Background:
The Global Water Initiative (GWI) is launching a new phase from 2013 to 2017 focused on promoting rainfed agriculture programs and policies in Central America. The program will work with a broad range of strategic partners - including governments, donors, research institutions, and NGOs - to influence public policies and agriculture programs to promote best practices in: water management, soil management, and revitalizing agriculture extension services for rainfed agriculture.
GWI is funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and is part of a global partnership involving parallel programs in East and West Africa. The program responds to HGBF’s goal to build global food security through agricultural productivity, and it supports GWI’s global mission to “improve global food security by enabling farmers to better access, manage and use water resources for sustainable agricultural production.”
The objective of the program is that by the end of 2017, public policies and development programs in Central America prioritize improved water productivity in rainfed agriculture systems and reflect best practices for soil and water management focused on small farmers.
To achieve this objective, in 2013 the program will emphasize three policy priorities:
Increase strategic public investment to build human capital through research, extension and education in the areas of rainfed agriculture and green-water strategies;
Government programs reflect best practices for rainfed agriculture, including soil management, water harvesting, supplemental irrigation, crop diversification, and agroforestry;
Expand access to finance and credit for small farmers for rainfed agriculture systems, such as water harvesting and small-scale irrigation.
Primary Functions:
GWI is a unique and innovative program for CRS that moves beyond traditional projects and focuses on learning, innovation, and influencing policy. The program combines advocacy and action research, and links research to field-based agricultural programming. This requires a unique a set of skills responsibilities not typical for development projects.
The Program Manager (PM) has overall responsibility for strategic leadership and representation for the program, with an emphasis on building a network of alliances, including, government ministries and agencies, agricultural research institutions donors, NGOs, and other stakeholders in Central America. The PM will lead a team of people in El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, including the regional management team. The PM will also have ultimate responsibility for program quality, and reporting. The PM will be the primary liaison with the global policy coordinator for GWI (based in Washington DC) to support a global policy agenda focused on water for agriculture. The PM will supervise a small team including: knowledge management officer, a communications officer, and a finance officer. The PM will be a key member on the Technical Advisory Committee for GWI Central America. The PM will report to the Regional Technical Advisor for CRS who will chair the Technical Advisory Committee.
Job Responsibilities:
• Provide strategic leadership for GWI, setting the priorities for the program each fiscal year, in collaboration with staff, strategic partners, CRS leadership, HGBF, and other key players.
• Define and refine the policy objectives of GWI regularly, on the basis of the lessons learned and opportunities that emerge during the implementation of the program.
• An emphasis for the PM is to represent GWI and its goals at the national and regional level, to build alliances, and promote the policies objectives of GWI.
• Leverage and source additional funding directly for GWI partners and indirectly for the government agencies, NGOs, research institutions that are promoting rainfed agricultural development in the region.
• Provide support to staff in three countries, with a focus of building staff capacity in analysis, action-research, networking, and advocacy.
• Lead the reporting effort for the donor for bi-annual reports, including technical narratives and financial reporting.
• The PM will support the Knowledge Management Officer to produce policy briefs and other publications, in addition to program reporting, that are high-quality and high-impact.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff): These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
Serves with Integrity
Models Stewardship
Cultivates Constructive Relationships
Promotes Learning
Program Manager Competencies: These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each program manager to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
Sets clear goals and manages toward them
Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
Manages financial resources with integrity
Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Regional Technical Advisor, Country Representatives, Team Leaders, Technical Advisory Committee, LACRO regional staff, CRS El Salvador finance and administration staff, Learning and knowledge manager, Communications Officer, and the GWI regional team.
External: Local government ministries, organizations and networks in Central America engaged in advocacy related to the objectives of GWI, GWI partners in Africa, Global Policy Coordinator.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Learning and Knowledge Manager; Communications Officer, Program Assistant and Finance Officer, Advocacy Consultant, Team Leaders in each of the three program countries.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• A Master’s Degree or postgraduate/specialized training in agriculture, water resources management or other related discipline required.
• Minimum of 10 years progressively increasing management responsibility and technical experience in agriculture and/or water resource management programs, in developing contexts, ideally in Latin America.
• Knowledge of research methodology and experience working with agriculture research institutes.
• Demonstrated advocacy and policy analysis experience in the agriculture sector
• Experience collaborating with government agencies at local, national, and regional levels.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging local partners in decision making at regional, national and local levels to deliver equitable, sustainable sharing of social and economic benefits from water.
• Proven knowledge and first hand relationships with agriculture and water partners in Latin America.
• Proven team coordination skills and ability to work independently; excellent interpersonal and supervisory skills.
• Proven analytical skills, demonstrated creativity in analysis of situations and data.
• Strong leadership skills, including strategic thinking, problem solving, effective communication and negotiating skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams.
• Proven experience in managing consortium or partnership relationships in a participatory way required.
• Proven track record in building relationships with governmental organizations, private sector and community organizations required.
• Strategic vision and capacity to oversee a multi-sectoral program involving multiple partners required.
• Public relations skills required.
• Proven experience in budgeting and budget management.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, cultural sensitivity, ability to work with people, good judgment and commitment to CRS’ mission.
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Internet, etc.).
• Willingness to travel in-country and internationally as required by CRS.
Foreign Language Required: • Bilingual: Spanish required. High proficiency for oral and written English, highly valued.
How to apply:
To apply, please visit http://crs.org/about/careers/ Search for requisition I1032
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, efforts, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
EOE/M/F/D/V
