Care Bangladesh -Team Leader

CARE Bangladesh Project Summary Through the current phase of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Strengthening the Dairy Value Chain (SDVC) Project Phase II, CARE has been working toward sustainable solutions to overcome the major challenges to smallholder participation in the dairy sector market, particularly women, in North and Northwestern Bangladesh.   CARE identified increasing access to quality inputs and animal management practices, increasing access to markets, organizing and educating farmer groups, improving milk collector’s business options and markets, and influencing dairy sector policies as the key leverage points needed to make the value chain work for the benefit of rural smallholder low-income producers. SDVC targeted private sector companies and worked with them to pursue inclusive business models that both strengthened the value chain; and better and more equitably integrated poor producers in their supply and distribution chains. SDVC’s major interventions addressed the most critical short-medium term constraints to unlock smallholder dairy productivity and profitability— specifically, access to affordable quality feed and veterinary drugs, better animal health and management at household level, improved access to livestock health services, establishing small-holder dairy farmers into producer groups, and increasing the efficiency and transparency of milk collection. The project has made an impressive contribution to producer access to diverse and competitive community-level service provision across input supplies and collection, while upgrading local level businesses and creating opportunities for women in more advantageous roles. Position Title, Location & Contract Duration Team Leader (01 position) for Strengthening the Dairy Value Chain Project Phase II Location: Based at CARE Bogra Field Office. The duration of the proposed contract is up to December, 2015. I.             Job Summary:   The SDVC II project of CARE-Bangladesh is designed to assist 30,000 targeted smallholder dairy producers (mostly women) in nine districts of North and Northwest Bangladesh have dairy household milk sales income increased by 75% and more sustainable livelihoods through their inclusion in a sustainable pro-poor Dairy Hub value chain model.   The Team Leader is responsible for facilitating the sustainable income increase of dairy value chain stakeholders, by using strategic objectives to address key behavioral and systemic (institutional) constraints related to capacity building that enhance productivity and income, access to quality dairy inputs and services and of course access to markets for their products to the fastest growing formal market. In order to achieve the objectives the TL will be responsible for strategic thinking and leadership of programs, networking, collaboration, administrative, financial and all other relevant aspects of planning and implementation of SDVC II program activities, effectively and efficiently in the region. The TL will supervise key project managers. S/he will uphold CARE Bangladesh’s values and ensuring programming and organizational principles. II.           Responsibilities and Tasks:   Responsibility % of Time Responsibility # 1: Effective strategic planning and leadership in project technical, financial management and donor liasion   Provide strategic thinking to develop and follow up project technical and financial action plans in light of SDVC II program principles and result framework Provide management and technical inputs to direct reports and other project staff to implement technical and financial action plan. Oversee the direct implementation and sub grants operations on a daily basis as planned in the SDVC II program. Bring revisions and fine-tuning of the plans as per relevant M&E information from field and up-to-date local/Regional/global dairy commodity and market knowledge Contribute in budget preparation guidelines and assist/monitor budget preparations. Review budget before submission to CBHQ. Regularly monitor budget of CARE Ensure that program is implemented within the budget framework. and make sure that burnt rate is up to the expected level 30% Responsibility# 2: Staff supervision and capacity development for successful project implementation 30% Supervise key project managers, M&E managers, manager communications, manager gender and training, technical manager livestock, ASOs for overall timely and quality implementation of SDVC II program in the region. Develop staff capacities as needed to enhance their confidence to implement the action plan Develop and manage partnership with the implementing partners, private sectors, other organizations and communities. Provide guidance to project managers on the overall implementation and programming. Regular visits to project sites and interact with the management. Assist, provide feedback in written and guide them in developing their plans and timely implementation. Create a Gender Equitable, women friendly, sensitive work environment in the regional office Coach & mentor program staff to improve their programming and analytical skills, which include skills in project planning, management, communication and monitoring activities Assist partners (BRAC dairy, other private entrepreneurs) in their capacity building for resource management Ensure that all the positions in the region are filled with skilled staff in a timely manner, and are being served with adequate guidance so that they can perform their jobs properly. Review all annual performance appraisals and provide inputs where needed. Lead the project SLT team meeting and follow up on a monthly basis Responsibility # 3: Monitoring/Evaluation and Program Reporting Become full acquainted with the M&E plans of the program and ensure proper implementation of the plan. Contribute in preparation/updating of half yearly plans Supervise the TC M&E in planning for monitoring the progress of the activities and interventions by the project staff. Participate in monitoring visits Facilitate technical inputs to develop appropriate, unbiased and simple routine monitoring systems for the program. Plan and oversee all project evaluations, as required by donors, as well as undertake special assessment as required. Review findings of the Monitoring visits and initiate action according to needs. Prepare program progress reports as per the program and donor needs and send them to CBHQ. Document the innovation, case studies and other pilot initiatives involving the Program managers and other Technical staff in the region. Share all reports with and involve the counterparts in discussions regarding improvement. 20% Responsibility # 4: Efficient Information & Communication Management and effective networking and collaboration Supervise manager marketing communications and share information on the Overall Strategic Directions of the SDVC II program & disseminate through all categories of staff & partners. Involve a system of communication across the staff, partners, concerned government officials and communities related to program policies, strategies and implementation activities. Contribute to and support new initiatives undertaken by mission in areas such as pro poor value chain programming and gender equity. Facilitate regular and smooth liaison and network with counterparts, collaborating agencies, governmental offices, research organization, donor(s) and other NGOs. Communicate efficiently to a multidisciplinary group of senior managers in performing their operational work Help organize effectively the regional steering committee meetings by providing lessons learned from the field operations etc. 10% Responsibility # 5: Continue innovate and scale up project best practices to other projects of CARE and contribute to new business development opportunities for country offices Help disseminate project best practices in the CO and globally Contribute to the agriculture and value chain project portfolio working group as an active member Work with CO program development team when needed 10% III.          Reporting:   Coordinator-Agriculture & Value Chain, ERPP IV.          Working Condition:   Based in CARE-Bangladesh's office in the said region with approximately 40% time to travel in field. V.           Qualification:   A good conceptual understanding of market development approaches including value chains and making market work for the poor. At least a bachelors degree in business/Economics/animal husbandry or related discipline; an MBA will be an advantage A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, of which 5 years (preferably) in a value chain program planning, managing and implementation; Experience of working with communities in participatory approaches and conceptually strong in implementing program through market development approach  Good knowledge on M&E systems that can feed information and data required for improving program quality and generating deeper impact; Good networking and liaison skills with counterparts, partners; Oversight of budget and other resources, able to manage multi-year grants ensuring donor compliance Analytical and report writing skills: Staff performance management skills, including team building; and Computer literacy (MS Word, Excel). Candidates need to be highly motivated and committed to CARE Bangladesh’s vision, mission, and long term development work to significantly improve the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized. Candidates must be capable of displaying great learning agility, support and encouragement of knowledge sharing across projects, to the ultimate benefit of all of CARE’s mission wide initiatives. This is an interesting time in the development of CARE as an organization which is shifting towards a program approach where it has developed longer-term impact visions to have MORE sustainable changes in the lives of the extreme poor and marginalized. CARE is looking for a Team Leader who will play a key role in the leadership of the Strengthening the Dairy Value Chain Project Phase II whilst at the same time building a learning culture that promotes knowledge sharing across CARE and excellence.  Compensation Monthly gross salary is Taka 1,19,900 plus other admissible benefits as per policy. Interested candidates meeting the above requirements should apply online through http://carebangladesh.org/why_join.php on or before January 20, 2015.  Note: 1. Women are particularly encouraged to apply 2. Any persuasion will disqualify the candidates 3. Internal and external applicants shall be treated equally in the entire selection process 4. Please write the position name on top of the envelope/subject line of the mail.