in remote areas
• Live under fairly basic conditions.
• Very good facilitation skills
• Needs to have initiative and be able to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to produce high quality work and balance competing priorities within demanding timeframe
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills
• High degree of computer literacy in managing assessment and M&E software e.g. Epidata/Epinfo, HEA etc.
• Previous working experience with NGO in complex contexts is essential
• Knowledge of cross-cutting issues and experience of mainstreaming these in programmes
• Ability to see the overall picture
• Ability to get on well with people and get the best out of them

DESIRABLE

Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:

• Experience of managing transition programming
• Good monitoring and surveying skills and strong analytical skills
• A good understanding of the links between emergency and development
• Experience in implementing programmes in a post conflict situation, preferably in Africa
• Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements:
• Ability to work under stress and duress
• Self-starter with minimal oversight
• Any Other Special Requirements:

All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by closing date January 21st 2014. CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length.

Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date.

Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them.  In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment.   By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.

Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year.  Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).  Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant.  For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.