Project Manager – Digital Green, Ethiopia

ABOUT DIGITAL GREEN

Digital Green is an international non-government organization dedicated to contributing to the prosperity and agency of farming communities by leveraging technology and data. We join forces with governments, private agencies, CSOs and, most importantly, rural communities themselves to co-create digital solutions that help smallholder farmers increase productivity and income. In Ethiopia, Digital Green is working in four regions in introducing and scaling video-extension approach, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Bureaus of Agriculture and Natural Resources. For more information, please visit Digital Green’s website: www.digitalgreen.org

Digital Green is entering an exciting phase of development as it expands to additional digital solutions, agricultural commodities and geographies. As part of this expansion, Digital Green is building a team of exceptional individuals with a passion for finding solutions to pressing development problems. This is an exciting opportunity to join Digital Green’s growing team in Ethiopia, supporting our ongoing and new programs.

JOB SUMMARY

The Project Manager will report to Digital Green’s Program Director (based in Addis Ababa), helping to coordinate the implementation of the project and drive towards project objectives and farmer impact. The successful candidate will be a hands-on, initiative-taker, playing a leading role in the management and coordination of on-ground level implementation of activities by laying strong foundations to smoothly run the project as per the agreed targets and objectives.

This position will require out-of-the box thinking, partnership management and project implementation skills in integrating agriculture and NRM with livelihoods, with the aim of developing a climate resilient community and sustained mode of operations. He/she is a highly-skilled fast learner who is inquisitive in nature in order to find / determine “farmers’ needs” and “best solutions” to the various challenges smallholder farmers face. The mind-set of the project manager would be with a characteristic of cyclical learning approach: create + deploy + learn + iterate + re-deploy.

The candidate will also need to be adept in team collaboration among the NRM and agricultural sectors. The candidate should understand the importance of sharing learning’s to the wider team in writings and during specified forums and review sessions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

 Strategy and work plan

• On the basis of DG’S commitments, lead and coordinate operational planning and activities of the project.
• Oversee implementation of work plans and ensure provision of strong technical support to consortium member (ECFF) and partners
• Ensure proper alignment of project implementation strategy and work plans with project priorities and directions and bring any deviation from the original plan to the attention of the Program Director
• Provide timely support and guidance to the consortium member and implementing partners and ensure that they understand and are meeting the overall strategic objectives for the project; give feedback and initiate corrective actions as needed
• Design and operationalize a framework for zonal, and Woreda level meetings with the goal of increased quality and institutionalization and sustainability of Digital Green’s approach and project impact.

Partnership

• Work closely and smoothly with consortium partner (ECFF); Coordinate and collaborate for quality implementation, periodic progress review and follow up and develop periodic plans, reports and case stories
• Ensure that both the DG  and Consortium partner (ECFF) teams are delivering on expectations, timelines and quality standards as per agreed modality and approach
• Lead and support periodic Digital Extension Management Committee (DEMC) meetings at zonal level and support meetings at woreda level and follow up execution of action points with government partners and stakeholders
• Provide timely support and guidance to the consortium member and implementing partners and ensure that they understand and are meeting the overall strategic objectives for the project; give feedback and initiate corrective actions as needed
• Perform partner identification and ensure there is a strong partnership in place at Woreda and Zonal levels.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, and reporting requirements, with project implementing partners, at zonal and woreda level
• Nurture and strengthen partnership with area specific NGOs and government partners.
• Participate in zonal-level government and non-government partner meetings and workshops to present Digital Green’s work, case studies, and best practices.
• Work with partners to identify opportunities to mobilizing own resources for scaling up and wider project impact.

Capacity Building in Partners and local communities

• Identify specific capacity-building and training needs in the zone that can be addressed by the project; plan and facilitate execution accordingly.
• On the basis of DGE’s training and capacity development strategy and work plan, ensure that training on video production, dissemination, and data management is organized and executed adequately to all implementing partners in the operational areas. Ensure ICT focus in innovative capacity building interventions

Quality assurance in Video enabled extension

• Oversee quality assurance for project implementation on video content, technical quality and dissemination processes and adoption of promoted technologies and practices
• Share participant’s feedback with Partners to improve quality of work
• Oversee that DGE team provides supportive supervision to ensure that partner and local teams produce and disseminate videos at Woreda and village levels using DG approaches.

 Reporting, Data Management and Documentation

• Using Digital Green’s project management system, monitor and review activities and report to the Program Director at the country office on activities, milestones and accomplishments on time and to the required quality standard.
• Ensure Partners complete necessary documentation and timely enter data required for the project
• In liaison with the Communications Manager, oversee documentation of case studies, best practices, and success stories at project level and review for wider sharing and learning. Support project team members in documentation and timely data management in the region.
• Ensure proper programmatic execution, ensuring deliverables are on track, and activities align with project plan and implementation modalities on an ongoing basis
• Provide regular and timely updates and reports to the respective government partners and stakeholders to ensure alignment against plan and comply with agreed upon terms and conditions

Team Management

• Create an enabling and productive work environment for team members to perform at their optimum best
• Act as a hiring Manager for staff recruitment for the project.
• Oversee the performance review of project team members.
• Approve travel plan (vehicle, air travel), Verify team travel expenses for accuracy
• Approved timesheets of the project team
• Provide guidance and coaching to all project staff in developing work plans, execution and monitoring progress in line with the project document and strategy.
• Set a budget and ensure that the project team is tracking to the budget.

Compensation

Digital Green is a great place to work and prides itself on a competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Digital Green is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Location: Oromia, Jimma

Project: Advancing Conservation, Agriculture and Livelihoods

Qualifications, Skills and Competencies

•  Master’s degree in NRM, Rural Development, Agriculture, Livelihoods or related fields
• Minimum 6 years of experience in managing implementation of NRM and related agricultural projects.
• Experience in working with various ICT for Agriculture platforms focusing on improving the well-being of smallholder farmers is of a great advantage;
• Experience working with NGOs as well as private-sector agencies is a plus.
• Knowledge of NRM, conservation/climate-smart agriculture, agronomy, value chains, livelihoods, gender and extension linkages, challenges and opportunities;
• Technical expertise in soil and water conservation, forest management and other related natural resources management;
• Understanding of country-specific agriculture extension structure in general and NRM in particular;
• Leadership skills for project management and coordination of field team members;
• Passion and dedication to introduce innovations that will ultimately result in increased income across smallholder farmers;
• Strong willingness to deliver quality results to achieve organization’s ultimate aims;
• Ability to work well under pressure and oftentimes under tight deadlines;
• Ability to work within teams and with potential partners
• Ability to travel extensively to the project woredas in particular and to other zones and woredas when deemed necessary.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of local language (Afaan Oromo) is an advantage
• Proven negotiation and communication skills. Ability to professionally and effectively communicate with individuals, groups and institutions at various levels.
• Mature personality, result-oriented, problem-solving attitude and ability to work independently.