Programme Manager – Seas of Change Rwanda

Stichting SNV Netherlands Development Organization is a global development partner working in more than 25 countries in Asia and Africa. In Rwanda, SNV has been working for more than 30 years to improve people’s livelihoods by strengthening the capacities of public and private sector organizations and catalyzing partnerships. It does so by contributing to the national development goals in three sectors: Agri-Food, Energy, and Water. SNV supports development in these sectors by working with the government, civil society, and private sector organizations.

The Programme Manager of Seas of Change Rwanda is part of an SNV Rwanda Country Office with oversight of program activities Rwanda and a dotted line into an overall framework manager seated outside the country. There is an expectation of regular travel to the field to oversee operations and program activities on the ground.

The Programme Manager leads and manages the implementation, closing and the workforce of the project, within scope, budget, timeline and acceptable quality levels along the commitments specified in the contracts signed with the donor(s) and other relevant stakeholders. The programme builds on the success of REALMS, a regenerative agriculture project, and now will incorporate regenerative agriculture with the Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE). The Programme Manager will take over from the REALMS Programme Manager to ensure that learnings are generated, that advocacy activities are well aligned with learnings and that supported small businesses have the tools they need to scale up work in the regenerative agriculture space. The Programme Manager works in line with SNV standards, SNV`s approach to project management and donor regulations, in order to achieve high quality and achieve the agreed results and deliverables of the project.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS :

• Contract Type: Full time, National
• Duty Station: Kigali – Rwanda
• Reports to : Country Director
• Direct Reports : Project Advisors
• Contract Type and Duration: Fixed Term, 2 years, renewable
• Desired Start Date: 6 January 2025

  SUMMARY ROLE

• Project Management: Leads, manages and motivates the project team, partners and relevant stakeholders. Plans and assigns deliverables and activities, reviews their progress and addresses deviations in terms of timelines and quality, based on project planning, deliverables agreed and budget set. Manages project closure and evaluation process including hand-over of complete and up-to-date project file to the Sector Leader, Country Director and Business Development unit based on project management procedures.
• Project quality assurance: Takes responsibility for the (technical) content of a project, ensures quality of the deliverables and ensures sufficient technical input to meet the quality standards.
• Stakeholder management: Builds and maintains professional, collaborative and constructive relationships with project partners, key governments stakeholders and project donor.
• Contract Management & Project Accounting: Manages and accounts for full compliance of administrative, finance and HR components of the project with SNV internal procedures and requirements specified in the donor-, sub-grant-, sub-consultancy-, partner-, consortium- and Local Capacity Builders contracts. Ensures that approval for, coding and booking of all expenditures is done according to the relevant procedures and authorisation levels. Prepares, accounts for, manages and reports on project budget (and revisions thereof). Discusses and obtains approval of donor for contract / budget deviations. Ensures security and (financial risk) mitigation (incl. due diligence). Fully understands procurement and comply with requirements and contracts.
• People Management & Team Leadership: Guides, develops, coaches and motivates team members and prepares resource estimation based on forecast in order to attract and recruit (SNV staff, consultants and/or Local Capacity Builders). Advises HR and country management on contract conditions for consultants and Local Capacity Builders, within guidelines and project budget.
• Business development: Builds and maintains effective relationships, with team, external partners and the donor(s) by ensuring a high level of SNV visibility and branding. Signals and acts on potential for positioning, innovation, upscaling and potential to leverage programme funds. Timely recognises and analyses threats and makes sure relevant colleagues are informed.
• Analysis & Reporting: Ensures collection, consolidation and review of project information, according to SNV’s monitoring and evaluation guidelines. Analyses and provides advice to management how to incorporate the new insights/best practices into the organisation’s policies and practices.
• Knowledge Development: Contributes to internal and external knowledge development, by full documentation and sharing of project insights and results. Develops knowledge by attending workshops and conferences. Ensures lessons learned are shared and applied in daily practice. When applicable can be appointed as (national) focal point of an expertise network.

Basic requirements

• Master’s degree in Agriculture, Rural Development, Environmental Sciences or relevant discipline or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 8 years relevant experience in development work, project management and sector(s)
• Experience managing large budgets (over $5m)
• Understanding of Rwandan agriculture sector and energy sector
• Strong analytical thinking skills, ability to multi-task and supervise project staff with varying skillsets and levels of experience
• Strong strategic decision-making and excellent communicator to help transfer technical learnings to non-technical audiences
• Strong leadership skills, experience in partnership development & deep understanding and experience in consortia management 
• Knowledge of evidence-based practices related to gender and social inclusion, market systems development and inclusive value chains
• Fluency in both written and spoken English
• Excellent communication skills, fluent in English and Kinyarwanda
• Willingness to travel to all programme/project locations, including remote, rural areas

Desirable qualifications:

• Experience in regenerative agriculture, Productive Use of Renewable Energy and/or MSME business development
• Experience working with entrepreneurs with a strong understanding of the agribusiness sector
• Familiar with agricultural and energy sector policies and national strategies, public-private partnerships, private sector development and farmer organizations
• Experience leading a learning agenda

COMPETENCIES:

Managing Performance: Ability to plan and design practices, processes and procedures that allow for effective management of people, resources and processes to optimize overall organizational performance. Managing for performance includes the ability to delegate and encourage growth and leadership across the team(s) as part of maximizing performance and productivity.

Strategic Thinking: Applies organizational knowledge to identify and maintain focus on key success factors for SNV while recognizing, anticipating and resolving organizational challenges. Ability to develop organization- and industry-specific expertise and apply sound decision-making processes to reach productive resolutions that translates strategy into actionable business plans.

Effective Communication (Oral & Written): Understands effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, explain complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience; and receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors

Risk Management: Knowledge of processes, tools and techniques for assessing and controlling the organization's exposure to risks of various kinds; ability to apply this knowledge appropriately to diverse situations.

Innovation: Develops new, better or significantly different ideas, methods, solutions or initiatives within assigned role that result in improvement of SNV’ s performance and meeting objectives, results and global commitments.

Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for all work activities, research and personal actions and decisions; follows through on commitments and focuses on those activities that have the greatest impact on meeting measurable high-quality results for SNV’ s success. Exercises ethical practices, respectful words and behaviors, and equitable treatment of others in all activities.

HOW TO APPLY

The application file containing the following documents should consolidated in one PDF file & submitted to the Country Director via our recruitment portal - via Smart Recruiters at https://smrtr.io/nXjrc , no later than December 7, 2024.

The application file includes: Motivation letter, updated CV which has 3 professional references, including current and previous direct supervisors with their full names, phone number and email address;

Shortlisting

Shortlisting and interviews will be done on rolling basis until the position is filled. Therefore, qualified and interested candidates are highly recommended to submit their applications as soon as they can.  Only applicants fulfilling the above requirements will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within one month from the submission date of your application, consider your application unsuccessful.

Working at SNV 

SNV is a great place to work and prides itself on its comprehensive benefits package.  We offer competitive salaries and a dynamic inclusive work environment.

SNV is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law, and requires affirmative action to ensure equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.  This is also to include inquiry about, disclosing, or discussing their compensation or the compensation of other applicants or employees.

SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal and global network of experts. For more information on SNV, please refer to our website: www.snv.org

Vetting

SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for International determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme.  

Data Protection assurance

SNV will not retain your Personal Data for longer than is allowed by law or is necessary for the Purposes.

If you are selected and offered employment, the Personal Data you have provided will be used by SNV for the purpose of human resource management and administration. If you are unsuccessful on this occasion to secure employment with SNV, SNV will retain your Personal Data for one (1) year for the purpose of considering you for other suitable positions as and when they arise. If you do not wish to be considered for other suitable positions by SNV, please indicate accordingly in the acknowledgment section.