Duty Station:Marsabit
Duration: 1 year
Reporting To: Executive Director

Vacancy

Position: Program Manager │ Duty station: Marsabit, Kenya│ Reporting to: Executive Director

Duration: One year (with possibility of extension)

The organization

The Center for Research and Development in Drylands – CRDD is a Kenyan based non-profit organisation that promote people-centered research and development work in the drylands. Based in Northern parts of Kenya, it works with pool of professionals from the region to develop and implement research and development that contribute to sustainable livelihoods for communities living in the drylands. CRDD promotes evidence-based approaches to address the complex situations in dryland development, with emphasis on integration of knowledge from academic and local communities to co-develop and implement innovations with close community and stakeholder involvement. Thus, CRDD places the local communities central in developing and implementing contextualized and holistic solutions to address local challenges. 

CRDD’s priority areas of engagement include: –

– Promoting sustainable livelihoods in the drylands

– Strengthening institutional capacities at the community and the local government level

– Improving knowledge and information management and dissemination

– Strengthening enabling policy and institutional environment

CRDD currently implements a growing portfolio of research and development projects that include research in child nutrition, fodder production for resilience and pastoral livelihood enhancement initiatives.

The position

CRDD seeks the services of an experienced Program manager to support the expansion and management of the organization’s growing project portfolio. The manager will provide day to day technical guidance in implementation and coordination of the organization’s projects. For this purpose, we seek a dynamic individual with robust experience in fund raising, project management and monitoring in research and development settings in the drylands.

Responsibilities and Tasks
Program implementation 

• Provide strategic leadership in fund raising and programme development to grow the organization’s project portfolio.
• To oversee quality and timely implementation of all organization’s projects
• Strengthen capacity of program technical staff in project implementation
• Working closely with the Executive Director, to build and maintain organization’s partnerships with the various stakeholders
• Represent the organization at various meetings, technical working groups and other relevant forums.
• Support the regular production of project related contents for inclusion in the organizational website and activities as required

Monitoring, Evaluation & learning:

• Provide leadership to the project officers in timely preparation of quality project reports in line with donor requirements
• Supporting the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems and processes at project level
• Ensuring that all projects develop and effectively implement M&E frameworks and systems – support planning and reporting in accordance with both project and programmatic requirements
• Contribute to developing capacity for M&E within projects
• Assist in the convening of learning events and ensure the resultant lessons are adequately captured and documented
• Coordinate stakeholder participation and ownership in organizational projects and initiatives

QUALIFICATIONS 

The position requires a professional with at least 5 years of professional field experience, a good team player with high personal integrity and ability to work with minimal supervision in a multicultural environment. The following specific qualifications are required:

• A Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, or natural resources management.
• At least 7 years of multi-donor project implementation experience

Experience with results-based project cycle management including monitoring and evaluation methodologies and principles and project budget management.

Experience in interacting with multiple stakeholders including local government and developing relationships with local communities;

Experience at working with a team and ensuring strong teamwork and morale

Good communication skills and proven writing ability.

• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Strong coordination, representation and interpersonal skills

Being a resident of northern Kenya is an added advantage.

Willingness to travel extensively in the field for not less than 40% of the year.

Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English and the ability to speak local language is an added advantage.

How to apply

Motivation letter expressing interest and showcasing suitability for the position and an up-to-date CV to be submitted to info@crdd-kenya.org by 25^th November at 5.00pm. Enclose copies of testimonials and other relevant documents in the application.

CRDD is an equal opportunity employer and provides a competitive package depending on qualification and experience.