Project Manager - Spice for Equality Project

TERMS OF REFERENCE:
PROJECT MANAGER – SPICE FOR EQUALITY PROJECT

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) is a non-profit, international development organisation founded 53 years ago, and now operating in 28 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors use their expertise in three sectors – Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene – as well as the cross-cutting topics of gender, climate change and youth employment to contribute to solving some of the leading problems facing the world today. We work with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organisations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.

SNV has been working in Vietnam since 1995, and currently has over 30 national and international staff. SNV Vietnam operates from a head office in Hanoi and projects in over 50 provinces in the country, including in the poorest and most remote areas.

SNV Vietnam is now preparing for an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) tender, Gender Responsive and Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT). This program will focus on improving the social and economic status of women in Vietnam by strengthening their engagement in key value chains. We are seeking an experienced Team Leader to provide overall management of our proposed project. This position is contingent on award decision from the donor.

JOB PURPOSE

The Project Manager will be primarily engaged in managing projects supporting women’s economic empowerment of remote ethnic women farmers in Lao Cai province engaged in the cinnamon value chain. The projects will work to achieve project objectives through three key approaches: a) improving market systems development of the cinnamon and other related value chains; b) enhancing ethnic minority women’s ability to make and act on economic decisions; c) supporting sector governance and policies to attract companies to invest in inclusive socio-economic development in the province. It is expected that the project manager will also help develop and provide technical support to other relevant projects in the SNV agriculture portfolio.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership, Work Planning and Management
Lead, manage and motivate project staff, consultants, partners and relevant stakeholders, develop work plans, plan and assign deliverables and activities, review progress and address deviations in terms of timelines and quality, based on project planning, agreed deliverables and budget. Coordinate the organization of project activities with project staff and partners, provide backstopping support to ensure quality delivery of outputs to the donor.

Contract Management & Project Accounting
Manage and account for full compliance of administrative, finance and HR (consultant procurement and management) components of the project with SNV internal procedures and requirements specified in the contracts signed with the donor. Ensure that approval for, coding and booking of all expenditures is done according to the relevant procedures and authorization levels, prepare and account for project budget (and revisions thereof) internally and externally and manage/ report on depletion and forecasting, corrective actions and financial security and/or risk (mitigation), discuss and obtain approval of the Sector Leader for contract /budget deviations.

Management of Consultants & Team Leadership
Plan and manage consultant workflow by working closely with the Sector Leader and Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme Manager to plan personnel needs for the consultant packages. Help develop detailed TORs for all consultants, support in recruitment & selection according to SNV procurement guidelines. Manage the work plans and quality of project field staff (providing capacity building/mentoring as required) and consultants and steer their performance, in line with SNV procurement policy, and in consultation with the Sector Leader when needed.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
Formulate and implement M&E plan and reporting for project, including risk monitoring and reporting on changes, deviations and taking corrective actions if needed to keep project on track in line with project management standards, M&E framework and donor reporting requirements. Prepare reports for submission to the donor and monitoring of relevant indicators for SNV’s own internal monitoring.

Technical Inputs
Whilst the position is primarily a project management position, technical knowledge and experience of developing agricultural supply/value-chains and building the capacity of agricultural extension service providers, smallholder farmers is expected. The candidate will therefore also provide certain technical inputs in designing and leading project activities such as surveys, training etc.

Knowledge, documentation and communication
Ensure full synthesis, analysis and documentation and sharing of project insights and results, signal potential for positioning, innovation, upscaling and potential follow up projects.

Network and Relationship building
Build and maintain effective relationships, with team, local government partners and other key stakeholders on the ground (companies, NGOs, development partners etc). Ensure a high level of SNV visibility and branding according to donor guidelines, where possible working with and drawing on available communication support. Identify follow up Business Development and partnership possibilities with country management and BD unit.

Other tasks as required by the Agriculture Sector Leader or the Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme Manager

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in agriculture, rural development or similar fields
• At least 7 years’ experience working in agriculture and rural development
• Significant experience working on donor-funded programmes; past management experience on DFAT-funded projects is desirable
• Demonstrated understanding and experience of women’s economic empowerment and market system development approaches in agriculture
• Specific working knowledge and professional experience of the cinnamon sector and/or the Northern Mountainous provinces will be a distinct advantage
• Proven track record and relevant experience working in the agriculture sector of Vietnam with emphasis on standards, certification mechanisms and farmers’ capacity building;
• Knowledge of value chain methodologies and connecting farmers, farmer groups with private sector

Other requirements

• Deep knowledge of project management, coordination procedures, administrative systems, M&E systems and finance processes
• Proven ability to manage project budgets and ensure timely delivery of outcomes and reporting
• Experience in managing consultants
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship building skills, particularly with donor and national government counterparts
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team spirit towards work
• Excellent communication skills in English and Vietnamese, both spoken and written
• Excellent computer literacy

CONTRACT DURATION
1 year with the potential for renewal

CONTRACT TYPE
SNV National Staff Contract

DESIRED START DATE
Expected to start on February 1st 2019

DUTY STATION
Hanoi with frequent travel to Lao Cai province

HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your application to SNV Vietnam Vacancy before 17 December 2018 if you wish to be considered for this position. All information will be in the strictest confidence.  We will revert to you as soon as feasible when we have reviewed your application.

For more information, please refer to our website: www.snv.org/country/vietnam

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