Technical Program Manager TechnoServe

Job Details

Description

II. Background

USAID’s Advancing Food Fortification Opportunities to Reinforce Diets (USAID AFFORD) program is a critical investment in a safety net against micronutrient inadequacies through large-scale food fortification (LSFF). USAID AFFORD is designed to provide operational support to field Missions and other operating units of USAID, contributing to the goals of the U.S. government Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) through the implementation of programming aligned with USAID’s LSFF Results Framework. Using a whole-of-business approach, USAID AFFORD aims to increase the coverage of fortified foods to cost-effectively improve the quality of diets and contribute to safely reducing micronutrient inadequacies among populations in the targeted countries.

Objective

USAID AFFORD seeks a Technical Program Manager (TPM) who will be responsible for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of Zambia activities and timely completion of deliverables. S/he will be the main representative of the program in Zambia to external stakeholders, particularly the USAID Mission, government and industry stakeholders, and internally to the Global Management Team and TechnoServe country and regional support offices. S/he will ensure that the Zambia program delivers on its targets and generates learning on how the program can most effectively support large-scale food fortification in Zambia.

Duties and Responsibilities

The TPM will provide leadership and technical support for the USAID AFFORD scope of work in Zambia, helping to oversee technical consultants, research studies, and national level meetings, events, and planning sessions. S/he will be the senior in-country representative, facilitating key meetings with stakeholders and ensuring coordinated and effective delivery of activities in-country. S/he will ensure operational effectiveness of the country team, including timely capture and reporting of data to support program progress and lessons learned. All outputs and deliverables will be agreed upon before the work commences but may be
adapted as information is collected. The TPM will report directly to the Deputy Project Director and provide leadership and support to in-country technical consultants and research teams. The TPM will participate in weekly check-in calls with the Deputy Project Director (and with the wider
USAID AFFORD Global Management Team as needed). Specific activities include:
● Support the recruitment and placement of consultants
● Lead strategic coordination of the various in-country activities to ensure efficiency, effectiveness and harmonization of efforts
● Collaborate with USAID Zambia, UNICEF, government agencies and others, to ensure a collaborative and strategic relationship with key stakeholders
● Work closely with the Global Management Team to ensure operational effectiveness, compliance, integrity of data and the timely delivery of reports
● Monitor country-level progress and report on key indicators.
● Ensure documentation of key lessons for disseminating locally and inputting into global lessons learned.

Experience and Skills Required
Education
● Bachelor’s degree in food science, food technology, or other relevant subject with minimum seven years of experience OR Master’s degree with five years of experience

Experience
● Conducting or overseeing research assessments and technical teams
● Good understanding of the food processing industry and the ecosystem within which it operates
● Implementation experience addressing industry challenges, either as a consultant, processor, or development partner
● Knowledge of large scale food fortification or nutrition programing an advantage
● Managing multiple stakeholder relationships
● Operational management experience
● Fluent in English (written and spoken)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
● Leadership skills
● Effective planner and ability to manage resources (people, material, information, budget,
and time) to accomplish plans
● Self-starter, proactive, able to work independently in support of others
● Ability to work in diverse teams, respectful of other cultures
● Ability to work effectively in remote-based teams with strong organizational and collaborative skills
● Strong writing skills to write concise, analytical reports to different audiences
● Strong communication skills