Project Manager - Forest Flavors

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established in 1943, CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. With a mission-driven culture, CRS is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, and it operates through a collaborative approach that welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its values. The agency has a strong commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, ensuring that its processes and policies reflect this commitment. CRS employs a diverse workforce and prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where it operates, ensuring that its staff is representative of the communities it serves.

Job Overview:
The Project Manager for Forest Flavors at CRS Ghana will play a pivotal role in managing, coordinating, and monitoring project activities related to the Market Systems Development (MSD) strategy aimed at strengthening cocoa and shea value chains. This position is crucial for creating sustainable job opportunities for youth and enhancing the internal capacity for market-driven programming. The successful candidate will oversee the implementation of the Forest Flavors initiative, which builds on previous work in Madagascar, and will be responsible for ensuring high-quality programming that aligns with CRS's mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. The Project Manager will report directly to the Director for Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Landscape, and will be based in Tamale, Ghana, with frequent travel required across Northern, Western, and Bono East Regions of Ghana. This role demands strong project management skills, a deep understanding of the program area, and the ability to foster relationships with various stakeholders to achieve project objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Manager will lead various aspects of project management including technical oversight, budget management, monitoring, and reporting throughout the project cycle from start-up to close-out. Key responsibilities include managing team dynamics and staff well-being, providing coaching and development plans for team members, and contributing to the recruitment process for project staff. The Project Manager will also provide technical leadership on Market Systems Development (MSD), youth employment, climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, and landscape restoration. Building and maintaining strategic partnerships with organizations such as COCOBOD, the Forestry Commission, private sector buyers, local government, and financial institutions is essential. The role involves determining necessary activities for quality project implementation, conducting budget reviews, and ensuring timely submission of financial reports. Additionally, the Project Manager will identify capacity needs of staff and partner organizations, assist in preparing trend analysis reports, and ensure that project documentation is complete and compliant with agency and donor requirements.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture economics, Agricultural Extension, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Development Finance, Entrepreneurship, or a related field. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is considered an added advantage. The position requires a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in project management, particularly in areas such as agriculture financing, cocoa and shea value chains, Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC), Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), agribusiness development, or NGO programming. Strong project grants management experience, including project design for multiple public donors, is preferred. Candidates should demonstrate experience in engaging with partner organizations and possess staff management abilities conducive to a learning environment.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in fields such as agriculture economics, Agricultural Extension, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Development Finance, or Entrepreneurship. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is advantageous and may enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in project management, with a strong preference for experience in agriculture financing, cocoa and shea value chains, and related fields. This experience should include managing projects that involve multiple stakeholders and require a deep understanding of market systems development and community engagement.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory for this position. Strong communication skills in English will be essential for effective collaboration with stakeholders and for reporting purposes. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and based in Tamale, Ghana, with a significant travel requirement of up to 50% across various regions. The role includes supervisory responsibilities over senior project officers and project officers. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages are based on the country of employment. The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and commitment to safeguarding program participants and community members from exploitation and abuse.