Project Manager - BRIGHT Shea

Job Summary:

The Project Manager will provide strategic leadership and overall management of the Building Resilient and Inclusive Growth in Shea Value Chains (BRIGHT Shea) project, ensuring the effective planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and delivery of project activities. The role will lead the application of a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach to strengthen sustainable shea value chains through improved aggregation, post-harvest management, value addition, market access, financial inclusion, and landscape conservation. The Project Manager will oversee project staff, manage partnerships with government, private sector, civil society, and community institutions, ensure donor compliance and quality reporting, and promote learning and adaptive management to improve the incomes and economic resilience of women shea producers and youth entrepreneurs in Northern Ghana.

Your project management skills and knowledge of the program area will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of this project. This position will report to the Director for Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Landscape and will be based in Tamale, Ghana, with frequent travel across project communities

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• You will lead technical, budget management, monitoring and reporting activities through most of the project cycle - start-up, implementation and close-out - in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.

• Effectively supervise and develop project staff while promoting high performance and staff wellbeing. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.

• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities following MEAL Policy. Proactively identify issues, report them to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.

• Foster and strengthen partnerships relevant to the project applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.

• Lead implementation of the Market Systems Development (MSD) strategy by coordinating interventions that strengthen shea value chains through aggregation, market linkages, post-harvest management, value addition, financial inclusion, and sustainable natural resource management for women and youth.

• Build and manage strategic partnerships with Shea Network Ghana, government agencies, private sector buyers, financial institutions, development partners, traditional authorities, and community organizations to strengthen market systems, promote policy dialogue, and facilitate private sector investment in the shea sector

• Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and disseminate results. Review project documentation to ensure project file is complete with all required documentation and is filed per agency and donor requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience working with stakeholders at various levels and strengthening community partnerships.

• 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. Representation abilities.

• Ability to contribute to written reports

• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented

• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including international donors.

• Experience engaging with partner organizations

• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.

Required Languages - Proficient in English Language.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Project Officers.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Agric Technical Advisor, Agric Program Director, Head of Programming, Snr Project MEAL Officer, Grant Accountants and Snr Project Officers

External: Field Agents, local partner management and project officers, other consortium member staff located in the region, District stakeholders, and other local and international partner organizations

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture economics, Agricultural Extension, Agribusiness, Development Studies, Business Administration, Development Finance, Entrepreneurship, or a related field is required. A master’s degree in any of these fields, or in International Relations, will be an added advantage.

• Minimum of seven years of relevant project management experience, preferably in agriculture financing, natural resource management, the cocoa sector, private sector engagement, Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC), Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), agribusiness development, and/or NGO programming.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role. CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements. All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.