Project Manager, Kenya Livestock Market Systems-Isiolo, Kenya, Africa at Boma Projects

Summary:

The BOMA Project is currently seeking qualified candidates for Project Manager position on the newly awarded USAID-funded Feed the Future Livestock Market Systems Activity. The specific program under activity is “Expanding and Diversifying Viable Economic Opportunities in Northern Kenya”, which provides market-based pull by facilitating a more competitive, commercialized livestock value chain for pastoralists that are moving up in the livestock market system and by creating viable, diversified livelihoods opportunities for those that are stepping or moving out of the sector. Program activities are layered with another Program under the overall USAID LMS project, “Strengthening Community Capacities for Resilience and Economic Growth”. ACDI/VOCA is the overall lead organization of this project.

The BOMA Project will directly implement BOMA’s Rural Entrepreneur Access Project (REAP) 2-year poverty graduation model in Isiolo county, which will contribute to strengthen and diversify productive livelihood opportunities, for men, women, and youth. Through a two-year sequence of interventions, REAP will help the poorest and most vulnerable women gain financial literacy, receive two years of mentoring in businesses and life skills, and through an asset transfer provided by BOMA, start small businesses to earn an income and establish savings to build their resilience to shocks.

BOMA Kenya staff will deliver BOMA’s Poverty Graduation Model in Isiolo. BOMA Kenya graduation advisors will provide technical assistance to Mercy Corps to implement the model in Wajir and Turkana, building on existing pilots. The overall length of position is two and one-half years. The position is expected to start in January, 2018.

The KLMS Project Manager will responsible for driving performance and results to achieve project objectives, and to support the implementation of the LMS project to achieve programmatic excellence, delivery of results with sound financial management, and contractual compliance.S/he will lead the team to deliver timely project implementation, monitor project activities, and ensure quality. S/he will manage relationships with project partners, including ACDI/VOCA, the lead of the overall KLMS award. This position will be based in the ACDI/VOCA KLMS project office Isiolo, Kenya, with frequent travel to Wajir and Turkana, and occasional travel to Nairobi.

The ideal candidate is an experienced project manager with prior experience working with USAID or other bilateral donor. S/he is effective at project planning and management, managing employees, and relationships with partners and stakeholders in challenging environments and is passionate about women’s economic empowerment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation of the BOMA component of the overall LMS project

• Manage technical and administrative personnel and in the implementation of the activity
• Ensure timely project implementation and technical reliability, monitor project activities, and ensure quality, including work planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and reporting.
• Provide technical and/or operational guidance to team
• Coordinate the development, implementation and reporting on detailed management plans that may include implementation plans, deliverable tracking, etc
• Lead annual work planning and make adjustment needed in coordination with the Kenya Program Director and the ACDI/VOCA project lead.
• Supervise the fulfillment of the activities according to the work plan
• Manage relationships with ACDI/VOCA, Mercy Corps and other partners related to project implementation
• Ensure effective coordination and synergies between BOMA, ACDI/VOCA, Mercy Corps on project activities
• Ensure team alignment with project strategy
• Supervise proper compliance of project staff with BOMA policies
• Manage the use of resources and the processes of internal control of the project
• Carry out the planning for the execution of the project
• Interview and propose the personnel to be hired if required
• Supervise compliance with the project with all levels of staff
• Review staff time sheets on a monthly basis
• Represent BOMA at meetings with USAID at the request of ACDI/VOCA
• With support from BOMA Nanyuki procurement staff, manage procurements, deliveries and other related logistical actions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, economics, business, agricultural or rural development and at least 5 years of demonstrated management experience in managing economic or community development projects of a similar size
• Knowledge of donor administrative, management and reporting procedures and systems along with strategic program planning, management, supervision, USAID experience a plus
• Experience in Northern Kenya is required; experience in Isiolo, Turkan or Warjir a plus
• Understanding of economic development practices
• Detail orientation, including strong organizational, analytical and quantitative skills. 
• Strong project management skills including the ability to anticipate demand and manage multiple tasks and projects while meeting tight deadlines.
• Ability to build consensus and demonstrated ability to recruit and develop high performing teams; demonstrated ability to manage staff.
• Experience and demonstrated capacity to build and sustain partnerships to achieve development results.
• Excellent oral and written skills in English. Fluency in Kiswahili required.
• Demonstrated ability to be collaborative across projects, flexible and creative.
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Prior experience managing a team of highly-successful staff working in multiple locations/field offices desired
• Excellent computer skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet. 
• Strong written communications skills. 
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 40% of the time.