Position Title: Manager Agriculture and Food Systems
Job Title: Manager Agriculture and Food Systems
Reports to:
Technically: Coordinator Livelihoods
Administratively: Field Operations Coordinator
Works Closely with: WASH team, Health and Nutrition team, Llivelihoods team, Finance and procurement team
Job Location: Hola, Tana River (Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Kenya at the time of application - National Position)
Contract Details: Fixed Term , One(1) Year Contract, renewable subject to availability of funds.
Job Summary:
To provide technical and management support for Tana River County integrated Food Systems programs with focus on enhancing the economics of food productions, food system governance and its sustainability through value chain development approach.
He/she will provide technical leadership and vision for agricultural based livelihoods in the areas of Disaster Risk Reduction, market systems development, resilience modelling, and climate change adaptation. He/she will work closely with relevant county Government relevant department to prioritize activities and investments. He/She will also act as the Tana River County Programme focal person overseeing the management of all projects in Tana River County.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Contribute to the implementation of the Country Strategic Plan for concern Kenya through actioning committed investment in the achievement of the plan objectives for Tana River County in consultation with country management team.
- To provide leadership and technical guidance to program staffs in facilitating the design, implementation, and monitoring of integrated agriculture and food systems programming in Tana River County.
- Constantly monitor all programs that include Livelihoods, Nutrition, Health, WASH, Governance and humanitarian situation, assess needs in the project areas, and propose to the line manager for appropriate actions, including the design of new actions for the future program.
- Give support, advice, directions and mentor to the Field core staff to conduct ongoing monitoring of the project against objectives outlined in the project using methods and tools developed by Concern.
- Consolidate internal and external reports from field staff based on weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports as required and share them with line manager for action.
- Engage in project start-up, monitoring, analysis, course corrections, and evaluations to ensure high-quality, impactful program implementation.
- Monitor and advise on program and project spending and variance reports as per organizational process and procedures.
- Contribute to knowledge management in the programming. This may include, but is not limited to, documentation, engaging in communities of practice to share and disseminate lessons learned, and scalable evidence-based practices.
- Keep the line manager informed of all developments and issues through formal reports, informal updates, and written minutes documented for all external meetings.
- Network with County government departments of Agriculture, Livestock production and fisheries development; health and nutrition, water, environment and natural resources; trade, industry and enterprise development amongst others to establish a collaborative working environment
- Network with the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) on matters related to County Contingency Planning, social protection system, early warning systems and emergency response.
- Network with Civil Society Organizations engaging in Food Security and Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction and resilience programming and other related programs in Tana River County to foster coordination and collaboration in areas where their works interacts with Concern Worldwide programs.
- Represent Concern Worldwide at County level programmes related technical and coordination forums in: County steering groups, Natural Resources Management, livestock sector forums, WESCOORD, early warning systems, cash transfer programming, nutrition and others as will be specified by the line manager.
- Support funding acquisition by providing technical/design leadership, leveraging existing learning, identifying and cultivating strategic opportunities, and assisting country programs teams in developing winning proposals, advocacy, and recourse mobilization.
- Be the focal person for overseeing the management of the Tana River County Programme including managing Costed Work Plan implementation, Managing Staff and security focal person.
Responding to Emergencies:
- Participating and contributing towards Concern’s emergency response, as and when necessary
- Complying with Concern’s health, safety and security guidelines during emergencies.
Others
- Adhere to and promote the standards outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies to their team, beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment
- Participating and contributing towards Concern’s emergency response, as and when necessary
- Take all possible measure to meet Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)
- Any other duties as assigned by the Line Manager.
Person Specification
Minimum Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science and technology, Agriculture (Agriculture Production, Agriculture Economics, and Agronomics) or a related field.
- At least five (5) years’ experience in similar role in food systems programming, with a focus on agriculture value chain and market system development.
- Demonstrated understanding of climate smart agriculture.
- Must have a working knowledge of Project Cycle Management.
- Working knowledge of the following technical approaches: Community Conversations, Natural Resource Management, Making Markets work for the Poor and Value Chains Development.
- Good understanding of cross cutting issues- gender, HIV and AIDS, DRR, etc. and how to integrate them into Food system programmes.
Preference will be given to candidates who have:
- Managerial skills; resourceful and adaptable work approach; creative and proactive approach to problem solving.
- Practical construction skills and an interest in low cost and local materials and techniques.
- Strong analytical and strategic planning skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Commitment to beneficiary accountability and humanitarian principles.
- Ability to give attention to details.
- Adhere to the standards of conduct outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies.
- Commitment to beneficiary accountability and humanitarian ethics.
Competencies required:
- Be able to manage self - Awareness of your own abilities and uses abilities to work well with others to achieve your work and Concern’s objectives.
- Proactively and effectively share information with others. Works effectively with others to achieve best results from people and situations.
- Able to deliver on commitments; uses appropriate techniques to help achieve agreed objectives
- Be innovative and creative by developing and implementing new ideas for effective and efficient progress towards the agreed objectives.
- Systematically work towards achieving objectives; informed and timely decisions (appropriate to role), to achieve work objectives.
Safeguarding at Concern: Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies
Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These 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 organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation 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 consultancy opportunity with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their consultancy contract. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to do consultancy work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, being hired as a consultant with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.
Concern’ is the trading name of ‘Concern Worldwide’, a company limited by guarantee, registered number 39647; registered charity number CHY 5745, registered in Ireland, registered address is 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Follow Concern online: www.concern.net
How to apply
Interested candidates, who meet the above requirements, should send a detailed CV with three referees and Cover Letter Only to nairobi.hr@concern.net with the subject of the email as "Manager Agriculture and Food Systems ’’ on or before Tuesday 24th January 2023 ". Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.
Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge a fee at any stage of recruitment process (for application, written test, interview, training, medical examination etc.) nor act through recruitment agents. This is applicable for all opportunities including staff and interns.