The Project Manager provides overall leadership, management, and technical oversight for the Transforming Yield through Feed and Fodder Access in Dairy (TYFFAD) Project. The incumbent will ensure the successful delivery of the project’s goal, which is to sustainably improve household resilience and farmer incomes through enhanced feed and fodder production, conservation, and access to quality dairy feed in Kenya’s North Rift regions. This role involves overseeing the management of project staff and operations across seven counties (Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Narok, Laikipia, and Nakuru), with an operational office based in Eldoret.
The TYFFAD Project
The TYFFAD Project is part of the Heifer International Kenya (HPIK) Signature Program, Practice for Change (P4C). It aims to increase dairy productivity through enhanced feed production and conservation for increased farmers’ incomes. The initiative prioritizes the dairy value chain as the primary driver of resilience while simultaneously supporting alternative livelihoods and fodder/pasture enterprises.
The Theory of Change is structured around three critical outcome areas:
- Increased adoption of feed conservation practices in the dairy sector.
- Improved access to high-quality dairy feeds and fodder.
- Strengthened feed and fodder supply system that responds to growing demand.
Essential Character Traits
Heifer International Kenya is looking for a self-motivated, value- and result-oriented individual of high integrity and accountability to fill the position of Project Manager.
Responsibilities & Deliverables
Project Management, Technical Oversight and Quality Assurance (40%)
- Provide strategic and technical leadership to ensure effective planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities.
- Lead overall project planning, technical and operational approaches, infrastructure, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and feedback loops required for program delivery and success in liaison with the Country team.
- Supervise and mentor project staff, ensuring clear work plans, performance targets, and accountability mechanisms are in place.
- Hold project teams to the highest standards of accountability.
- Oversee day-to-day project operations, financial management, and timely delivery of outputs across seven counties.
- Ensure project implementation aligns with Heifer’s Market Systems Development (MSD) and Food Systems Framework approaches.
- Work closely with the in-country Signature Program Technical team and other function heads to ensure timely review, submission, and dissemination of project information and reports.
- Oversee integration of gender equity, youth inclusion, and climate resilience across project interventions.
- Support the design and rollout of digital advisory platforms, fodder value chain financing models, and structured market linkages.
- Ensure adherence to the project’s Theory of Change and results framework, fostering innovation and adaptive management.
Stakeholder Management (25%)
- Build and manage relationships and represent the organization and project at county and national levels.
- Serve as the primary liaison between the TYFFAD project and key partners, including government agencies, research institutions, private sector partners, cooperatives, and development agencies.
- Facilitate multi-stakeholder coordination and knowledge exchange by establishing strategies and convening the Livestock Feed Multi-Stakeholder Platform and other national policy forums.
- Lead development and management of partnership agreements with implementing partners, ensuring compliance with Heifer’s standards.
- Strengthen collaboration between public and private sector players to scale feed and fodder innovations sustainably.
- Develop and implement a sustainable project exit strategy.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (15%)
- Ensure implementation of a robust MEL plan that captures data for decision-making, learning, and adaptive management.
- Oversee regular performance reviews, baseline, midterm, and final evaluations with the MEL Officer.
- Promote documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, case studies, and best practices.
- Responsible for project documentation, audits, and global indicator monitoring and evaluation reports.
- Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality reporting to stakeholders and Heifer management.
Financial and Administrative Oversight (10%)
- Oversee project budget management, ensuring sound financial controls, value-for-money, and compliance.
- Work with Finance and Operations teams to monitor expenditure, cash flow, and procurement processes.
- Ensure strategic and efficient management of project financial resources.
Communication and Visibility (5%)
- Supervise the Communication Officer in liaison with the Communication Manager to implement a visibility and advocacy strategy.
- Represent Heifer Kenya and the TYFFAD project in national and international forums.
Other Duties (5%)
- Perform any other job-related tasks assigned by the line manager or Country Director.
Qualifications and Requirements
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in project planning and management, agriculture, livestock production, agribusiness, development studies, enterprise development, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
- At least 8 years of progressive project management experience in international development or agribusiness.
- Proven experience managing multi-stakeholder, multi-county projects with budgets exceeding USD 3 million.
- Experience applying Market Systems Development (MSD) and climate-smart agriculture approaches.
- Strong experience working with cooperatives, private agribusinesses, and financial institutions.
- Experience managing donor-funded projects, ensuring compliance with reporting and accountability standards.
- Solid foundation in financial and budget management and the project management cycle.
Preferred Requirements
- Knowledge of dairy value chain dynamics, feed and fodder systems, and rural enterprise development.
- Proficiency in MEL frameworks, data-driven decision-making, and adaptive management.
- Familiarity with digital agriculture platforms and ICT-based extension tools.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Demonstrated leadership, team coordination, and problem-solving ability. Should have managed at least 4 technical team members.
- Strong commitment to gender equality, youth empowerment, and inclusive market systems.
Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate diplomatically and tactfully.
- Must be courteous, honest, and of high integrity, especially in high-pressure situations.
- Proven communication skills with the ability to relate to individuals and groups.
- Willingness and ability to assign and review work using participatory management skills.
- Self-starter and motivator able to work in a multicultural setting.
- Team player capable of managing multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
- Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
Key Behavioural Competencies
- Accountability
- Professional Excellence
- Humility
- Customer Orientation
- Empathy
- Innovation
