VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organization, dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries. Concern is currently recruiting the below post:

Job Code: 23-028-RH (You must quote this code on your application)

Job Title: Program Manager – Livelihoods and Food Security (x1)

Location: Buchanan, Grand Bassa County

Reporting To: Livelihood Programme Coordinator

Responsible For: Programme Officers and Technical Lead

Contract duration: Open-ended

Job Purpose: The new 5 year Irish Aid programme (2023/2027) called Livelihoods, Innovation, Food Security and Entrepreneurship (LIFE) is a food systems strengthening programme. The Programme Manager will need to demonstrate expertise and experience working on agriculture programming for food systems strengthening. The role is a Buchanan office based position that requires working very closely with the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), national or local Agri-Businesses/private sector Strategic local NGO partners, and overseeing the Concern Programme Officers. The role will involve frequent travel to programme areas in Rivercess and providing feedback to the program officers, partners and coordinators. The LIFE Programme will be managed by a Programme Coordinator but day to day implementation, planning, joint monitoring with local implementing partners and close fostering of the business private sector and agriculture development aspects will be led by the Programme Manager Livelihood. The LIFE programme is aiming to improve the economic development and food security situation for rural communities along the transportation route from Cestos, Rivercess County to Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The successful candidate will have experience of: implementing agriculture programming, managing local implementing partners, market system strengthening at all levels and ensuring strong working relationship with the Ministry of Agriculture and key sectors at County level.

Specific Responsibilities:

Programme Design:

Taking lead in the development LIFE programme annual and detailed implementation plan, the plan should set up the Programme Officers for preparing detailed activity concept notes; Critical to the success of the LIFE programme is: mapping and engaging the private sector to assess who is where along the transportation route from Cestos to Buchanan, and the scope for the existing businesses, no matter how small scale or informal, to grow their businesses with the support of the programme. The is a 5 year programme and the Programme Manager should be able to vision the development of the agri-business sector over this timeline from programme design stage; Critical to the success of the LIFE programme is: Starting with high standards when engaging the two Strategic Implementing Partners. In Year 1 quarterly joint monitoring of activities at community level are required. A comprehensive plan for the package of supports needs to be prepared in detail; Developing effective linkages with Ministry of Agriculture and other key sectors, County Leadership, strategic networks and partners.

Programme Implementation:

Bring agriculture programming expertise to the programme implementation. When something is not working take the initiative to begin a discussion. Demonstrate an understanding of how to strengthen the food system in Liberia. Propose solutions and changes to the programme when there are lessons learned as implementation is underway. Oversee day-to-day planning, design and operations of project/ technical teams to ensure effective project implementation at the field levels. Additionally prepare and share weekly movement plans with transport sector in relations to planned activities; Support good financial management practices and budget management, for example proactively prepare and share weekly and monthly cash projections with the finance team; Prepare and share annual procurement plans with Logistics team, and update these on a timely basis. Participate in the procurement processes bringing the agriculture programming expertise to bear for example in machinery selection; Prepare and share monthly, quarterly and annual activities plans and reports including putting these up on the Grant Management System; Support the PC in preparing complete, accurate and realistic budgets for donor proposals and as part of Concern’s internal budget procedures, ensuring that all direct and indirect costs are fully and accurately budgeted; Support the PC in monitoring monthly management accounts reports to ensure that expenditure is being accurately recorded and to avoid unacceptable variances; Support the PC in preparing monthly reports on expenditures against budgets, and in explaining any observed variances; Integrate and mainstream cross-cutting themes; Equality and especially nutrition, gender, HIV and AIDS, climate change, and environmental protection in program planning, implementation and evaluation. Again when there is an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone take that opportunity.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

Support the design of a feasible and digital MEAL Plan in collaboration with the PC and MEAL team; Oversee the Strategic local implementing partners and the Concern Programme Officers in collecting regular programme monitoring information using the digital data gathering devices. Ensure that ill equipped/ poorly trained staff are supported to get the training needed pro-actively from the MEAL team; Prepare internal and external reports (such as narrative reports, HMIS data reports) within agreed deadlines using CWW and donor formats, as required; Use the programme data gathered to inform quarterly joint monitoring sessions and review what the data is telling the team with the local implementing partners and Concern Programme Officers. The aim is that the LIFE programme is adapting based on needs each year; Undertaking regular joint field visits with to observe implementation of activities, support field staff, assess progress towards change and expected results and give feedback to staff; Demonstrate your commitment to accountability, CRM and safeguarding at all times, lead on the sharing of these critical messages at every level; In collaboration with the MEAL team, ensure documentation of learnings and use results to adapt program design as needed.

Capacity Building:

Provide needs-based training for Concern staff and implementing partners, which will enable the teams to work effectively and efficiently. Be proactive and make suggestions for training packages based on; Work closely with MoA/MoH to identify and rollout targeting trainings in line with MoA/MOH and Concern training modules and protocols.

People Management:

Do top quality programme development reviews with the Concern Programme Officers; Manage the team in a collaborative mission focused manner and keep very strong documentation of any under – performance to ensure it is addressed; Use the quarterly joint monitoring visits with the Strategic Implementing Partners to ensure that challenges are documented and improvement plans are agreed and implemented.

Coordination, Networking, Advocacy and Representation.

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders – including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, community-based organisations and other Concern sectors to enhance cooperation and coordination; Represent Concern during visits by donor agencies, Ministries responsible for Health, Gender, Education and Agriculture, UN agencies partners and other stakeholders as advised by the Program Coordinator;

Support county coordination platforms and attend county level health and nutrition coordination meetings and other meetings/workshops related to the health and nutrition program; Ensure that information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate; Coordinate the gathering of information from micro level in line with Concern’s Advocacy agenda, organise such information into a format appropriate for advocacy purposes; Ensuring Concern participates alongside other Civil Society Organisations or takes lead in organising international days in line with Concern’s work at community level.

Experience & Qualification:

∙ Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agri-Business, Food Security or other relevant qualifications acquired from recognized universities. ∙ At least 4 years practical experience working on agriculture and food systems strengthening programmes.

∙ At least 2 years of experience working to support local NGOs.

∙ At least 2 years of experience working to support the development of local agri-businesses/ and or knowledge on farming as a business to prospective entrepreneurs

∙ Computer skills, including hands-on use of the internet, Word, and Excel packages

∙ Possessing a driver’s license and motorbike riding skills

How to apply:

By email to: liberia.hr@concern.net with the JOB CODE 23-028-RH Program Manager – Livelihoods and Food Security (x1) clearly in the SUBJECT LINE. By Hand to: HR Department, Concern Worldwide, Building Number-5 Andalucía’s Complex Compound Number-2, Between 6th & 7th Streets Sinkor Beachside, Behind Home City Furniture Store, Monrovia.

JOB CODE 23-028-RH Program Manager – Livelihoods and Food Security (x1) clearly indicated on the envelope.

Applications must include the following:

∙ JOB CODE 23-028-RH Program Manager – Livelihoods and Food Security (x1)

∙ A letter of application stating why you believe you are the best suited for the position.

∙ A copy of your CV (maximum 4 pages) giving active daytime contacts.

∙ Names and addresses of two (2) work-related referees with professional e-mail addresses.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 5:00 pm on Wednesday 22nd November 2023.

FEMALE APPLICANTS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.

Safeguarding at Concern: Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all sections of society. While all applicants will be strictly assessed on their individual merit, qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply.