SGR Executive Director at Sustainable Growers Rwanda

JOB DESCRIPTION

Sustainable Growers Rwanda (SGR) is a non-profit organization that supports women coffee farmers and their families to become more professionalized and market- based skilled to increase their family incomes through professional training approach to growing and trading specialty coffee, so they can form direct, productive relationships with coffee processors, importers and roasters. Established in 2014, Sustainable Growers has a strong track record for connecting actors along the value chain, to facilitate deep and global partnerships between small holder producers and their customers.

POSITION: SGR PROGRAM DIRECTOR

REPORTS TO: SGR Executive Director

SUPERVISES: HR&Operations Manager, 6 Field Coordinators, Agri-Finance Manager, M&E Manager and Commercial and Cooperatives Manager.

LOCATION: Kigali

STATUS: Fixed Term Contract

JOB SUMMARY/PURPOSE

The SGR Program Director will manage program budgets, oversee monitoring and evaluation, and ensure delivery of results as per agreed-upon milestones and goals and will directly and indirectly supervise and monitor all operations and activities performed by staff and consultants working for SGR.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities are but not limited to

Oversee the design, planning, and successful execution of programs and activities in Rwanda, DRC & Tanzania.

• Provide program direction, develop and implement a strategic vision for achieving program goals, identify opportunities to innovate and increase impact, and develop appropriate solutions to challenges that arise in the course of the program.
• Ensure the program is implemented with sound managerial, financial, and human resources practices, as per funders standards.
• Participate in recruitment, orientation and supervision and mentorship of direct reports.
• Ensure strong relationships between SGR and all its stakeholders in Rwanda, DRC and Tanzania including but not limited to government, partners, media, funders, and other stakeholders – in keeping with SGR’s policies and procedures.
• Ensure high quality and timely development, delivery and presentation of narrative, financial, and other required and requested reports on program developments, successes, and constraints in all territories and to all stakeholders as required by the program agreement and as requested ad hoc.
• Exercise diplomacy, tact and discretion as a representative of the program and the organization, especially when dealing with politically or culturally sensitive issues.
• Work closely with the M&E team for data recording, reporting and filing to ease Tracking of the activities progress and ensure quality execution of program.
• Contribute to the documentation and sharing of knowledge within the broader SGR community.
• Ensure that all levels of government are familiar with the program and that the program is aligned with government goals.  
• Ensure that staff are aware of their own performance against project milestones, sharing lessons-learned and benefiting from each other’s work.
• Own the budget for the NGO, as well as financial management and reporting.
• Collect and compile information related to project milestones and funding requirements through interfacing with staff, partner organizations, and government bodies.
• Collect necessary information and prepare any reports on program structure, impact, and implementation as requested by partners, funders, or associates.
• Maintain organizational databases such as the government tracker, the agronomy training tracker, and partnerships database.
• Track key metrics to monitor and evaluate the success of the project keeping with grant reporting requirements.
• Conduct periodical regular performance review of direct reports and undertake development initiatives to increase their capacity achieve set targets;

REQUIREMENTS OF THE ROLE

• Degree in Agronomy or related field.
• Minimum 5 to 8 years’ experience designing, directing, and evaluating complex field-based programs and budgets in Rwanda preferably related to workforce development and income generating activities in areas such as smallholder agriculture, community and value chain development, food security.
• Experience leading and managing multi-cultural teams and coordinating programs with partners to achieve project goals and maintain consensus on policies, activities and administrative matters.
• Strong track record of building and maintaining relationships across sectors.
• Proven ability to function in complex, frequently changing political and economic conditions.
• Demonstrated capacity to analyze and resolve a wide range of challenges arising in project/activity implementation; intellectual curiosity; balanced judgment; and the ability to conceptualize - both strategically and programmatically.
• Good working knowledge of economic development, value chains, and entrepreneurship.
• Experience with farmer co-operatives and/or agribusiness development in Rwanda.
• Knowledge of the political, social, and economic characteristics of Rwanda and/or other East African nations is preferred.
• Excellent computer skills (word-processing, spread sheets, and databases).
• Fluency in English, with proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely verbally and in writing. Kinyarwanda and French language skills required.

KEY DELIVERABLES

Development of usable plans for projects

• Implementation of projects according to budget and schedule
• Control and monitor progress to ensure aligned delivery
• Complete and close projects  

KEY INDICATORS

Designed plans

• Implementation of activities follow up
• Activity reports
• M&E reports
• Close out activities

Application

Interested qualified candidates are invited to submit their application documents (motivation letter, CV,education certificates, 3 references) electronically via: recruitment@sustainablegrowers.org not later

than 20th September 2024 at 5:00 PM local time. Late submissions will be automatically rejected.

Done at Kigali, on 10th September 2024

 Christine Condo

Executive Director