El Salvador: Cocoa Project Director

The Cocoa Project Director is responsible for coordinating the implementation and management of the budget and project activities under an anticipated regional 5-year Cocoa Value Chain project (geographic focus will be on Central America but may also include countries in South America). The total budget under the responsibility of this person is estimated to be between $15- $20 million. The Cocoa Project Director will provide technical direction and supervise project staff and partners; s/he will work in close collaboration with LWR’s regional leadership (including relevant Country Directors), the consortium management team and relevant country governments to meet the project objectives. The Cocoa Project Director will ensure that project activities and budget are implemented in accordance with contractual obligations and quality standards and meet reporting deadlines. S/he will represent the project in key forums, with U.S. Government stakeholders, private sector partners, and with member cooperatives.

Responsibilities:

· Directly responsible for the programmatic, financial and quality management of the cocoa project activities

· Relate to key players in the regional cocoa industry or international stakeholders, including the private sector, research institutions to provide technical or financial support to the project.

· Lead technical supervision to participating producers and organizations to help them respond efficiently to their challenges.

· Lead implementation of programmatic and financial monitoring instruments.

· Supervise and coordinate all activities of the project programmatic team members.

· Ensure compliance with the project and LWR’s Branding and Marking policies and Minimum Quality Standards

· Meet on regular basis with management team and consortium lead to coordinate program activities and review progress and course direction needed

· WR to share the experience and promote dialogue between local population organizations, public and private institutions involved in local development.

· Lead the development of the Annual Operational Plan and project budget of LWR and its sub-partners, making adjustments as necessary.

· Ensure compliance with annual plans, periodic reports, transfers, evaluations, audits, and learning plans for each partner participating in the project.

· Contribute to strengthening partners in the thematic axes of the project, especially to the issues of access to markets and productive increases.

· Support exchanges between the partners and promote spaces for mutual reflection and learning according to the needs identified jointly.

· Directly responsible for timely delivery of reports, and analyze and feedback reports produced by the partners in terms of programmatic and financial aspects according to agreed formats and dates.

· Produce reports on the progress, difficulties and challenges of the project and the counterparts from the monitoring and monitoring that is generated in the field, having to carry out visits to the project areas for monitoring and evaluation.

· Participate in consortium meetings representing LWR when required.

· Keep LWR’s Country Directors in all relevant countries informed about the progress and obstacles related to the project’s monitoring and evaluation.

· Edit and publish information on project activities in coordination with LWR regional and headquarters staff, to ensure the inclusion of LWR assessments based on dialogue with partners.

· Relationships with other positions: maintain fluid communication with the project management team and headquarters office staff in U.S. regarding implementation, changes and adjustments to project planning.

Requirements:

· Relevant bachelor’s degree (required) and master’s degree (preferred)

· At minimum 3 years field experience in agronomic management of cocoa cultivation.

· Experience in engagement with regional and international cocoa markets.

· Experience and knowledge of rural livelihoods and agro-businesses required, including practical knowledge in value chains and successful experiences with small farmers in production, processing, market access, and organization of economies of scale.

· At least five years in a managerial position with projects funded by the United States Government and focused on rural development.

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