Field Manager at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited

Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Limited (SCANL) is a leading management consulting firm focused on the agricultural and nutrition sectors in Africa. We partner with government agencies, private sector companies and leading international development organizations to conduct research, analyze policies, develop strategies and implement programs that promote sustainable food security and improved nutrition. We have worked on a variety of projects across West Africa, including in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Field Manager

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Reports to: National Team Leader
Travel: Limited travel across project States in Nigeria

Overview of the Role

The Field Manager will ensure high quality implementation of Sahel projects in Northern Nigeria.
He/she will lead the planning, coordination of, management and reporting of project activities at the state and local level, engaging with key stakeholders on the one hand and reporting to Sahel’s Program Management Office (PMO) on the other hand with the objective of achieving projects’ goals

Farmers’ Organization:

Monitor the farmer identification process to ensure compliance with program requirements
Manage field coordinators to ensure timely collection and upload of verified data on farmers’ organization in accordance with the requirements of ALDDN
Receive and act on weekly reports on milk collection activities of dairy processor partners

Infrastructure Development:

Provide recommendations to the National Team Leader on the potential borehole locations based on verified reports from the State Field Coordinators and M&E officers
Obtain and act on weekly borehole checklist information that tracks compliance with borehole management plan and hygiene as shared by the state field coordinators
Review key documents such as borehole management plans, evidence of communal land ownership and other relevant documents submitted by state field coordinators to the Project Management Office (PMO)
Review milk can distribution register to track milk can distribution across the project sites
Verify reports from field coordinators independently

Productivity Improvement:

Artificial Insemination and Animal Health
Receive, verify and act on the field coordinators’ reports on the activities of artificial insemination technicians/veterinarians to ensure project timelines are met
Double check and confirm supporting documents and data from implementing partners
Work with M&E officers to verify uploaded data and submit payment advice for vendors to the National Team Leader based on findings from field visits and State Field Coordinators’ reports

Training and extension services:

Receive and monitor compliance of extension agents to weekly training plans across project sites
Monitor training of trainers’ session for extension agents and obtain supporting documents from State Field Coordinators
Work with Livestock Associate to review training content and plan training calendar
Work with the ALDDN M&E officers in preparing enumerators’ monthly payment based on satisfactory and verified milestone completion across all project sites
Conduct routine field visits to monitor and validate training dissemination

Feed and Fodder:

Track the progress of implementation of activities by Agridrive against targets
Coordinate with Agridrive’s program lead at the PMO to ensure timely resolution of issues

Financial Inclusion & Income Diversification Support:

Obtain progress update and supporting evidence for implementation of financial inclusion and income diversification support from TechnoServe
Coordinate with TechnoServe’s program lead at the PMO to ensure timely resolution of issues
Verify uploaded data through scheduled field visits to benefiting communities

Policy Advocacy:

Supervise the establishment and operations of State Steering Committees (SSC)
Review reports on mapping of stakeholders and dairy related policies across project sites

Human Resources and Administration:

Work with the Sahel Human Resource Associate to provide performance evaluation of field staff
Review and transmit fund requests from the State Field Coordinators to the National Team Leader for approval
Monitor the process of recruitment and deployment of extension agents, animal health/artificial insemination service providers and community health workers
Ensure all State Field Coordinators send necessary documents to the administrative assistant for all project asset insurance
Follow through on the resolution of all issues raised in the State Field Coordinators’ weekly reports and Sahel’s weekly review meeting

Communication:

Support quarterly program implementation plan including activities, targets and deadlines
Provide quarterly reports on program accomplishments against targets, challenges and mitigation strategy
Review uploaded key project data across all interventions in Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Jigawa and Adamawa States to the ALDDN online data portal to ensure interventions are delivered based on timelines
Receive weekly reports on accomplishments, challenges and mitigation strategy from field coordinators
Review and validate monthly travel log, fuel and project vehicle maintenance information and supporting evidence shared by State Field Coordinators with the PMO to ensure costs are maintained within budget
Participate in weekly project review meetings with the ALDDN team while assuring action-oriented dialogue and productive use of time
Participate in ALDDN State Steering Committee meetings on a case of need basis and provide relevant reports to the PMO
Other duties as assigned and agreed upon by the National Team Leader (NTL)

Required Skills & Experience

University Degree in Agriculture or related field with 7 years’ relevant experience at field level of community development with a strong understanding of social development
Strong networks with key stakeholders in the agriculture landscape in both the public, private and development sector. Experience in collaborating and managing relationships with federal and state governments, donors, private sector and other key stakeholders
Excellent oral and written communication skills, training and facilitation skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook
Excellent personal organizational skills and ability to work independently with minimal supervision
High level of interpersonal skills with the ability to work across cultures and religions, with strong communication and listening abilities, good problem-solving approach and conflict resolution at individual and community level
Strong program management skills and high level of analytical skills in planning and project implementation
Ability to be flexible, respond professionally, and establish priorities in often fluid, changing, and challenging situations with little clear guidance is necessary.
Ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure and to demonstrate extreme flexibility in managing more than one activity.
Sound knowledge of local environment
Willingness and enthusiasm for working with rural and vulnerable communities living in remote areas of the country.
Proficiency in the English language (required) and Hausa (preferred)