Senior Project Officer – Private Sector Partnership Engagement

Basic qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree of Commerce, Business Administration, Development studies or other related fields.
  
• Experience in private sector engagement and portfolio management under a market systems approach.
  
• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in managing partnerships, grants, contracts & sub agreements with knowledge of major funders and guidelines (e.g. USDA, USAID, FCDO, etc.)
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and operational engagement.
  
• Experience monitoring project budgets and expenditure tracking.
  
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
  

Personal Skills

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment.
  
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely and collaborate with staff, partners and community members.
  
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
  
• Proactive, Analytical, results-oriented and service-oriented.
  
• Self – motivated and able to work independently.
  

Scoping and partnership development.

• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
  
• Coordinate the scanning and scoping process for new market actors and partners in collaboration with the other Vines technical components.
  
• Manage and coordinate the Vines private sector partner selection process from business case development and evaluations through to award under the Vanilla Innovation and expansion fund (VIEF).
  
• Prepare all partnership agreements according to CRS policy and ensure they are signed by both parties, organize startups and ensure that all agreement partnership information is shared effectively with relevant staff.
  
• Ensure sustainability strategies are developed with all partners and each partner has effective monitoring systems in place.
  

Monitoring, Reporting and Information Management

• Monitor activities, processes and resources at partners project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures.
  
• Reviews partner reports, invoices, cost share and liquidations; and initiate reimbursement request based on milestone accomplishment for each partner.
  
• Develop and maintain accurate budget management tool for all partners and conduct quarterly reviews of budgets, accountability and cost share contribution and inform project leadership on any probable risk associated with the partnership
  
• Maintain proper system for documentation, filing and retrieval of private sector partnership documents in accordance with CRS policies and procedures to foster easy access to partner information
  

Coordination

• Liaise with MEAL/PCS colleagues to leverage results, document best practices and facilitate CP learning and cross-sharing along engagement with private sector actors and other partners.
  
• Coordinate and oversee working relationships with private sector partners and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
  
• Undertake periodic review of performance of VIEF partnerships and troubleshoot any gaps or challenges being encountered by the beneficiaries
  
• Support and coordinate capacity building, logistical and technical support activities to private sector partners to ensure partnership interventions are implemented per project guidelines and standards.
  
• Conduct a partnership portfolio assessment periodically for all partners, to identify the strength, potential risks of partners and develop improvement plans to avert any risks identified.
  
• Ensure proper closeout and learning meeting is executed for each partnership.