Programme Manager

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Position Title: Programme Manager
Location: Yangon
Country: Myanmar
Deadline Date: 05-Dec-2024

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is LIFT (Livelihoods and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security Trust Fund), which focuses on improving the livelihoods of the rural poor in Myanmar. Established to address food security and rural development challenges, LIFT operates in various regions of Myanmar, collaborating with local and international partners to implement sustainable agricultural practices and enhance food security. The organization aims to promote resilience among smallholder farmers and ensure that agricultural development aligns with national priorities and global best practices. LIFT is committed to ethical standards, integrity, and accountability in its operations, and it emphasizes teamwork and collaboration among its diverse workforce.

Job Overview:
The Programme Manager will play a crucial role in leading the design and implementation of agricultural development programs under LIFT's strategy. This position focuses on enhancing food security, promoting climate resilience, and ensuring sustainable rural livelihoods. The Programme Manager will be responsible for developing methodologies to assess the effectiveness of agricultural interventions, ensuring alignment with national priorities, and managing program resources in accordance with UNOPS standards. The role requires providing technical guidance on food security and climate change adaptation, fostering innovation in agricultural production, and promoting sustainable practices among smallholder farmers. The Programme Manager will also be expected to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues and maintain strong relationships with relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and oversee the implementation of agricultural development programs focusing on food security, climate resilience, and sustainable rural livelihoods.
• Develop methodologies for assessing the effectiveness of agricultural and development interventions and propose improvements based on findings.
• Ensure alignment of projects with national priorities and global best practices for sustainable agriculture.
• Manage program resources in accordance with UNOPS standards of ethics, integrity, and accountability framework.
• Provide technical guidance on food security, climate change adaptation, and agricultural development to LIFT teams and implementing partners.
• Collaborate with ministries, NGOs, and private sector actors to foster innovation in agricultural production and value chains.
• Promote the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices among smallholder farmers.
• Attend external food security and agricultural development initiatives on behalf of LIFT and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Develop systems to monitor the impact of agricultural programs and ensure they meet established goals. 1
• Lead the preparation of high-quality reports and presentations to communicate program achievements to donors and stakeholders. 1
• Capture lessons learned and promote knowledge exchange on best practices in agricultural development and food security. 1
• Ensure that programs incorporate sustainability and climate change resilience strategies, particularly for smallholder farmers. 1
• Design and implement KPIs to measure the impact of initiatives on sustainable practices within projects.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, or a related field with 7 years of relevant experience is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's) in the same fields with 2 additional years of relevant experience could be considered in lieu of the Master’s degree.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience leading agricultural development, rural livelihoods, or food security projects is required.
• Proven experience in climate change adaptation in agriculture and promoting sustainable farming practices is highly desirable.
• Experience managing internal and external stakeholders at all levels is required.
• Team leadership experience is essential.
• Experience working in Myanmar or Southeast Asian countries, or in conflict-affected contexts is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success in program management, including the design and delivery of agricultural interventions with measurable outcomes is an asset.
• Experience in international organizations and/or international contexts is required.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master’s degree preferably in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor's) in these fields with additional relevant experience may be considered. The educational background should provide a strong foundation in agricultural practices, economic principles, and rural development strategies.

Experience:
The Programme Manager should have a minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in leading agricultural development, rural livelihoods, or food security projects. This experience should include a proven track record in climate change adaptation in agriculture and promoting sustainable farming practices. The candidate should also have experience managing relationships with various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and private sector partners. Team leadership experience is essential, as is experience working in Myanmar or other Southeast Asian countries, particularly in conflict-affected contexts. Demonstrated success in program management with measurable outcomes is highly valued.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Burmese is considered an asset, as it would facilitate communication with local stakeholders and enhance the effectiveness of program implementation.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified as an International ICA contract at the IICA-3 level, with an open-ended duration subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. The duty station is Yangon, which is designated as a Non-Family Duty Station. The application period for this position is from 20-Nov-2024 to 05-Dec-2024, and applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date.