Project Manager

Role Purpose

The Project Manager is central to the project’s success, ensuring its seamless execution through oversight of daily operations, effective coordination of activities, and proactive problem-solving. This role involves developing and managing work plans, budgets, and schedules in collaboration with the project team, stakeholders, and donors, ensuring all activities align with project objectives, timelines, and resource allocations. By fostering a collaborative, results-oriented team environment, the Project Manager provides leadership, mentorship, and performance support to the project team, ensuring all members are motivated and equipped to deliver.

The Project Manager closely monitors the project’s progress, tracks key performance indicators and milestones, prepares detailed reports for the project board and donors, and maintains open communication channels to address emerging issues promptly. Risk management is a critical component, with the Project Manager identifying potential obstacles, developing mitigation strategies, and ensuring contingency plans are in place.

In addition, the Project Manager is tasked with ensuring compliance with national regulations, organisational policies, and donor requirements. In overseeing financial management, the Project Manager ensures that funds are used transparently and efficiently, producing accurate financial reports to sustain trust and facilitate ongoing support.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Oversight: Oversee the day-to-day management of a suite of projects, ensuring effective coordination and execution of all approved activities.
• Planning & Management: Develop and manage project work plans, budgets, and schedules in collaboration with the project team and stakeholders.
• Team Leadership: Lead and guide the project team, fostering a collaborative and results-driven environment, and supporting team development and performance.
• Monitoring & Reporting: Monitor the project’s progress against its objectives, timelines, and budgets, ensuring accurate and timely reporting to the project board and donors.
• Financial Liaison: Liaise with the Finance and Operations teams to ensure that grants and projects’ delivery align with forecasted expenditure.
• Risk Management: Identify, assess, and manage project risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure progress.
• Compliance & Accountability: Ensure the project complies with all relevant regulations, policies, and donor requirements, maintaining the highest standards of governance.
• Financial Transparency: Oversee financial management, ensuring transparency and accountability in using project funds, and providing accurate financial reporting.
• Business Development: Leverage opportunities for new business development.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in agriculture, crop protection, agricultural economics, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in project management, preferably in agriculture and development.
• Proven track record of successfully leading complex multi-donor projects across multiple locations in developing countries.
• Strong understanding of agriculture, crop protection, and smallholder farmers' challenges, particularly in sustainable practices and plant health systems.
• Understanding of development of sustainable value chains, as well as sanitary and phytosanitary related issues.
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and motivate multidisciplinary and multinational teams.
• Demonstrable ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and tasks efficiently in a high-stress, fast-paced environment.
• Experience designing and implementing Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) frameworks.
• Solid experience managing project budgets, ensuring financial transparency, and preparing accurate financial reports.
• Strong communication skills, and ability to work effectively with government institutions, local partners, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of USDA grant and loan requirements, compliance frameworks, and stakeholder reporting.

Role Details

• Grade: HAY Band 6
• Reporting to: Regional Director
• Direct reports: None
• Conditional recruitment: The position is subject to confirmation of funding.

What We Offer

• Competitive salaries.
• 30 days of annual leave, plus public holidays.
• Defined contribution pension scheme with employee contribution.
• A culture committed to being a fully inclusive, enjoyable, and fulfilling place to work.
• An Employee Assistance Programme, with a full calendar of health and well-being initiatives.
• Flexible working options.
• Career development opportunities, including internal promotions and mentoring.
• Medical insurance and long service awards.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to CABI on cabi.ciphr-irecruit.com to apply. Ensure your application is submitted before the deadline on May 5, 2026.