JOB DETAILS:
Job Summary:
The Project Manager will lead all aspects related to oversight of livelihoods activities on Restore Africa, to ensure that smallholder engaged on the carbon component of the project are also able to see appropriate livelihood gains (productivity, incomes, market linkages) to support permanence of trees, at the same time as ensuring food security. S/he will provide technical support to the consortium in identification, selection, and development of profitable green enterprises. S/he will support the team in understanding all aspects of one or multiple value chain(s), including existing supply and demand structures/linkages, enabling environment (regulations, financial support, innovations, inputs etc.) and underlying costs/economies. S/he will conduct market analysis of selected agroforestry products with a goal of making markets work for the poor. Identify pro-poor opportunities for growth where barriers exist and if unlocked will help promote the flow of knowledge and resources along value chains to small enterprises and farmers. S/he will oversee the Smallholder Resilience Climate Fund, which aims to derisk private sector investment into initiatives which both improve productivity, income and food security improvements for smallholder farmers and support land restoration. Experience in business development strategies, networking, identifying, and capitalizing on business opportunities will be an asset.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:
• Lead the implementation of technical, coordinating, monitoring, and reporting of green business activities throughout the project cycle - start-up, implementation, and close-out - in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Lead ToT trainings, coaching, monitoring, and coordination in all project activities related to green business development.

• Lead the strengthening of partnerships relevant to green enterprise development, value chains, applying appropriate partnership concepts, tools, and approaches.
• Identify and examine constraints and opportunities within the selected value chains

• Identify the underlying policy, institutional, and infrastructural issues that affect the competitiveness and exclusion of selected value chains

• Identify institutions and organizations working on selected value chains that can contribute to pro-poor value chain development.
• Identify alliance staff capacity needs, technical assistance needs of partner organizations and contribute to capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality program implementation.

• Assist with preparation of market trends analysis reports and disseminate results.
• Develop and maintain relationships with financial institutions and support them in developing bespoke financial products for farmers
• Take the lead in advising farmers on enterprise and business selection, provide insight into product development and competitive positioning of green businesses.
• Work with M&E to conduct market research to identify new business and market opportunities.
• Take the lead in supporting farmers develop business plans for their farms.

Basic qualifications:
• Master’s degree in business administration, agri-business, or a relevant technical area.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in technical or management positions in the field of agri-business, preferably for a donor funded, time-bound project.
• Proven understanding of green businesses.
• Experience in value chain projects or programs.
• Experience in Market Systems Development, marketing strategies and expansion.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working with stakeholders at various levels and strengthening community partnerships.
• Ability to contribute to the development of technical proposals, a plus.
• Experience analyzing data and contributing to evaluation reports.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.

• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with local stakeholders.
• Ability to contribute to written reports.
• Attention to details, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Very strong writer with expert command of English grammar and AP style.
• Demonstrated experience with competitive proposals in programming contexts similar to CRS.
• Knowledge of CRS programs, justice agenda and Catholic Social Teaching principles a plus.
• Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture.
• Good relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Very good  communications and presentation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions & service-oriented and results-oriented.

Required Languages: English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills, required.
Travel requirement: Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.
Key Working Relationships
• Supervisory: Senior Livelihood Officers.
• Internal: Head of Programming; Head of Operations; Finance Manager; Country Representative; Restore Africa staff and Program Managers.
• External: Other agency business development staff, Partner proposal development technical staff, donors (as appropriate).

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:
• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating,  communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.