Regional Program Manager Producer Support - Solidaridad Eastern & Central Africa Expertise Centre (SECAEC) Jobs in Kenya

Solidaridad Eastern & Central Africa Expertise Centre (SECAEC) based in Nairobi is a member organization of Solidaridad’s international network with its head office based in the Netherlands.

As a development organization, Solidaridad is convinced that decent and sustainable trade is the best instrument to combat structural poverty: a secure income is the basis for a dignified existence. Solidaridad works on sustainable production chains from producer to consumer, so that

producers in developing countries increase their capacity to manage a professional business.

Solidaridad and UTZ Certified have a strategic partnership, creating a producer support network and improvement program that addresses the economic, environmental and social needs of the producer and facilitates quality and volume needed by the market.

UTZ Certified is a market-oriented sustainability program that enhances professional farming and has positive impact on productivity, quality and efficiency. In over 60 countries UTZ Certified is working on integrating sustainability into the entire commodity chain, through certification and traceability.

The commodities the regional centre is working on include coffee, tea and cotton and in the future maybe also horticulture, cocoa and sugar.

SECAEC is seeking to recruit a
 Regional Program Manager Producer Support

This position will be responsible for coordinating the day-to-day activities of different projects with producer organisations in the East and Central Africa region.

These projects focus mainly on implementation of codes of conduct like Utz Certified and Fair Trade and assistance to producer organisations to improve their management capacity. The candidate will be based in Nairobi but will regularly travel within the region where various projects are being implemented

The responsibilities of the candidate include:

  • Project management, including planning, formulation, coordination, monitoring and provision of support to current and new projects of Solidaridad;
  • Prepare and organize project activity reports to be submitted to Solidaridad and other stakeholders;
  • Assessment of new project proposals, including financial assessment of organizations;
  • Training of various stakeholders, including producer groups in the implementation of sustainable production practices and the requirements of the UTZ Certified and Fair Trade Codes of Conduct;
  • Guiding producer organisations while setting up and executing capacity building projects;
  • Developing and sharing best practices in sustainable production;
  • Organizing and coordinating exchange visits among producer organizations within the region as well as facilitating sharing of their experiences
  • Creating links between producer organisations, exporters and market opportunities in consuming countries.
  • Any other assignments that may be allocated by the Director of SECAEC
Minimum experience and qualifications:
  • At least 5 years professional experience within NGO and/or business sector;
  • Educated to Master degree level in tropical agriculture (or other relevant discipline) from a recognised university or other institution;
  • Management experience in production and/or trading in preferably coffee, cotton or tea (or another relevant commodity) and demonstrated experience in initiatives which focus on sustainable production;
  • Excellent writing, presentation and training skills, with the ability to represent Solidaridad at all levels;
  • Fluency in English, and preferably sufficient French to provide oral and written project proposals and reports.
  • Work experience with producer organization within the East Africa Region, including experience with organisational development and financial assessment.
  • Self motivation, team player, meeting deadlines and being able to work without supervision are some of the key qualities of the candidate being sought.
This is an extremely challenging position for an individual who can work in a dynamic team and is extremely flexible and self-directed with an attractive remuneration package.

If you feel you meet the challenge, please email a copy of your application letter indicating how your experience is suitable for this position, and complete cv for consideration to solutionsjob @ ymail.com.

Indicate “Regional Program Manager Producer Support “on the subject matter heading of the email application.

Deadline for applications is 9th April 2010