Program Manager-Coffee

Main Accountabilities:
1. Program Scale up and Implementation:
• Lead the scale up and execution of the India Coffee program strategies and activities.
• Oversee technical work, ensuring alignment with ICCRL program goals
• Develop technical guidelines and solutions to meet specific program requirements.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the program work, ensuring efficient and effective program delivery.

2. Operational Management
• Manage budgets, monitor financial performance, and ensure compliance with financial and administrative  policies for the ICCRL implementation partners and service providers contracted under the program
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of program activities and outcomes. Manage and monitor the yearly and monthly workplan.

3. Stakeholder Engagement:
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders under the program:
o Government entities: Coffee Board of India, State Rural Livelihood Missions, NABKISAN etc,
o Private sector partners: ECOM, Sucden, NKG, LDC
o Field Implementation Partners: Hand in Hand (HIH), SM Sehgal Foundation (SMSF) and Sri Sri Rural Development Program trust (SSRDPT)
o Service providers: Dhawni (M&E), Trace X (farm level traceability)
• Convene multi-stakeholder platforms for collaboration and synergies to drive program objectives
• Represent the organization at national and international networks and platforms.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Supporting data gathering and reporting for the purposes of monitoring and evaluation.

5. Financial Management:
• Manage program budgets specifically the field implementation partner budgets, ensuring financial oversight and accountability.

6.Learning
• Learning: Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture among team members and program partners; identify and document the lessons learned based on local reality on the ground
• Drive innovation in program approaches around Regenerative Agriculture, low carbon supply chains and smallholder livelihoods

Key Challenges:
1. Need to be analytically strong and detail-oriented, structured and business minded in terms of project and partner management
2. Need to manage the implementation partners on independent basis with oversight from the Senior Program Manager
3. Needs to organize and prioritize work, multitask and meet strict timelines in terms of reporting (financial and activity reports)
4. Operating in fast-paced, dynamic markets where the goals of stakeholders change frequently. Excellent interpersonal skills, adapt easily to new cultures and are a strong group facilitator.

Key Performance Indicators:
1. Timely and accurate delivery of program reports including implementation partner reports
2. Contributing to the achievement of program KPIs.
3. Smooth an effective management of program budgets.
4. Build strong and diverse networks, where the reputation of the program is valued.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
• Master’s degree in agriculture, environmental management or business administration
• 8-10 years of relevant experience in program development and implementation / relevant experience within international organisations.
• Proven track record in stakeholder management and building international partnerships.
• Strong understanding of sustainable and regenerative agriculture, natural resource management, low carbon supply chains and related frameworks
• Proficiency in project management tools and Tech models on carbon emission measurement is desirable
• Willingness to travel frequently to the field locations in Karnataka and Kerela as a part of the program delivery
• Experience in working in Agri Commodity value Chains such as Coffee and specifically for MNC’s or Agri businesses linked to supplying/processing of large traders and brands is a plus
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English and Hindi. Working knowledge of Kannada or Malayalam is desirable.

Competencies:
• Can work independently, pro-active in taking up new activities and responsibilities and are self-driven.
• Results-oriented, yet flexible and hands-on with field experience, ability to execute projects and thoroughly are active, service and detail-oriented, analytical, structured and business minded.
• Have the ability to organize and prioritize work, multitask and meet strict timelines.