The
International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a highly skilled, results-oriented
Project Manager to provide overall leadership and management for the
implementation of VISTA Malawi’s project. CIP seeks diversity and gender
balance in its staff. Women and citizens of developing countries are
particularly urged to apply.
International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a highly skilled, results-oriented
Project Manager to provide overall leadership and management for the
implementation of VISTA Malawi’s project. CIP seeks diversity and gender
balance in its staff. Women and citizens of developing countries are
particularly urged to apply.
The
Center
Center
CIP
is a not-for-profit international agricultural research for development with a
focus on potatoes, sweetpotatoes, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is to
emphasize the use of roots and tubers to improve the lives of the poor. CIP is
dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equality
for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing
world. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru with staff and activities over 30
locations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR
Consortium, a network of 15 research centers that are mostly located in the
developing world and supported by more than 50 donor members.
is a not-for-profit international agricultural research for development with a
focus on potatoes, sweetpotatoes, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is to
emphasize the use of roots and tubers to improve the lives of the poor. CIP is
dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equality
for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing
world. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru with staff and activities over 30
locations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR
Consortium, a network of 15 research centers that are mostly located in the
developing world and supported by more than 50 donor members.
The
Project
Project
CIP
is implementing the VISTA (Viable Sweetpotato Technologies in Africa) program
to scale up the production and utilization of biofortified, nutritious orange
sweetpotato in several African countries. With support from USAID/Feed the
Future, VISTA Malawi aims to improve diet diversity and food security and
enhance farm productivity and resilience among 50,000 smallholder households in
seven districts in Central Malawi through integrated agriculture-nutrition
interventions, and to reach a further 300,000 households with sweetpotato
planting material. VISTA is specifically targeted at households with children
under 5 years of age that are vulnerable to undernutrition, in particular
vitamin A deficiency. The project is implemented in partnership with the
Government of Malawi, NGOs and private sector partners and emphasizes capacity
strengthening and monitoring and learning across these partnerships. VISTA
Malawi is implemented as part of a consortium of agricultural research and
development projects by four CGIAR Centers. The project is closely aligned to
the objectives and monitoring processes of the Feed the Future program in
Malawi.
is implementing the VISTA (Viable Sweetpotato Technologies in Africa) program
to scale up the production and utilization of biofortified, nutritious orange
sweetpotato in several African countries. With support from USAID/Feed the
Future, VISTA Malawi aims to improve diet diversity and food security and
enhance farm productivity and resilience among 50,000 smallholder households in
seven districts in Central Malawi through integrated agriculture-nutrition
interventions, and to reach a further 300,000 households with sweetpotato
planting material. VISTA is specifically targeted at households with children
under 5 years of age that are vulnerable to undernutrition, in particular
vitamin A deficiency. The project is implemented in partnership with the
Government of Malawi, NGOs and private sector partners and emphasizes capacity
strengthening and monitoring and learning across these partnerships. VISTA
Malawi is implemented as part of a consortium of agricultural research and
development projects by four CGIAR Centers. The project is closely aligned to
the objectives and monitoring processes of the Feed the Future program in
Malawi.
The
Position: The Project Manager will report to the CIP Country Manager Malawi and
to the CIP Sweetpotato Leader and will be based in Lilongwe.
Position: The Project Manager will report to the CIP Country Manager Malawi and
to the CIP Sweetpotato Leader and will be based in Lilongwe.
Duties
and Responsibilities
and Responsibilities
Project
Implementation
Implementation
- Provide
management, leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of project
implementation. - Ensure
that project implementation is responsive to communities and partners and
aligned with CIP principles, values and strategic plan. Monitor adherence
to grant agreement, CIP policies and procedures and relevant external
rules and regulations including the CGIAR Consortium. Select, oversee and
advise performance of partners and sub-grantees. - Lead
the reporting requirement of technical and financial progress and annual
reports.
Coordination
and Representation:
and Representation:
- Represent
the project vis-à-vis USAID, the CGIAR implementing consortium, Government
of Malawi, NGOs, and private sector partners. - Work
closely with the CGIAR consortium for harmonized planning and integrated
reporting. - Build
and manage strong and productive partnerships with GoM and implementing
partners and facilitate learning and knowledge exchange across the entire
project partnership. - Participate
in regular review meetings with USAID and ensure that the project is well
understood and highly regarded by the donor and all project partners.
Reporting
and Communications:
and Communications:
- As
responsible manager for all technical and financial reporting to the
donor, ensure timeliness, quality, and responsiveness to donor requests in
all areas of reporting. - Work
with relevant units at CIP Malawi and in regional and global CIP offices
to obtain technical and administrative support as required. In particular,
ensure that monitoring of project indicators is timely and of excellent
quality to support reporting and adaptive management. - Promote
the project with stakeholders, the donor community, and the general public
in Malawi through sound and innovative communications.
Staff
Management, Professional Development and Team Building:
Management, Professional Development and Team Building:
- Create
a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of
excellent personnel at all levels. - Promote
accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct
supervisees, and ensuring that all staff members are effectively using the
performance planning and management system. - Contribute
to project team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team
members into relevant decision-making processes.
Project
Support Operations:
Support Operations:
- Coordinate
with M&E, finance and administration staff to ensure operational
systems are in place to support field activities including logistics,
procurement, security, administration and human resources. - In
coordination with the CIP Country Manager, propose and design new local
operational policies as needed and in accordance with donor and CIP
regulations.
Gender:
The
Project Leader is expected to take a leadership role in the mainstreaming of
gender sensitive project interventions, through support and promotion of gender
throughout all areas of the project.
Project Leader is expected to take a leadership role in the mainstreaming of
gender sensitive project interventions, through support and promotion of gender
throughout all areas of the project.
Selection
Criteria:
Criteria:
- Masters
level degree in relevant discipline such as agriculture, economics, social
sciences, nutrition, or marketing. Specific training related to
sweetpotato, nutrition, or gender is an added advantage. - Strong
experience of at least 10 years as a field-based project manager, with at
least 5 years working as a Project Leader on large-scale agricultural
development projects, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa. - Direct
experience working on large USAID funded interventions, preferably focused
in agriculture. Specific experience of Feed the Future is an advantage. - Experience
in developing agricultural markets and value chains. - Demonstrated
ability to manage and motivate international and local staff into a
cohesive team. - Demonstrated
awareness and responsiveness to gender and social issues in cross-cultural
and gender integration programming. - Strong
experience with communication technologies as research and development
tools. - Excellent
written and verbal communication skills in English are required. - Record
of publications and citations. - Willingness
to travel frequently and work under field conditions.
Conditions
Employment
contract will be for an initial three-year term (with a three month probation
period) with possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. Salary
will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with
experience. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working
environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.
contract will be for an initial three-year term (with a three month probation
period) with possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. Salary
will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with
experience. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working
environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.
Applications
Applicants
should apply by email, sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to
this position, a full C.V. and the names and contact information of three
referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and
work experience to cip-recruitment@cgiar.org. The reference name of the
position should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message.
Screening of applications will begin on 29 October 2014 and will continue until
the post is filled. All applications will be acknowledged, however only short
listed candidates will be contacted. Learn more about CIP by accessing our
web site at http://www.cip.staging.wpengine.com.
should apply by email, sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to
this position, a full C.V. and the names and contact information of three
referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and
work experience to cip-recruitment@cgiar.org. The reference name of the
position should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message.
Screening of applications will begin on 29 October 2014 and will continue until
the post is filled. All applications will be acknowledged, however only short
listed candidates will be contacted. Learn more about CIP by accessing our
web site at http://www.cip.staging.wpengine.com.
