Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Project Manager

Exciting Career Opportunities with CRS

CRS is an international NGO based in the United States working in over 100 countries to promote human development by responding to major emergencies, fighting poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies and dignified lives. In Nepal, CRS strives to improve the livelihood and resilience of marginalized and vulnerable people through improved access to safe and dignified housing, improved community resilience to disasters, shocks and stresses, and diversified livelihood opportunities. CRS is instrumental in implementing multifaceted emergency relief and recovery programs. Since March 2017 CRS has played a pivotal role in coordinating reconstruction efforts through the leadership of the National/Nepal Housing and Settlements Resiliency Platform (NHSRP), formerly known as the Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Platform, by responding to the impacts of earthquakes and monsoons. Building upon proven and new partnerships and expertise, CRS works with local partners and government to create long-term resilience for a brighter future for all.

CRS Nepal Invites applications from eligible and interested candidates for the position of Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Project Manager based in the CRS Country Office in Kathmandu.

As Project Manager you will manage, coordinate, and monitor project activities and relationships with partners and other project stakeholders to assist the achievement of the John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program’s objectives  while advancing CRS work serving the poor and vulnerable. 

The goals of the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program are to provide voluntary technical assistance to farmers, farm groups, and agribusinesses in developing and transitional countries to promote sustainable improvements in food security and agricultural processing, production, and marketing. Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers work with farmers, producer groups, rural businesses, and service providers to develop local capacity and address environmental and natural resource management challenges. The program aims to generate rapid, sustained, and broad-based economic growth through short-term technical assistance in the agricultural sector.

Thematically, the CRS F2F project in Nepal is focused on the agribusiness development and climate-smart agriculture sub-sectors. Your project management skills and knowledge of the program area will ensure that CRS F2F in Nepal delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of this project. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead technical activities, budget management, monitoring and reporting through the project cycle (implementation and close-out) in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Identify the technical assistance needs of partner organizations (F2F hosts) and write technical scopes of work (SOW) for volunteer assignments. Lead the application of the F2F Gender Organization Development Index (GODI) in Nepal.
• Effectively manage and supervise talent. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff (when necessary), and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Support accountability through coordinating project monitoring and evaluation activities following the CRS MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and report them in order to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Engage and strengthen partnerships relevant to F2F, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches. Maintain an excellent working relationship with all F2F volunteers visiting Nepal.
• Represent CRS F2F at the USAID Mission in Nepal and at USAID implementing partner meetings and in INGO working groups. Represent CRS F2F to relevant local partners and national, district and local Government of Nepal officials, key US agricultural development stakeholders and other relevant stakeholders in both the US and Nepal.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement throughout the project cycle. Actively solicit and incorporate volunteer perspectives in decision-making processes.
• Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and disseminate results. Review project documentation to ensure project file is complete with all required documentation and is filed per agency and donor requirements. Analyze program data to track volunteer performance, identify areas for improvement, and measure overall program effectiveness.
• Enforce robust safety protocols and risk management strategies for all volunteer activities, minimizing potential hazards and ensuring volunteer well-being.
• Establish clear communication channels and emergency procedures to effectively respond to incidents and ensure volunteer safety.
• Proactively manage reputational risks by addressing volunteer concerns, fostering a positive and inclusive environment, and promoting ethical conduct.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree required, (preferably in Agriculture, Nutrition or International Affairs).
• Minimum of 8 years of work experience in project management, ideally in the field agriculture/agribusiness, food security, nutrition, natural resource management, or livestock development for an NGO. Additional experience may be a substitute for some education.
• Experience in agricultural production, marketing and/or development

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgments.
• Ability to think strategically.
• Ability to network effectively with country agricultural sector stakeholders
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with local stakeholders.
• Representation abilities.
• Ability to manage processes efficiently and manage staff supportively.
• Ability to contribute to written reports in English.
• Ability to manage a budget and track spending.
• Understanding of/openness to people from other cultures, especially the US.
• Proactive, results-oriented, service-oriented, and detail-oriented.
• Accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to network effectively with country agricultural sector stakeholders.
• Grant management experience, especially for USG or other public donors, a plus.
• Staff supervision experience.
• Experience working with stakeholders at various levels and strengthening community partnerships.
• Experience managing a budget.
• Experience analyzing data and contributing to evaluation reports.
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals, a plus.
• Experience using MS Windows, MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Salesforce

Required Languages - Professionally proficient in both spoken and written English as well as Nepal

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel within Nepal up to 50% of the time

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

To apply for above positions, please click on this link https://bit.ly/F2F_Manager by 15 December 2024

NOTE: While uploading any file: please make file name as:  Name_ Resume/ Name- Cover letter

By applying for this job, you as the candidate understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, you understand that if you are a successful candidate, you will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and your personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate your behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

CRS is an equal opportunity employer committed to a staff composition that reflects the social and ethnic diversity of Nepali Society. It encourages applicants from marginalized communities and geographically remote areas, persons with disabilities; women and other genders are encouraged to apply. CRS Nepal provides many benefits for its staff members including staff development opportunities, paid maternity and paternity leave, nursing hours for nursing mothers, per diems for the child of the staff when staff travel out of station on official business etc. 

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Reimbursement for lodging and transportation will be provided for the shortlisted candidates who travel from outside of Kathmandu Valley for written test and interview.