The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

Seeks

Project Management Officer

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems. For more details, please visit – www.icrisat.org.

ICRISAT is seeking applications for the position of a Project Management Officer (PMO), under the direct supervision of the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for the management of a program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Resilience Challenge Funds (RCF). The program intends to establish a Resilience Community of Practice (RCOP) that includes USAID and non-USAID-funded programs working within the Mali Resilience Focus Zone (RFZ) in Central Mali. Using USAID layering, sequencing, and integrating (LSI) techniques, the RCOP will collaborate on Humanitarian and Development Assistance activities for the purpose of enhanced development impact, cost effectiveness, and learning. Additionally, the RCOP will monitor and measure the impacts and outcomes of these activities.

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centres dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. The duty station: ILRI office at ICRISAT-Bamako Research Station in Samanko, Mali. www.ilri.org

Overall responsibility

The PMO will assist the DCOP in assuming responsibility for project management to ensure achievement of objectives on time and on budget. The PM will provide timely planning, coordination, and implementation and   tracking of program administrative, financial, and logistical interventions. The PM will ensure timely preparation and submission of program financial reports to ILRI and the donor. She/He will support the DCOP in the preparation and management of sub-awards granted to implementing partners and ensure compliance with donor and ILRI regulations.  She/He must possess relevant project management, communication, knowledge management and interpersonal skills to support the DCOP to fulfil this role of effective and smooth program implementation geared towards the achievement of program objectives.

Key responsibilities:

The PMO will perform the following tasks under the direction of the Deputy Chief of Party:

• Provide support to the leadership and management of the project and advise both the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party on project management best practices.
• Assist the development and execution of Kedo Diren multi-year program budgets.
• Effectively manage the project budget, ensuring proper allocation of expenditure, monitoring expenditures, and highlighting any variances, and providing suggestions for corrective action to COP and DCOP.
• Review requests for recruiting staff and consultants prior to approval and follow up with P&OD for execution.
• Engage with program implementing partners for the development, monitoring of and reporting on grants and sub-contracts.
• Ensure timely technical and financial reports to USAID/Mali; Compile monthly, quarterly, midterm and annual reports and other reports as required and in compliance with donor and ILRI policy.
• Liaise with the Finance Unit on budget and financial matters.
• Ensure the implementation of ILRI’s Program Management Framework (PMF) across the project.
• Assess and plan future procurement needs and work with the Supply Chain Unit to create detailed procurement plans.
• Liaise with the Legal Unit to draft partner agreements and incorporate the necessary changes.
• Work closely with the COP and DCOP to define research compliance requirements, undertake risk assessment and contribute to the development of mitigation strategies.
• Maintain effective working relationships with partners, beneficiaries, and stakeholders and facilitate effective flow of information between all partners, team members and relevant stakeholders in program activities.
• Ensure that CGIAR and ILRI policies relating to Intellectual Property, Open Access, P&OD and others are being followed at the project level
• Perform other duties as assigned by the COP and DCOP. 

Requirements

• Master’s degree (preferable) or equivalent in management, finance, economics, or related area.
• Project management certification is required.
• Proven management skills and experience in support of donor-funded international development programs, preferably in Mali or West Africa.
• Minimum of five years of progressively increasing management responsibility in international development projects including those associated with livestock and crop production, natural resources management or resilience.
• Demonstrated ability to establish effective project management controls.
• Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to perform and collaborate in complex and security sensitive project environments
• Ability to travel within Mali and occasionally internationally,
• Experience working on and leading teams for USAID contracts and/or cooperative agreements and/or knowledge of USAID rules, regulations, and policies is preferred.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French required.
• Malian and West African nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

Post location:

 The position will be based in Bamako, Mali, West Africa

Terms of Appointment:

This position is at job grade 7 and is a two (2) year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ICRISAT offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes; medical and other insurances. 

How to apply:

Applicants should apply on or before 23 May 2023 on icrisat-mli@icrisat.org, with a letter of motivation, latest curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about your professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer