RDDP II Project Manager

Job ID 1251

Program / Project Management Kigali, Rwanda   Kigali

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Description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.
 
The Organization 
 
Since 1944, Heifer International has supported more than 36 million Small Holder Farmer (SHF) families globally lift themselves out of hunger and poverty while caring for the earth in partnership with the communities we serve including Youth & Women. Heifer International is now accelerating its strategic approaches to closing the Sustainable Living Income (SLI) gap for 10 million additional SHF households globally by 2030. 
In Rwanda, our aim is moving 300,000 smallholder farmers to achieve sustainable living income by 2030 against Heifer Africa target of 6.745 million. Heifer does this through the sustainable locally led Development approach. 
 
Function

The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall management of the Rwanda Diary Development Project (RDDP) which includes Efficient management of project resources; review and approve project plans, budgeting, and monitoring expenditures; supervision of field operations, procurement for the project, Audit, supervision of monitoring and evaluation; and ensuring quality control and timeliness of all deliverables as required. S/he will be responsible for the successful implementation of the RDDP project that is co-funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Heifer International (HPI). The Project Manager will work closely with the Project Coordinators, Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), Heifer country program teams and the IFAD country team as occasion demands to facilitate the implementation of RDDP II project.
S/he will ensure full compliance with the donor contract and regulations and will oversee the project reporting process to the donor (quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports; evaluation report and end of project report). S/he will oversee performance management of all project staff working exclusively in his/her project and will ensure timely reporting on the progress of the project and its financial status.

Essential Character Traits 
 
Respect, accountable, good stewardship, credible, good communication skills, reliable, good interpersonal skills and proactive, problem solver, humble, flexible, enthusiastic, dependable, creative and team player.
 
RESPONSIBILITIES DELIVERABLES

A. Project Management: Leadership, Planning, and Implementation (35%).

  • Provide overall leadership and management of the Project, including programmatic, administrative, operational, and logistical direction. 
  • Lead the development and regular review of Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPB) in collaboration with the Country Program team and project staff. 
  • Ensure full compliance with donor contract, regulations, and Heifer’s internal policies and procedures. 
  • Review, approve and consolidate progress reports (quarterly, semi-annual, and annual) in compliance with donor and Heifer’s requirements. 
  • Oversee the quality of all program deliverables, including activities, outputs, documentation, and reporting.
  • Ensure smooth coordination with Heifer Rwanda program team for timely submission, review, and dissemination of project information and reports.
  • Coach and mentor project staff to ensure achievement of project targets and alignment with Heifer’s standards.
B. Systemic Interventions Design and Market Systems Development (10%)
  • Lead the design and testing of new systemic interventions that address root causes of market failures and constraints in the Rwanda dairy sector. 
  • Conduct market systems analysis and diagnosis to identify leverage points, key actors, and incentive structures that constrain or enable systemic change. 
  • Develop and pilot scalable business models and approaches that can be adopted independently by market actors beyond the project’s direct support. 
  • Facilitate multi-actor partnerships between input suppliers, processors, financial service providers, cooperatives, and other market system actors to strengthen system functioning. 
  • Apply adaptive management principles to iterate and improve systemic interventions based on evidence, learning, and market feedback. 
  • Integrate gender, youth, and social inclusion considerations into the design of systemic interventions to ensure equitable access and benefit.
  • Document and disseminate learnings on market systems approaches for organizational learning and sector-wide knowledge sharing.
C. Staff Management, Coaching, and Performance (15%)
  • Provide guidance and support to project staff to design district-specific implementation plans, monitoring, and reporting aligned with project priorities. 
  • Conduct regular check-ins and coaching sessions with direct reports to build their capacity and ensure accountability. 
  • Manage project team performance and ensure timely completion of annual staff performance reviews. 
  • Ensure that staff integrate a market systems lens into field activities and stakeholder engagement. 
  • Ensure that staff develop new project ideas, concept notes and ensure stakeholder engagement
D. Budget Management and Compliance (15%)
  • Collaborate with the Country Office and project team to ensure effective budget preparation and financial planning. 
  • Track project expenditures against the budget, identifying and addressing variances in a timely manner. 
  • Ensure sound project financial management, logistical and operational structures. 
  • Exercise proper financial controls and oversee planning, expenditure tracking, and auditing of financial resources.
  • Oversee procurement processes, including preparation of procurement plans, preparation of request for proposals, participate chairing local Procurement Review Committees (PRC), and ensuring proper inventory control.
    E. Coordination and Stakeholder Management (10%)
    • Represent the organization and the project at various levels, including with IFAD, RAB, SPIU, local government, and other partners including private sector actors. 
    • Identify and nurture relationships at ministerial, local authority, and private sector levels to advance project objectives.
    • Establish plans for multi-stakeholder engagement and learning, including creation of appropriate forums for knowledge sharing. 
    • Participate in quarterly, semi-annual, and annual planning meetings with stakeholders.
    • Develop and review the project exit strategy to ensure sustainability of results.
      F. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and Knowledge Management (5%)
      • Maintain a project risk register and update it quarterly with input from the team. 
      • Conduct periodic risk assessments and ensure mitigation plans are integrated into work plans. 
      • Respond promptly to emerging risks and escalate to Country Director as appropriate. 
      • Develop a draft exit strategy of the project with input from key stakeholders.
      • Review and update the strategy annually based on implementation realities and stakeholder feedback.
      • Monitor the integration of sustainability plans in ongoing implementation (e.g., through cooperatives, government systems).
        E. May perform other job-related duties as assigned (5%) 
        • Any other job-related tasks assigned by the line manager or Country Director.
        Minimum Qualification 
        1. Master’s degree in Project Management, Rural Development, Animal Production, Agribusiness, or a related field, plus five (5) years of working experience in the agriculture sector, preferably dairy, of which at least two (2) years involve implementing market systems development projects in Rwanda.
        Preferred Requirements 
        1. Proven experience applying market systems development frameworks to design and implement systemic interventions
        2. Demonstrated experience in budget management
        3. analyses and capital budgeting, with evidence of how results were used to develop viable business models
        4. Experience building the capacity of partner institutions, managing knowledge, and driving innovation in the dairy or agricultural sector
        5. Proven team management/leadership experience
        6. Ability to influence and engage effectively with the private sector, local authorities, and governmental partners.
        7. Willingness to work in rural areas and travel both locally and internationally as required.
        8. Experience in collaborative and adaptive monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). 
        Most Critical Proficiencies
        1. Experience managing large projects funded by major bilateral and multilateral donors (IFAD, World Bank, USAID, EU, etc.). 
        2. Demonstrated experience with market systems development approaches and designing systemic interventions. 
        3. Strong analytical skills in market systems diagnosis, market mapping, and identification of leverage points for systemic change
        4. Good understanding of the dairy value chain and the broader agricultural commodity value chains in Rwanda and East Africa.
        5. Experience working with producer organizations comprising women and men smallholder farmers. 
        6. Understanding of gender, youth, and social inclusion dimensions in agricultural development. 
        7. Strong leadership, teamwork, mentoring, and coaching skills. 
        8. Proven interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with the private sector, local authorities, and governmental partners. 
        9. Proven track record in generating innovative solutions and utilizing novel approaches to address complex development challenges. 
        10. Knowledge of income and expense budget preparation, monitoring, and reporting. 
        11. Experience in collaborative and adaptive monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). 
        12. Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda (written and oral). 
        13. Exceptional writing and presentation skills. 
        14. Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project).
        Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands 
        1. Preparing and presenting project reports and presentations in a well-designed format with superior attention to detail. 
        2. Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness to incorporate innovative and market-based solutions
        3. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work cooperatively and diplomatically with culturally diverse groups
        4. Constant face-to-face, telephone, and electronic communication with colleagues within and outside Rwanda. 
        5. Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting strict deadlines. 
        6. Working with sensitive information and always maintaining confidentiality
        7. Willingness to work with a flexible schedule and travel both locally and internationally
        8. Sensitivity in working with multiple cultures, beliefs, and towards gender equality
        9. Ability to perform income and expense budget preparation and monitoring

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