CRS launched its work in Ghana in 1958 and currently has robust programming in Agriculture and Livelihoods, Health, WASH, Migration, Youth Development and Peace Building, Gender, and financial inclusion. CRS is implementing several projects across these core program areas. This new project focuses on supporting,  interventions in priority agricultural value chains segments, including: 1) Animal Farming (Poultry and Fish); 2) Grains and Cereals, (Maize, Soybeans, Groundnuts, and Rice) and 3) Horticulture (Vegetables and Fruits).

In your role, you will support a team to achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project activities and providing technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the partners in the region for which you are responsible apply best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve. This position will report to the Project Manager and will be based in Tamale, Ghana, with frequent travel across Northern, Oti, and Bono East Regions of Ghana.

Please note: The position is contingent upon funding approval by the donor.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
• Supervise and perform ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Support and coordinate capacity building and technical support activities to ensure assigned project activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards.
• Coordinate provision of any logistical and administrative support to staff and partners.
• Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements. Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices.
• Train Private Agriculture Service Providers (PASPs) and provide technical guidance to project officers on access to finance for smallholder farmers through promotion of SILC for youth, women and people with disabilities.

 Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture (Economics, Extension, Agribusiness), Business Administration, Development Finance, or Entrepreneurship required. Master’s degree in international relations or in the field of Agriculture (Economics, Extension, Agribusiness), Business Administration, Development Finance, or Entrepreneurship, would be a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of Agriculture financing, Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) or Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), Agribusiness Development and for an NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

 Required Languages – Proficient in English Language.  Other local languages of the project localities such as Dagbani, Likpakpaln, Twi, Ewe and/or Bassari is preferred

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% of his or her time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Relevant project management experience, especially for large private donors, a plus.
• Experience working for projects supporting inclusion of women, youth and people with disabilities.
• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Staff supervision experience a plus.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

 Supervisory Responsibilities: Oversee the work of Partner Project officers.

 Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Project Manager, Agric Technical Advisor, Agric Program Director, Head of Programming, Snr Project MEAL Officer, and Snr Project Officers for other regions.

External: Field Agents, local partner management and project officers, other consortium member staff located in the region, District stakeholders, and other local and international partner organizations.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture (Economics, Extension, Agribusiness), Business Administration, Development Finance, or Entrepreneurship required. Master’s degree in international relations or in the field of Agriculture (Economics, Extension, Agribusiness), Business Administration, Development Finance, or Entrepreneurship, would be a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of Agriculture financing, Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) or Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), Agribusiness Development and for an NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.