Job title: Program Management and Coordinator
Company: Corus International
Job description: Program Management and Coordinator
Job Description:
Job Title: Program Management and Coordinator
Level and Grade:
Job Type: Full-Time
Reporting Manager: [DCoP, TRACE Project]
Department: International Programs and Operations
Office: Nigeria
Date:About Corus:
Corus International is the parent of a family of world-class organizations and a global leader in international development, with 150 years of combined experience across our companies. We are an inclusive organization who believes diversity and differences only make us stronger. We are disruptive because by challenging convention, we innovate and maximize the good we can do in the world. We promote interconnectedness because complex problems require comprehensive, integrated solutions. And we are agile, because the world changes rapidly, and we move at the speed of change. Our more than 800 employees around the globe are experts in their fields and dedicated to helping the world’s most vulnerable people break the poverty cycle and lead healthy lives.
At Corus we value every employee’s specialized area of expertise and nurture professional growth. We promote an engaging and supportive work environment, where employees feel enabled and driven to innovate, learn and collaborate. And because our companies often function as partners, our employees have the opportunity to work across our enterprise family.
Corus is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our worldwide workplace, and we believe that social justice and respect for the human dignity of every person are fundamental to all we do as an organization.
Further details about the organization can be found at: https://corusinternational.org
Lutheran World Relief (LWR), a member of Corus International, is seeking applications for the recruitment of one Program Management & Coordinator for its TRACE project, based in Akure, Ondo state, Ikom, Cross River, Osun, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, and Abia states, Nigeria.Job Brief:
In collaboration with the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP), S/he will provide strategic guidance for effective implementation and coordinate with implementing partners, Agriculture Extension Officers, and leads to ensure management of the farmer groups, intermediaries (Factors, LBAs, and Cooperative), developing SMEs across a range of sectors, including in market system development and cooperative development aspects of the project are impactful. S/he will provide continuous backstopping to project partners, the Program Technical Advisor, Agriculture Extension Officers, and manage all stakeholders for optimum project results. The Program Management & Coordinator will provide technical support, training, and monitoring support.Position Summary:
The Program Officer will report to and be supervised by the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP). The Program Management Coordinator position will be based at the Ikom office, Cross River State.Job Description:
- Provide technical leadership and guidance in the planning and implementation of TRACE activities of the project location in collaboration with project partners and relevant government agencies.
- Provide technical support to project beneficiaries, specifically cocoa intermediaries, to help them
access financing from financial institutions. Additionally, lead training, coaching, and mentoring
sessions focused on business development services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and cocoa intermediaries in the project communities. Collaborate closely with financial institutions to facilitate financing access, expand business services, and enhance trading opportunities.
- Provide technical expertise in all aspects of the value chain (linkages with public and private sector, technical trainings to farmers, cocoa production, cocoa agroforestry, post-harvest handling, marketing, etc.) to solve technical problems that inhibit production and productivity.
- Mobilize farmer groups to get into & the cocoa production/traceability system and ensure group social cohesion, organization, and management.
- Provide technical support to Program Technical Advisors and Agriculture Extension Officers, lead
farmers to cascade training using the developed curriculum package of Climate Smart Agriculture
(CSA) Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) for Cocoa cropping/agronomy, and advise/ train the growers to adopt the same to ensure increased yield & productivity.
- Provide technical support to Program Technical Advisors and Agricultural Extension Officers, Partners staff, and support cocoa producer groups to self-organize, increase their financial, technical, and organizational skills, access financial services, and establish Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) and products.
- Provide technical support, coaching, and mentoring to cocoa intermediaries (Factors, License buying agents, cooperatives) on enterprise business services to provide Input distribution/supplies to farmer groups and credit accounting, if needed.
- Coordinate and promote demonstrations, field trials, field days, exposure visits, etc., on the quality cocoa seedlings production through commercial seedling producers (youth & women enterprises) and participating farmers.
- Link project participants with public and private sector extension service providers, market actors, food processors, financial institutions, and follow up to establish the required linkages.
- In coordination with the MEL Director and MEL analysts, ensure timely and quality capturing of MEAL data on TRACE activities, learning agenda, and writing the semi-annual report and project
components.
- Prepare monthly updates, quarterly, and annual work plans, budgets, and technical reports on project activities as part of the overall program planning and reporting cycle.
- Represent LWR in cocoa forums.
- Provide effective management, coaching, and support to Agriculture Extension Officers, Project lead farmers, LWR Producer Enterprise Agents, Producer groups, and intermediaries (input suppliers, distributors, transporters, and Licensed Buying Agents (LBA)).
- Facilitate and implement a schedule of post-training field inspections to monitor training quality and adoption of training.
- Monitor Child Labor Remediation activities and compliance by farmers, cooperatives, industry
partners, and communities in project locations.
- Ensure that TRACE-related activities are implemented following LWR standards and approaches.
Key Deliverables
- Enhanced productivity and increased production volumes for farmers.
- Management and coaching of cooperatives and cocoa intermediaries, including Licensed Buying
Agents (LBAs), agro-dealers, and nursery operators, to help them access revolving loans (finance
from financial institutions) and provide services in their communities.
- Facilitate the distribution of, and monitor the use of, improved planting materials and shade trees, including both hybrid and clonal varieties.
- Support the development of a sustainability plan for the cocoa intermediaries, cooperatives,
government institutions, and other project activities for continuity after the project exit.Requirements and Key Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in Agriculture, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Rural Sociology, Development Studies, or a related field is required, along with a minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience with an international organization in donor funding or a similar context.
- Experience in providing business development services to SMEs within the cocoa value chain.
- A clear understanding of the cocoa value chain and the ability to innovate, analyze, and develop
solutions to facilitate access to agricultural finance. This includes a familiarity with financial institutions and their products in Nigeria.
- Knowledge of business and enterprise development services and the ability to establish market
linkages with market actors and facilitate trade.
- Strong interpersonal and people management skills, along with excellent oral and written
communication abilities.
- Expertise in the agricultural value chain, natural resource management, cocoa traceability systems, and certification processes, as well as experience managing farmer groups, cooperatives, business development services, and agricultural extension services.
- Understanding of agro-climatic conditions, soil fertility, disease, and pest control, and strengthening farmer organizations.
- Experience with market development approaches related to cocoa and agricultural value chain
development, particularly in linking producers to markets.
- Previous experience in youth and women’s enterprise projects and related fields is preferred.
- Strong organizational and leadership skills.
- Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (preferably Microsoft Office), and internet usage.
- Demonstrated proficiency in English and other local languages, both spoken and written.
- Significant experience in building public/private partnerships.
- Excellent report writing, analysis, and presentation skills, particularly with Word, Excel, and
PowerPoint.
- Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
- Sensitivity to working with diverse cultures and beliefs, and a commitment to gender equity.
- A high degree of honesty and integrity.
- Willingness to work flexibly outside of normal working hours.
- Ability to foster and maintain a spirit of unity, teamwork, and cooperation.
Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment
- The duties of the job require regular attendance of at least 5 days/week. The employee must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required. Corus has a hybrid work policy, allowing 50 percent of work to be done remotely.
- This position must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes.
While performing the duties of this job in different locations, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Zero Tolerance to Abuse:
As a member of the Corus Family, each employee is expected to:
- Help to develop and maintain an environment that welcomes and develops a diverse workforce.
- Foster a work environment where everyone feels valued and included.
- Support employees’ evaluation and promotion processes based on skills and performance.
- Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all members of the Corus family, stakeholders in general, and particularly for the communities we serve.
- Follow Corus Code of Conduct, helping to prevent any type of abuse, including workplace harassment, sexual abuse and exploitation, and trafficking in persons.
- Adhere to the Organizational Core Values of Inclusion, Disruptive, Interconnected, and Agile.
Corus International prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any
other characteristic protected by U.S. or International law.N.B. Please, note applications for this position should be address to jobsnigeria@lwr.org
Expected salary:
Location: Nigeria
Job date: Wed, 21 May 2025 03:02:38 GMT