Project Manager

The Project Manager is central to the project’s success, ensuring its seamless execution through oversight of daily operations, effective coordination of activities, and proactive problem-solving. This role involves developing and managing work plans, budgets, and schedules in collaboration with the project team, stakeholders, and donors, ensuring all activities align with project objectives, timelines, and resource allocations. By fostering a collaborative, results-oriented team environment, the Project Manager provides leadership, mentorship, and performance support to the project team, ensuring all members are motivated and equipped to deliver.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Management: Oversee the day-to-day management of a suite of projects, ensuring effective coordination and execution of all approved activities.
• Planning & Strategy: Develop and manage project work plans, budgets, and schedules in collaboration with the project team and stakeholders to ensure alignment with project objectives and timelines.
• Team Leadership: Lead and guide the project team, fostering a collaborative and results-driven environment, and supporting team development and performance.
• Monitoring & Reporting: Monitor the project’s progress against its objectives, timelines, and budgets, ensuring accurate and timely reporting to the project board and donors.
• Financial Oversight: Liaise with the Finance and Operations teams to ensure that grants and projects’ delivery align with forecasted expenditure. Oversee financial management, ensuring transparency and accountability in using project funds, and providing accurate financial reporting.
• Risk Management: Identify, assess, and manage project risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure that risks do not impede the project’s progress.
• Compliance: Ensure the project complies with all relevant regulations, policies, and donor requirements, maintaining the highest standards of governance and accountability.
• Business Development: Leverage opportunities for new business development.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Advanced degree in agriculture, crop protection, agricultural economics, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in project management, preferably in agriculture and development.
• A proven track record of successfully leading complex multi-donor projects across multiple locations in developing countries.
• Strong understanding of agriculture, crop protection, and smallholder farmers' challenges, particularly in sustainable practices and plant health systems.
• Understanding of development of sustainable value chains, as well as sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) related issues and how to mitigate them to comply with market requirements.
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and motivate multidisciplinary and multinational teams, ensuring high performance and collaboration.
• Demonstrable ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and tasks efficiently in a high-stress, fast-paced environment.
• Experience designing and implementing Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) frameworks.
• Solid experience managing project budgets and preparing accurate financial reports.
• Strong communication skills, and ability to work effectively with government institutions, local partners, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of USDA grant and loan requirements, compliance frameworks, and stakeholder reporting.

Personal Characteristics

• Demonstrates integrity and accountability and remains calm under pressure.
• Adaptable and resourceful, skilled at navigating challenges and finding solutions.
• Focused on accuracy and achieving measurable outcomes.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural diversity.

What We Offer

• Competitive salaries.
• 30 days of annual leave, plus public holidays.
• Defined contribution pension scheme with employee contribution.
• A culture committed to being a fully inclusive, enjoyable, and fulfilling place to work.
• An Employee Assistance Programme, with a full calendar of health and well-being initiatives.
• Flexible working options.
• Career development opportunities, including internal promotions and mentoring.
• Medical insurance and long service awards.

How To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should go to the CABI recruitment portal on cabi.ciphr-irecruit.com or use the direct application link: https://www.myjobmag.co.ke/apply-now/1211755. Please note that the position is subject to confirmation of funding.