Country: Uganda
Closing date: 08 Dec 2017
Department: USAID’s Integrated Agriculture and Nutrition Project
Location: Karamoja, Kigezi and Acholi sub-regions (3 positions)
Job Overview/Summary: The IRC is seeking three Agriculture Team Leaders for a forthcoming five-year $22-24 million USAID Integrated Community Agriculture and Nutrition (ICAN) project aiming to sustainably enhance the resilience of vulnerable households by increasing economic opportunities for poor households, improving nutrition with a focus on women and children, and strengthening community and local governance. It is anticipated that the broad objectives for increasing economic opportunities for poor households under USAID’s ICAN will include:
- Promoting investment in climate smart agriculture and other activities that can diversify household’s livelihoods;
- Increasing access to training, skills and knowledge to support people in taking advantage of diverse employment and entrepreneurship opportunities;
- Strengthening basic literacy and numeracy, entrepreneurial competencies, money management and financial literacy, job readiness skills and networking skills;
- Linking project activities with the private sector for market system development, leveraging and scaling up existing projects and approaches where relevant;
- Improving access to financial services (including Village Savings and Loan Associations), and credit and financial services.
Reporting to the ERD Manager, the Agriculture Team Leader will ensure quality and scalability of the agriculture component of the ICAN project. The position is the focal point for the design and regular review of agriculture strategies and modules. The Agriculture Team Leader should ensure that the implementation strategies and approaches used are appropriate and cost-efficient in increasing farm production and productivity. The Agriculture Team Leader will be responsible for supporting Agriculture Officers towards program deliverables including activities such as value chain assessments, module design for farmer’s field schools with demonstration plots, organizing and mobilizing of farmer’s collectives, and supporting collective marketing efforts. The Agriculture Team leader will also be responsible for establishing relationships with public and private sector actors to ensure smooth, coordinated implementation.
Major Responsibilities:
- With her/his team develop and submit monthly work plans to Livelihoods Manager for review every 5th day of the month
- Ensure that the monthly work plans are cognizant of the project work plan, indicator tracking sheet and spending plan
- Submit monthly progress reports against work plan to the ERD Manager every 5th day of the month
- Conduct monthly project review and planning meetings with Agriculture Officers; during the meeting, resolve observed obstacles, develop wok plan & cash need for subsequent month, and compile progress report for the month under review.
- Conduct weekly meetings with each Agriculture Officer to review progress against set targets, provide performance feedback and provide technical guidance on how the staff can overcome the obstacles observed in current week
- Conduct probation and annual performance evaluations of field officers within five days of due date
- Resolve disciplinary issues that arise with ERD staff and inform ERD Manager same day of incident
- Ensure advance leave scheduling for staff and inform ERD Manager ahead of time
- Ensure that all the Agriculture Officers complete and submit their timesheets by the 5th day of the subsequent month
- Foster the spirit of cohesion, teamwork, professionalism and mutual respect within the Agriculture team
- Ensure coordination with local stakeholders in both private and public sector as well as with other organizations.
- Collaborate effectively with other livelihoods staff and project staff
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: ERD Manager**
Position directly supervises: **Agriculture Officers (1-4, depending on office location assigned)
Job Requirements:
Education: University degree in agriculture; specialized training in value chain development, farming as a business and collective marketing is an added advantage.
Work Experience: 2-3 years of experience in implementing livelihoods and agriculture projects with a good aptitude of logical framework approach; experience with rural growth strategies including, value chain development, local economic development, market-driven agricultural and private sector development initiatives.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
- Strong computer skills and analytical report writing
- Security awareness
- Attention to details.
- Ability to plan ahead and yet accommodate unexpected tasks.
- Excellent networking and liaison skills.
- Flexible and able to adapt to the logistics constraints.
Language Skills:
- Fluency in English Language, both written and, spoken is required
Working Environment*:* One Agriculture Team Leader will be based on a field office in Acholi, Kigezi or Karamoja sub-region with frequent travel to project sites within target districts in the sub-region.
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
How to apply:
To apply:
Prepare CV & motivation statement ( In 700 words, describing your personal attributes, motivation for applying for this job and provide solid examples of your ability to perform each of the key duties as per the job specification), indicating the position applied for as the subject send to:
UA-IRCJobs@Rescue.org (The Human Resource and Administration department, International Rescue Committee) Deadline**: December 08, 2017**. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews slated for 12-13 December 2017
Whilst all applications will be assessed strictly on their individual merits, qualified women are especially encouraged to apply. IRC is an equal opportunity Employer. Positions only open to Ugandans (nationals) as there are no international benefits.
"These positions are contingent on USAID contract award”