Project Coordinator
Sustainable Transformation of Enterprises in the Poultry Sector (STEPS)Project
Background
Rural Self-help Development Association (RSDA) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 1991. RSDA’s mission is to promote self-help and help smallholder farmers to run their own affairs and improve their livelihoods. RSDA cooperates with and support farmers in the 10 Districts of Lesotho. To achieve its mission, RSDA partners with multi funding partners. To maintain trust with both farmers and funding partners, farmer participation, accountability, transparency and responsiveness are very important.
Project Description
STEPS aims to catalyse private sector-driven transformation enabling local poultry sector actors to access Lesotho’s strong end-markets and reclaim market share. STEPS will transform Lesotho’s poultry sector to enhance the profitability of value chain actors, increase meat and egg production and improve food security.
Leveraging existing opportunities and tools, STEPS will address constraints which limit production, productivity, and efficiency of local poultry egg and meat markets. A segmented approach takes into consideration the unique needs of ocal poultry producers, including subsistence farmers, and small to large scale commercial poultry enterprises engaged in production, processing, marketing, and retailing of eggs, meat, and processed poultry products. These actors will be engaged through the indigenous and dual-purpose poultry value chains, and the commercial broiler and layer value chains respectively. STEPS will identify pathways to further integrate and grow poultry, and poultry related business opportunities for women and youth.
Position Description
As the lead for the STEPS project team at RSDA, the Project Coordinator is responsible for the technical implementation of poultry production and poultry business enabling environment activities as detailed in the project work plan. Their coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project for which they are responsible applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.
Key responsibilities include:
- Close coordination of project activities with the Programmes Director and project lead organization.
- Organise and lead implementation of all assigned STEPS project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation work plan in line with donor requirements and good practices.
- Successful implementation of technical project activities and achievement of project outputs and outcomes.
- Effective management of supervised staff workloads.
- Facilitating, collaborating, and providing oversight to partners
- Collaborate in monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting initiatives of project related technical activities including identifying and reporting on best practices.
- Supervise and perform ad hoc inspection of various processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities, implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures.
- Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic subject reviews and follow up with and support field staff.
- Work and collaborate closely with technical and administrative team members including Monitoring Evaluation and Learning, Finance and Administration.
Reporting and Supervisory responsibilities;
The Project Coordinator reports to the Programmes Director. The position will supervise at least seven staff members. The position is based in Maseru with extensive field travel.
The Project Coordinator will execute the following duties:
- Provide technical direction and leadership to all STEPS project technical activities including increasing poultry production and productivity, strengthening poultry producers, strengthening poultry associations, strengthening input providers, strengthening research and development, fostering public private partnerships, and improving access to finance for participants in the poultry value chain.
- Lead components of and assist in reviewing and updating the Project Work Plan.
- Coordinate closely in planning and technical activities with the project lead organization and sub-partner organizations.
- Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as liaison between them and project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
- Directly supervise at least 7 technical team members including: Farm Managers and Extension Officers
- Identify and act on any project challenges in a professional and effective manner to ensure positive outcomes; ensure Managing Director and other relevant supervisors are informed and updated at earliest opportunity.
- Hold technical staff accountable for delivering outputs and results according to project, individual and organization’s work plans and manage adaptively.
- Manage the project technical team in a manner that is open and respectful, encourages professional development, and solicits constructive staff input.
- Maintain close coordination with district and national government services, sub-recipient implementing partners and stakeholders.
- Participate in internal and external planning, coordinating, pause and reflect, and learning meetings, seminars and trainings as required.
- Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents filled as per donor requirements. Including documentation of farmers stories and good practices.
- Support in all necessary regular monitoring, data collection / research, and reporting requirements including internal and to government services, partners, and donor.
- Prepare and submit reports to the donor.
Qualifications and Experience Required
- An undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in animal production, animal sciences, poultry sciences, agribusiness or other relevant fields.
- A minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated management experience in leading technical programs of relevant scale.
- Experience managing junior and senior staff.
- Strong relevant experience working in the poultry sector in Lesotho is an advantage.
- Strong relationship with public and private stakeholders in the poultry sector in Lesotho.
- Fluency in Sesotho and English with excellent writing skills.
- Ability to independently and proactively work as a team member with minimum day to day oversight.
- Experience in Project Management for NGOs especially US funded projects is an added advantage.
Your application should include; Cover letter, CV, Certified copies of certificates and transcripts
Applications addressed to Managing Director, should only be hand delivered at RSDA Offices, situated at Rants’ala Street, Stadium Area, Opposite Coop College, Maseru
Note: No email application submissions will be accepted
Deadline for submission of applications is Friday 26th July 2024 at 12:30 pm.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted