Project Manager, Community Knowledge Worker, Kampala, Uganda

Job Summary : The Project Manager (PM) will oversee the CKW project in Uganda, providing guidance in the areas of scaling and sustainability while providing strategic and operational leadership of the efforts locally. The Project Manager will work closely with a range of partners, manage the local team, guide research, track and report results and guide overall strategy. Through the use of innovative technologies, the PM will build creative solutions to overcome some of the biggest challenges in reaching smallholder farmers with the goal of increasing their incomes and building a sustainable organization with the capacity to impact thousands.

Reporting and relationships: The position will report to the Director, AppLab Uganda with a dotted-line to the Regional CEO, Africa . The PM directly supervises Field-Based staff and contractors.

Availability: The Program Manager is expected to work a typical work week of 37.5 hours plus additional hours as necessary to get the job done. The position will be based in Kampala , Uganda . This position will need to be flexible to work in local conditions, and be available to work across different time zones. This position will require frequent travel (30%-40%) within Uganda , and periodic travel to the US and other countries as needed.

Essential Job Functions:

• Develop strategy for building the CKW Model in Uganda
• Deepen relationships, leverage strengths and understand needs of local partners ; identify, vet and develop partnerships with high potential partners; manage key stakeholder relationships with institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, district governments and other entities.
• Develop short-, mid- and long-term CKW strategy in Uganda and update regularly based on local learning, lessons from complementary initiatives, and trends in ICT for development; implement the approach for achieving sustainability and increase percentage of sustainable funding sources year on year
• Implement with excellence
• Prepare ambitious but achievable project plan for each phase of the project that optimizes resources, maximizes impact to farmers, and sets clear stakeholder expectations.
• Manage implementation, provide technical expertise, remove barriers, deliver effective education and rural field outreach, and scale the program
• Track and report results
• Develop success metrics for each aspect of the project, and report regularly on progress towards each; including expansion of CKW network, deployment of mobile applications, data collection activities, impact on smallholder farmers, partnership building and budgets activities; Develop monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for each initiative and the overall CKW program.
• Provide comprehensive analysis of progress against metrics and milestones, implementing ideas for improvement and drawing conclusions about scaling potential and approach; articulate the approach for reaching poorest farmers while incorporating gender into the metrics that will track progress in these areas.
• Manage local resources and vendors/suppliers
• Prepare RFPs, evaluate and manage procurement.
• Build, manage, direct and mentor local team and administer sub-grants to local partners
• Identify local experts to serve on Steering Committee and Expert Review Board and convene as appropriate.
• Promote CKW efforts in Africa (local representation)
• Generate awareness about our CKW efforts in Uganda and in the region (as appropriate)
• Represent the CKW Project in Uganda in discussions with a wide range of partners
• Explore opportunities for additional CKW Project implementations in other African countries (pending results of work in Uganda )

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Deep commitment to eradication of poverty and alignment with Grameen Foundation’s mission and understanding of and commitment to development in Africa and agriculture in general.
• Outstanding project management skills with proven track record of achievement under a range of challenging situations (ideally in multiple countries)
• Excellent people skills – ability to manage complex projects (operational and tactical) with proven ability to work effectively with diverse partners
• Strong business, leadership, and time management skills and ability to work collaboratively across organizations, provide leadership, and integrate diverse programs and staff
• Strong strategic thinker who thinks innovatively and creatively to solve unstructured problems
• Ability to manage complexities under pressure.
• An entrepreneurial spirit
• Excellent presentation, communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to act as a lead representative of GF in public forums
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and mobile phones
• Ability to promote knowledge transfer through strong mentoring and team building skills
• Enthusiasm and passion for development work in Uganda and the region
• Belief in the potential to leverage information and communication technology (ICTs) for the benefit of small holder farmers –with practical experience.
• Commitment to building social and gender equity into program design and approach
• Equally comfortable presenting to a room of business executives and discussing needs with villagers sitting on the dirt floor of a rural home

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Economics, Public Policy, Engineering, Business, or related field. Master’s Degree preferred
• At least 10 years of project or organizational management
• Experience working in agricultural development in developing countries, ideally in Sub-Saharan Africa. Experience in microfinance and/or technology is preferred
• Experience in information and communication technology (ICTs) preferred
• Fluent in oral and written English
• Experience living and working in a developing country

Physical and Environmental Conditions:
This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort. This position may occasionally require physical effort to lift and transport boxes weighing no more than 50 pounds.

Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms, residences, or commercial vehicles; e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals.

Additional Comment:
The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. Interested candidates should send their resume and brief cover letter explaining why you are interested in this position and what you will bring to the position.

Resumes will be accepted through October 19, 2009 and should be sent via email to jobs@grameenfoundation.org. Please put “PM-CKW” in the subject line. No phone calls, please.