Senior Program Manager (LDS)

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing…when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they can access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off.

The Building a Resilient Local Dairy Supply Chain in Nigeria (LDS) project aims to build a precision, sustainable, and productive local dairy value chain in Nigeria within 4 years in a way that increases the incomes, resilience, and carbon footprint of dairy farmers in Nigeria. The project is led by FanMilk and TechnoServe, and co-financed by the Danone Ecosystem Association and the Gates Foundation. This initiative aims to support 1,250 suppliers, professionalize 50 mini small and medium size farmers, set up and run 5 milk collection centers, leading to the development of a local dairy value chain linked to an identified offtaker .

The Senior Program Manager is responsible for leading the implementation of LDS activities through the operationalization of the work plan. S/he will lead a multidisciplinary team and orchestrate a consortium of partners to deliver the results in the log frame, holding overall accountability for the program's strategic direction, financial performance, and donor relationships. The ideal candidate should be quite business-oriented and willing to work closely with an offtaker, while reinforcing the capabilities to operationalize multistakeholder governance.

• →Lead the strategic refinement and adaptive management of the program design, ensuring interventions remain relevant to the evolving Nigerian dairy context.
• →Develop, own and adjust as needed the Detailed Implementation plan, Log Frame, Work plan and other project management documents to ensure efficiency of implementation.
• →Oversee end-to-end program delivery, managing the performance of internal operations teams and external delivery partners to ensure synchronized execution of technical milestones (e.g., operationalization of Milk Collection Centres and fodder demo-hubs, partnership with existing farm owners, development of new farms, deployment of artificial insemination interventions, etc…).
• →Identify and address implementation challenges with support of program leadership when requiredDrive thought leadership working closely with technical leaders, adapt project approaches and interventions (e.g., technical training materials, gender-responsive strategies), as needed, to reach targets and milestones
• →With the MEL Manager and Finance team, ensure high-quality data is being collected to demonstrate project impact and results, as well as financial viability of MCCs to be able to attract operators taking over from the program
• →Serve as the primary point of contact for the donors, managing frequent communication, developing high-quality deliverables and data-driven narratives, including quarterly progress reports that meet donor requirements and deadlines
• →Serve as the primary liaison with other program counterparts, including private sector partners, local government agencies, and other key stakeholders
• →Oversee comprehensive financial management, tracking the project budget, co-investment leverage (partner contributions), and catalytic fund deployment to ensure a healthy burn rate and demonstrate value-for-money to donors. Manage sub-awards and contracts with technical partners, ensuring compliance with donor regulations and rigorous performance tracking against agreed deliverables.
• →Prepare and provide presentations to the donors and Steering Committee on project progress at regular frequencies as agreed with the donor and CD.
• →Represent the project at external events
• →Advise TechnoServe’s Program Development team on project proposals, as needed

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.

• A master’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, International development, Economics, or other relevant field with at least 7 years of experience. Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of experience.
• Within the years of experience, at least eight years should include relevant professional experience in international development.
• Within the years of experience, at least five years should include experience managing and implementing medium to large programs with a rich, complex and demanding stakeholder landscape.
• Extensive experience managing large teams at a high level of leadership (e.g., Team Lead, Chief of Party, Program Director).
• Prior work experience or collaboration with private sector companies and businesses. 

• Experience leading large donor-funded projects is highly desirable.
• Experience working in Nigeria is preferred.
• Experience in successfully implementing programs that empower women and youth is a plus.

• Extensive project management skills, including strategic planning, stakeholder coordination, resource allocation, compliance monitoring, and performance tracking
• A good understanding of the Nigerian dairy sector is desirable.
• Ability to build dairy businesses models for investors, with experience driving investment in dairy businesses being an added advantage.
• Ability to deploy and manage complex financing structures (e.g., blended finance, equipment leases) is highly desirable.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work with tight deadlines while managing multiple tasks and priorities.
• Ability to develop well-written, cohesive analyses and reports.Demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaboratively with a broad range of public and private sector counterparts and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to navigate the intersection of NGO development programs and corporate supply chains, managing the tension between social impact and commercial KPIs.