Heifer International.
Position: PROMESA café & Cacao Signature Program Director
Location: Any country in LATAM.
FUNCTION:
The Signature Program Director sets the strategic and framework to enable long lasting, pro-poor wealth generation and living income for smallholder farmers, through signature programs that increase scale and induce systemic change, strengthen partnerships, and achieve permanence for long term impact. The Signature Program Director manages and strengthens the signature program portfolio; coordinates inter-institutional relations with donors and public/private partner organizations and, in coordination with host country leadership, manages operations and human resources of the different regions where the signature program is implemented.
This is an expert level role that will work at the field level. This role holds significant knowledge and technical experience working in demand driven market systems. The role ensures rigor in analysis, planning and implementation of businesses identified within the coffee and cocoa value chain to determine viability. This role will undertake extensive review of existing studies, business plans, government documents and other resources. This role will also assess the backward and forward linkages, business and financial services, and infrastructure needed to create an enabling environment in value chain business opportunities on coffee and cocoa. The position will use statistical data on the economic potential of selected businesses to inform decisions.
The Signature Program Director represents Heifer in various forums to place Heifer as the though leader on thematic issues, and to advocate and increase understanding of Heifer’s value proposition in ending hunger and poverty.
Main Responsibilities
A. Direction and management of the programs´ portfolio and projects.
- Ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the strategic vision of the signature program at all operational levels of the organization.
- Lead the implementation of standard management tools (i.e. planning, baseline, monitoring, evaluation and reporting), ensuring the oversight of the signature program and the quality of projects (i.e. on time and according to scope and budget), in order to achieve objectives, goals and global impact.
- Ensures the effective and efficient application of policies, processes, and programmatic, technical, administrative, and financial procedures of Heifer Project International Inc and donors in close collaboration with key stakeholders.
- Manage the portfolio of projects and programs within the signature program assuring Heifer’s value components of social capital, gender equality and caring for the earth are integrated.
- Prepares the operative plan for the Signature Program in coordination with stakeholders.
- Reviews and approves the program and project reports of portfolio under their supervision.
- Reviews and approves disbursements requests for programs and projects, corresponding to operational plans, approved budget, donor agreements, and amendments.
- Leads preparation of the specific signature program reports, updates, and presentations to be presented to Heifer Project International Inc. and other donors.
- Establish and implement communication protocols and decision-making spaces to facilitate the flow of information and efficiency at different levels of program and project management.
B. Resource mobilization and strategic relationship management for scale and permanence of Signature Program
- Coordinate with the Senior Country Director in the identification of new funding sources, resources, and partners compatible with the Signature Program strategies and priorities, which includes the definition of new territories and topics.
- Lead design of new proposals under scope of signature program, in coordination with stakeholders and following design processes.
- Establish and maintain working relationships with research institutions working on agriculture, climate change, innovation, value chains and other topics to ensure the effectiveness of the program.
- Identify potential partners and allies with shared interests and complementary strengths, meeting established requirements.
- Contribute to the strategic positioning of Heifer, as an expert entity in connecting small producers with the private sector, corporations, companies, and markets.
- Facilitate the preparation of reports or information and communication documents in the program and projects, to follow donor requirements and institutional advocacy and other information materials and mechanisms.
- Represent to Heifer International in forums and coordination spaces where its participation is defined
C. Cultivate culture for Knowledge management, learning and innovation
- Establish practices and activities of participation in the exchange of knowledge and learning with external thinkers, networks, etc. in the public and private sector.
- Ensure appropriate information generation procedures for learning, adaptation and replicability, through planning, monitoring and evaluation.
- Ensure the analysis, submission, adaptation and distribution of learnings, results and impact documented through specific project and program reports and evaluations
- Promotes the systematization of experiences to support participant-lead efforts and of interest to donors, including Heifer Project International Inc., and partners
- Participate in platforms and networks of interest to Heifer Project International Inc. at the regional and / or national level if so established.
- Participate in learning systems and exchange of experiences between signature and national programs.
- Assure that signature program information of impact and results, learnings and innovation is shared with internal and external audiences through various communication systems
- Establish a model of knowledge exchange based on the results of and learnings at project, program, country, and regional levels.
- Leverage strong knowledge of the SP to educate cross functional team members so they can develop and execute strategies to create innovative solutions
- Develop and lead innovation in the areas of relevance to the signature program in line with organizational vision and strategy
- Collaborate with global and signature/country programs to identify, track, and assess innovative approaches
- Develop knowledge management and innovation vision for signature program
D. Strategic vision and alignment for scale, permanence and partnerships
- Leads the strategic development and application of sustainable results and impacts that help families to lift themselves out of poverty and earn a decent income.Identifies geographic zones and thematic areas for the program to be staggered.
- Ensures that project proposals follow the genuine demands of the target population and the strategic lines of Heifer International and other donors, in line with the program.
- Contributes to the development of institutional action criteria in the region of influence, from the thematic, population and territorial point of view.
- Analyzes and considers in the vision, planning and implementation issues, policies, and development innovations (socioeconomic, ecological / environmental, cultural and political) in the area, country and region, especially related to hunger and overcoming poverty.
- Ensures that staff incorporate the strategic framework of the country in the development and implementation of projects and activities, to ensure quality, impact, scale, efficiency, and that the work and / or action plans align with the goals and objectives of Heifer and the program.
- Actively participate in the meetings of the country management team and / or steering committee of the Signature program in representation of the best interests of the program.
- Establishes a coordination and communication link with strategic units of Heifer Project International Inc. to further advance signature program work. and in inter-institutional networks, meetings, exchanges of experiences, forums, and other events as content expert, advancing the visibility of signature program and advocating for the integration of Heifer’s value proposition.
- Delegation of representation assigned by the Senior Country Director, which supports the achievement of the mission, objectives, and results of Heifer Project International
E. People Management
- Assure the implementation of performance management and talent development processes by direct supervisees.
- Carry out development of annual objectives and quarterly performance reviews, provide constant feedback, identify development opportunities, and as needed, create performance improvement plans for direct supervises.
- Assure the development and career path of the team to ensure high performing teams.
- Keep team morale high, taking the necessary steps to improve retention, motivation, engagement, and employee well- being.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, social or environmental sciences, economics, or related field.
- 10 years of related experience and five (5) years in a management role.
- 5 years of professional experience building linkages among private sector, local governments, development partners and coffee and cocoa value chain actors.
- Solid knowledge of software (Microsoft Office).
- Fluent in English and Spanish, both spoken and written.
Preferred Requirements
- Master’s degree in agronomy engineering, social or environmental sciences, administration, or related field.
- Experience in a donor-funded international development environment with compliance requirements of the U.S. government and institutional funders for international development, such USAID, EU, IFAD, DFID, mega-foundations, and others.
- Proven professional experience & results in community / agribusiness development.
- Project design and management experience, with certification a plus.
- Experience in formation of social enterprises, innovation, and design thinking
- Experience access to finance and building partnerships for blended finance mechanisms.