Project Manager

Job Opportunity

PROJECT MANAGER

Project title: Gia Lai Inclusive Market Ecosystem for Resilient Farmers Initiative (GLIMER Project)
Contract duration: 2 years
Job location: TBD among Gia Lai, Da Nang and Hue
Reports to: Director of Programs – iDE Vietnam
Supervises: Project Officer and technical project staff as required
Liaises with: Technical experts at iDE Vietnam and iDE Global

About iDE

iDE (www.ideglobal.org) is a U.S.-based international non-governmental organization implementing development programs in Africa, Asia and Central America. In Vietnam, since 1991, employing a market facilitation approach with strong partnerships at local and national government levels, iDE has implemented projects in pig value chain development sector, fertilizer deep placement commercialization, drinking water, tobacco control, micro- irrigation technology commercialization, market-based sanitation, and circular economy for plastic waste.

iDE Vietnam focuses on building the capacity of government partners and private sector actors to effectively scale market-based solutions, resulting in lower poverty, increased climate resilience, better health and cleaner environments.

About the Project

To help ethnic minority rice farmers in ?ak P? and Ia Pa Districts, Gia Lai Province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam improve their resilience and income earning potential, iDE supports farmers with access to resource-smart technologies, the development of an inclusive market system, and a weather forecasting and early warning system.

Working in Vietnam since 1991, iDE has developed a proven approach for building economic opportunities that reduce environmental degradation and improve rural households' resilience. Through this initiative, iDE will train 4,000 farmers to adopt resource-smart technologies like Fertilizer Deep Placement and create a network of profitable, sustainable, and viable private and small-scale businesses of production, distribution, and retailing of technology inputs. This will help local rice farmers overcome climate and other shocks to produce rice yields that help them break out of the cycle of poverty and food insecurity.

Overall responsibilities

The Project Manager is responsible for the successful implementation of the project through completion to achieve its goals and targets in cost-effective and innovative market-driven ways.

Specific responsibilities

1. Project implementation management

• Plan, oversee, and lead the implementation of the project to deliver outcomes of the donor contract
• Represent iDE in the project implementation
• Coordinate with the project’s partners to ensure implementation of activities according to plan and delivery of results according to the MOUs and donor contract
• Be responsible for the creative management and direction of the systems-change project, by conducting field-based interviews with various stakeholders, reviewing M&E results and networking with other actors in related fields
• Monitor progress of the project on a regular basis through the Project Officers
• Prepare well-written and delightful project reports according to schedules agreed with the donor
• Ensure project implementation is on track in terms of timelines, targets and expectations, adhering to established operating parameters
• Seek and propose innovative ideas / solutions / changes aiming at continuously improving project implementation effectiveness and impacts
• Establish and maintain good relations with project’s government partners
• Work with project consultants and subcontractors, provide them with direction and manage their performance
• Coordinate with iDE Global experts to get technical support/deliverables for the successful implementation of the project as designed in the project proposal
• Document project implementation process and lessons learned for external communication.

2. Project budget/expenditure management

• Manage project financial planning and expenditures in accordance with the donor contract
• Review and approve project billings/invoices according to the iDE Vietnam procurement policy and the donor contract
• Review and approve subcontractors’ and partners’ billings/invoices submitted to iDE according to the iDE Vietnam procurement policy, the donor contract, and subcontractor agreements.

3. Project staff management

• Lead, motivate, coach, and provide guidance to direct reports to achieve effective teamwork in line with iDE’s entrepreneurial and innovative culture
• Assist project staff in developing work plans and professional development goals ensuring the success of the project and their professional growth
• Manage work plans and performance of direct reports
• Conduct performance evaluations and develop performance improvement plans, as needed.

Qualification & skill requirements

4. 1. Required

• Master’s degree in related field, preferably in business administration or agriculture economics, with a minimum of 5 years of experience in project management and leadership
• Solid experience working with private sector businesses, in SME support and in value chain development
• Experience working with government and international development organizations is a must
• Experience managing subcontractors and consultants
• Skills in budget preparation and management
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong documentation and report-writing skills
• A self-starter always striving for excellence, with an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and under pressure; with a willingness and ability to work in arduous and challenging situations
• Ability to travel to project sites on a regular basis
• Excellent command of English (spoken and written) - this will be tested

5. 2. Preferred

• Prior experience with climate change adaptation project implementation
• Prior experience with data analysis and/or M&E implementation
• Experience with Google Suite tools - Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides, is a plus

How to apply

• Interested applicants please send us your Curriculum Vitae and an Application Letter (both in English) to [email protected] stating in the subject line: [Project Manager_full name]. Please also include at least 2 reference contacts in the Application Letter
• The closing date for application is 20 October, 2023. The recruitment process will start before the closing date, therefore early applications may have an advantage
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Women are actively encouraged to apply. iDE provides a women friendly work environment with flexible work arrangements, appropriate skills development opportunities and good career development potential for high performing individuals. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Employee selection and related decisions are made without regard to gender, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, or any other protected class.