Project Manager- BSLD

Program Management (60%) 

• Establish and oversee the project management structure, including recruitment and orientation of project staff. 

• Conduct half-yearly and annual performance reviews of the project team. 

• Develop and maintain project plans at various levels (annual, quarterly, and monthly) in coordination with PMC, PP, and regional teams. 

• Monitor and review project budgets, ensuring timely forecasting and compliance with donor and organizational policies. 

• Supervise and support staff, providing strategic guidance for high-quality, timely, and budget compliant program execution. 

• Apply best practices, partnership principles, and tools to optimize program implementation. 

• Analyse program data, document lessons learned, and enhance decision-making based on evidence.

• Conduct regular meetings, field visits, and stakeholder engagements to monitor program performance. • Ensure financial compliance through budget monitoring, variance analysis, and expenditure tracking. 

• Mainstream the VBHCD model (SHG, PMC, PIMC, CAVE, PSRP, personal leadership development, and women empowerment) into the project. 

• Develop an inclusive market system from production to market levels. 

• Implement community-level disaster mitigation and preparedness plans (including LEGS adoption) and integrate them with government disaster management authorities. 

• Design and test economic models to bridge the Living Income Gap for farmers. 

• Develop and establish Goat, Crop, Vegetable, and Poultry Production Models for various farmer categories. 

• Strengthen FPO management and governance through training, meetings, and capacity-building initiatives. 

• Promote entrepreneurship among farmers, MSMEs, and CAVEs. 

• Identify and facilitate access to capital/credit linkages for farmers, service providers (CAVEs), and FPOs. 

• Raise and track the Catalytic Leverage Fund for the project. 

• Lead and support market systems and value chain development programs by facilitating access to financing, technology, and markets for smallholder farmers. 

• Develop and maintain relationships with government agencies, private sector actors, and development partners. 

• Contribute to project proposal development, ensuring alignment with donor priorities and Heifer’s strategic approach. 

• Oversee internal and external communication, including engagement with media, local, and state level stakeholders. 

• Document and disseminate lessons learned for continuous project improvement. 

Project Partner Management (20%) 

• Conduct regular assessments of project partners, ensuring adequate staffing, budgeting, and financial accountability. 

• Emphasize timely data collection and reporting from partners, with regional-level reviews. 

• Establish and maintain the Triadic Partnership Model (Heifer team, community, and project partners) for transparent and efficient collaboration. 

• Integrate HQ reporting, financial, and operational requirements into partner management and implementation systems. 

• Maintain a risk register at the regional level and share updates with the CPO regularly. 

• Support project evaluations and surveys in collaboration with the MELs team. 

Relationship management with stakeholders (15%) 

• Engage with government agencies and likeminded organizations by organizing and attending district/state-level meetings and workshops. 

• Facilitate collaboration and convergence of project activities with local government and non government bodies. 

• Involve local, district, and state-level stakeholders in project implementation and monitoring through PIMCs. 

May perform other job-related duties as assigned (5%) 

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS: 

• Bachelor's degree in agriculture, business management, international development, social sciences, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred. 

• More than 7 years of program management experience, including at least 5 years in market systems and value chain development. 

• Experience working with governments, private sector stakeholders, and international organizations. 

• At least 2 years of leadership experience with at least 3 years in a management role. 

• Thorough understanding of programming processes, systems and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at community level. 

• Solid skill, knowledge and foundation in proposal development and of the project management cycle. 

• Sound understanding of value chain development on various agricultural commodities and the livestock sector. 

• Sound understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of the root causes of poverty in India. 

• Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development. 

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES: 

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate challenging situations to achieve goals and deadlines. 

• Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity. 

• Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision. 

• Ability to meet and deal with others in a courteous and tactful manner. 

• Ability to work with sensitive information and to always maintain confidentiality. 

• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule. 

• Fluent in Hindi, English, and Local Language spoken as well as written. 

• Have an interest in animals/agriculture community development. 

• Willingness and ability to travel locally and internationally. 

• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, web designing, collaboration platform and tools, and electronic mail software (Microsoft preferred). 

• Constant sitting, standing and walking, with occasional bending and lifting; may work at a computer for extended periods of time.