Functions:

• Work closely with the Country Director, DOP, RIPA COP and other senior program team members to implement the ENSP + program vision and strategy.
• Lead the development of the ENSP+ detailed implementation strategy.
• Ensure all ENSP+ team members have a clear understanding of the program strategy and their role in contributing towards its delivery.
• In coordination with Mercy Corps’ country leadership team and program team members, lead the management, administration and closeout of program. Ensure implementation is on time, target and budget.
• Lead assessments and analysis across all target locations (including needs, Context analysis/ CAT, seed security assessments), drawing on external technical expertise as needed.
• Lead the process of developing partnership frameworks to support program implementation, partner agreements and ensure partner capacity building.
• Work with partners (including ENSP+ consortium members, government sector offices at different levels and locations, private sector actors, community representatives) in a flexible and creative to achieve the best possible results for all segments of the targeted communities.
• Coordinate, manage and motivate program teams across all implementation locations, ensuring they have clear objectives / individual work plans as part of performance management, and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.
• Help to identify new funding opportunities for agricultural/seed programs.
• Support the design of new proposals working on agriculture/seed programs including participating in design workshops.
• Support writing/review of concept notes and proposals.
• Work closely with field teams to influence their engagement and support of program pre-positioning, development and implementation.
• Lead and manage recruitment and training of all team members working in the portfolio.
• Oversee the documentation and filing systems for all programs in the portfolio and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs. Ensure required levels of confidentiality.
• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its work.
• Lead the identification of program issues, challenges and risks, with in the team and lead appropriate recommendations and implements them.
• With support of the Operations Manager, ensure adequate operational systems are in place to provide for programs implementation.
• Ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the programs are conducted within Mercy Corps policy.
• Manage program budgets as the primary budget holder.

• Minimum Requirement:

  Education:

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in a field related Agriculture, Rural development, Agricultural economics, Agri business, Cooperative business management or any other relevant field.

  Experience:

  • Minimum of 5 years’ work experience with NGO and/or profit-making agribusiness working with vulnerable, marginalized communities
  • Proven experience in applying market-based approaches to increase access to agricultural inputs including collaborating with private sector national and international actors to achieve sustainable and scalable solutions for hard-to-reach communities.
  • Proven experience supporting innovative agricultural value chain development through market system approach with specific focus on seed system strengthening.

  Language:

  • Fluency in English is required.