ICRISAT seeks applications for the position of “Associate Manager – Program Operations” who will assure the management of the ILRI Office in Mopti, Mali, including the implementation of field activities for 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 stimulate collaboration among Humanitarian and Development Assistance activities for the purpose of enhanced development impact, cost effectiveness, monitoring, evaluation and learning. This is a nationally recruited position.

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

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

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership in program operations with the coordination of implementation of program activities in the zone of influence.

• Work with partners for the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of field activities.

• Assure management of the ILRI Office in Mopti including financial and administrative aspects.

• Contribute to the development of the program annual work plan and reporting including monthly, quarterly and annual reports.

• Provide inputs in the design of and ensure smooth implementation of ILRI programmatic activities including work on local conventions, the regeneration of Bourgou grazing lands, and livestock-based livelihoods diversification interventions.

• Work with the Resilience Community of Practice Manager to ensure smooth implementation of collaborative work with partners.

• Represent ILRI in all matters related to the program and serve as the key liaison person partners in Mopti.

• Provide technical support to implementing partners.

• Contribute to the design and implementation of Program capacity building and training activities.

• Lead the development of livestock-based business models and engagement with private sector for the development of public private partnership arrangements.

• Provide livestock technical assistance in animal health and feeding, and production models.

• Conduct frequent project site field visits to supervise actual program implementation in collaboration with program implementing partners.

• Monitor program activities in collaboration with the program M&E Expert and suggest necessary adjustments to ensure project targets and objectives are met and improve program quality.

• Carry out any other activity requested by the supervisor.

Requirements

1. Master’s degree in animal production with a minimum of 5 years of experience in program operations management.

2. Knowledge of small ruminant and poultry farming.

3. Knowledge of forage crop production.

4. Knowledge of establishing local agreements.

5. Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation of projects.

6. Be familiar with USAID’ reporting system is an advantage.

7. Ability to implement activities in the field.

8. Show passion and enthusiasm about peacebuilding.

9. Be motivated to contribute to support in the fight against poverty and inequality.

10. Ability to communicate with different stakeholders and target groups.

11. Demonstrate ability to structure and plan activities to ensure results are met.

12. Ability to take rational and timely decisions.

13. Good oral and written communication skills in French.

14. Good skills in MS-applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Internet, etc.).

15. Speak fluently French and at least one local language (knowledge of English is an advantage).

General:

This position is at job grade 8 and is a 12 months (1 year) contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

How to apply:

Applicants should apply on or before 31 August 2024, with their latest resume, a cover letter expressing their interest in the position and what they can bring to the role, the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.

All applications will be acknowledged; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal-opportunity employer