DCOP, Agriculture Production and Livelihoods

FH seeks an enterprising, result-focused, and qualified candidate for Deputy Chief of Party, Agriculture Production and Livelihoods (DCOP APL) role, who will work under the Chief of Party for an anticipated five-year USAID-funded Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The goal of the Activity is to improve food and nutrition security and resilience among poor and chronically food insecure households and communities in a sustainable manner. Hiring is contingent upon successful award of the program and USAID approval of the candidate.

The DCOP APL will provide oversight and guidance in the design and implementation of Agriculture Production and Livelihoods interventions in a multi sector FNES activity. The DCOP APL will lead the day-to-day technical and performance management of the implementation of project interventions, ensuring that the project meets stated goals and reporting requirements. Responsibilities will include serving as a DCOP, advising, and supporting the CoP to provide technical direction to project implementation related to Agriculture Production and Livelihoods programming The candidate will work with the COP to facilitate local engagement at all stages of planning and implementation, allocation of resources and ongoing management responsible for service delivery. This person must have demonstrated experience leading large scale agriculture and livelihood programming intended to improve agricultural production and household resilience.

FH Culture
All we do, and how we do it, seeks to promote God’s beauty, goodness, and truth in a broken world. As such, we are defined by our ability to make people’s lives measurably better; our ability to deliver impact is the measure of our collective success. For we know that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has already prepared in advance for us to do. At Food for the Hungry, we operate under a set of values called Heartbeat Values.

Principal Responsibilities
• In coordination with the COP, oversee the technical aspects of the Agriculture Production and Livelihoods (APL) sector, including planning, implementation, project results and deliverables, in accordance with the approved project work plan.
• In coordination with the COP and the DCOP for Integrated WASH and Nutrition, lead development of annual work plans (PREPs), IPTTs, and budget for APL in close collaboration with the project team and relevant government counterparts.
• Coordinate with the project team, consortium partners and relevant government counterparts to foster a smooth implementation of work plan activities, including facilitating technical and programmatic preparation and stakeholder consultations.
• Work in close collaboration with the project team, and the FH country team and Global Service Center to prepare and complete reporting requirements (Prep, ARR, etc.) for submission on schedule to USAID.
• Work closely with CLA and M&E teams to ensure appropriate and meaningful collaboration, learning and adaptation to enhance program delivery.
• Work with Finance and M&E staff, DCOP IWN to compile and submit necessary reports to FH Country Office, Global Service Center, donors, and government as required by local regulations.
• Support the COP to ensure that staff members adhere to the work plan to ensure that all targets and deliverables are met in accordance with the scope of work, and within budget.
• Oversee the program support components (capacity building, safeguards, communication, MERL) to ensure they are in line with USAID strategies.
• Liaise with government at national and provincial levels, civil society organizations, private sector companies and other stakeholders to support delivery of the project objectives.
• Oversee local sub-grants and short-term consultants to ensure monitoring and quality of deliverables.
• When required by the COP, serve as an alternate point of contact and representative of the project with USAID, other donors, implementing partners and stakeholders.
• Support the COP in set up and implementation of project operational and financial systems to ensure compliance with USAID policies and procedures and harmonize with FH regulations.
• Support the COP to organize CLA events with staff and partners regularly to anticipate, identify and address risks, issues, and gaps, in a timely and compliant fashion.
• Support the COP to establish and keep promoting a collaborative and positive work environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Level Specifications
• Vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a Christian commitment to serving the poor and in full agreement with FH’s Christian beliefs.
• Demonstrated computer-operating skills, including proficiency in Google platforms, Microsoft Office products, and virtual technologies such as Skype and/or Zoom.
• Technical familiarity with all three sub-purpose themes (savings and capital, IGAs, and agricultural production) and be considered a technical expert in at least two thematic areas, one of which must be agriculture.
• Demonstrated experience creating effective private sector linkages is highly valued.
• In-depth understanding of all components of livelihoods including market assessments, selection, planning, and management of small businesses; livelihood resilience and diversification strategies; market linkages; and private sector engagement.
• Agriculture experience (crop and livestock) including seed systems, market systems, and environmental and cultural constraints to agriculture.
• Ability to network and engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Human and interpersonal skills and cross-cultural sensitivities are highly valued for this position.
• Good judgment, decision-making, communication, and problem-solving skills are needed.
• Maintain the highest professional integrity and ethics.
• Ability to travel sometimes to insecure locations.

Experience/Education
• Must have either:
 An undergraduate degree in a related field and eight years of relevant work experience with increasing technical responsibility leading to senior level expertise are required.
 A master's degree in a relevant academic area—e.g., agrobusiness or agronomy—plus five years of relevant experience with increasing technical responsibility leading to senior level expertise are required.
• At least five years of experience in a field setting similar to DR Congo.
• Experience providing technical guidance and support to the development of livelihood strategies/approaches and developing modules and programming on livelihood creation and expansion.
• Experience implementing interventions for the development and enhancement of sustainable livelihood interventions including on-farm, off-farm, and/or non-farm livelihoods, from self-employment to small business creation, and demonstrate capacity to lead the collection, analysis, and utilization of information from a broad range of sources.
• Experience with USAID and U.S. Government regulations and program administration, management, and reporting procedures and systems are preferred.

Language
Fluency in French is required and professional proficiency in English. Congolese national language specific to the region is preferred.

Supervisor Responsibilities
Directly supervises staff. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints, resolving problems, etc.

Safeguarding Policy
FH strives to provide an environment free from sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment in all places where relief and development programs are implemented. FH holds a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment. FH expects its employees to maintain high ethical standards, protect organizational integrity and reputation, and ensure that FH work is carried out in honest and fair methods, in alignment with the Heartbeat Values and safeguarding and associated policies. Violations to stated policies will be subject to corrective action up to and including termination of employment.

Typically, successful candidates are hired at a salary rate up to midpoint of the range, based on relevant experience, internal equity, and budgetary allowances.

BENEFITS OFFERED

Insurance - Health, Disability, Life
Paid holidays, vacation, & sick leave
Pension, available on first of month after date of hire
Professional development

An application and resume through our online system is required: https://www.fh.org/about/careers/