Job Title:                              Program Director – Milky Way

Position Number:            TBD

New or Refill:                     New

Core position:                    Yes   No   (As defined in the Global Recruitment and Hiring Policy)

Salary Grade:                     6/Director Level

Division/Dept.:  Programs/Asia

Dept #/Subproject WO: NP3171HINP00

Reports to:                          Country Director

Supervisor POSNO:         222051

Supervisor RESNO/Name:

Supervision:                       Employees  Yes   No  |  Volunteers  Yes   No

Location:                              Kathmandu, Nepal

Relocation Funds:            Not allotted

Travel Required:               Up to 50% annually

Heifer Project Nepal is an equal-opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of specially-abled**.**

Function:

The Program Director-Milky Way provides overall leadership and management for the implementation of the Transforming Dairy Sector of Nepal (The Milky Way) Program. S/he leads the planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the relevant components under the Milky Way Program. The Program Director-Milky Way supports the translation of Heifer International’s Global Vision and Strategy into project implementation and ensures the project design and implementation are geared towards achieving scale and impact. S/he will attract funding to diversify funding resources and ensure that project implementation processes respond to Heifer International’s need to strengthen global operating systems. With the support of the Country Director, the Program Director-Milky Way leads the process of developing and growing Heifer Nepal’s program to reflect a fair balance in the project portfolio.

Essential Character Traits:

Empathetic, emotionally intelligent, honest, positive attitude, compassionate, patient, self-motivated, results oriented, high integrity, accountable, respectful, analytical ability, interpersonal skills and proactive, problem solver, enthusiastic, dependable, creative, team player

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES**: (**including approximate percentage effort)

Leadership and Strategy (35%)

• Provide strategic leadership to achieve the goal of The Milky Way Signature Program.
• Represent the signature program before all persons and organizations at all levels, including government, academia, private sector, donors, partners, dairy associations, networks etc.
• Provide leadership in developing a strategy to achieve the vision of a model dairy village and create a demonstration center for production and processing technologies.
• In collaboration with the federal and provincial ministry develop a strategy and a roadmap (including a resource plan) for dissemination of superior genetics and scaling up of technologies throughout the country.
• In collaboration with Nepal Dairy Development Board (NDDB), develop and operationalize strategies for strengthening the dairy enterprise ecosystem.
• Collaborate with all three tiers of government in strengthening the national Artificial Insemination (AI) service delivery system.
• Support in scaling up and adoption of technologies/package of practices in collaboration with government, NDDB, PDDBs, and private sectors.
• Support in review, update, and operationalization of dairy development policies.
• Conduct research/innovations, under collaboration with national/international research organizations, on improved dairy technologies and farm practices for the development and demonstration of a package of practices.

Program management (40%)

• Supervise and mentor program team in planning and implementation and ensure and effective mobilization.
• Develop program manuals, guidelines, and procedures as required and ensure compliance to Heifer, donor, and in-country statuary requirements
• Provide oversight and ensure the staff execute approved workplans, activities and operations with highest level of efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure the project is on time and within project budget and scope at all times.
• Ensure timely monitoring, evaluation, and reporting in line with Heifer’s MELS, requirement, donor requirement and in-country statutory requirements.
• Establish/ nurture relationships with the private sector in production input/services (feed, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, insurance etc.) and connect them with farmers and co-ops.
• Effectively maintain strong communication with all relevant stakeholders (government, private, NGOs, Associations) and establish functional relationship through out project implementation.
• Collaborate with dairy value chain actors to strengthen market system.
• Support in establishment and operationalization of community owned feed (silage, TMR, UMMB) mill for sustainable supply of quality feed.
• Ensure good husbandry practices (overall management, animal health, nutrition, and breeding) of the highest standard are adopted in the model dairy village.
• Establish a sustainable veterinary service delivery system in the model dairy village.
• Establish nucleus herd of HF cattle for sustainable supply of PPRS-high genetic merit breeding animals to Department of Livestock Services, municipalities, and private dairy farms.
• Ensure accountability and compliance throughout project lifecycle.

Networking and resource development (25%)

• Explore potential partners and donors; and pursue funding opportunities to bring efficiency in the signature program.
• Actively engage in resource mobilization team and nurture relationships with partners and donor and collaborators.
• Design new projects and acquire funding, specifically for testing and introduction of new technologies in dairy value chain.
• Work in close collaboration with Heifer Korea and Asia and Nepal resource mobilization team for coordinated planning and implementation in resource mobilization
• Support in documentation, knowledge material production, and dissemination to enhance Heifer’s visibility among donors, partners, and stakeholders.

May perform other job-related duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements:

A Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in veterinary science and animal husbandry, project planning and management, community development, sociology, Agriculture, Animal Science, or a related field is required, plus 10 years of relevant experience including five (5) years in a senior management position in an international organization.

Preferred Requirements:

1. Master’s Degree or equivalent in project planning and management, community development, sociology, agriculture, animal science, or a related field is required, plus seven (7) years of relevant experience, including five (5) years in a senior management position in an international organization.
2. Thorough understanding of programming processes, systems, and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at the community level.
3. Strong resource mobilization skills and ability to develop sustainable relationships with local governments and international donors.
4. Solid skill, knowledge, and foundation in proposal development and of the project management cycle.
5. Sound understanding of value chain development on various livestock sectors and agricultural commodities.
6. Sound understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of the root causes of poverty in Nepal.
7. Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities, and implications to community development.
8. Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning processes.

Most Critical Proficiencies:

1. Knowledge of strategic planning, program and project development, and implementation processes (including planning, monitoring and evaluation).
2. Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions.
3. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully, and diplomatically with culturally diverse groups of people.
4. Willingness and ability to assign and review the work of line-managed staff and to use participatory management skills with junior and senior staff.
5. Proven team leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to train and work cooperatively with a diverse staff.
6. Regularly conduct a stakeholder analysis to strengthen partnerships and leveraging of resources.
7. Knowledge of grant acquisition and management.
8. Basic knowledge of financial controls and systems.
9. Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, databases and electronic mail software (Microsoft preferred).
10. Proficiency in basic statistics sufficient to analyze data.
11. Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and the Internet.
12. Demonstrated proficiency in English and Nepali, both oral and written.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

1. Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity.
2. Willingness to work flexibly outside normal working hours.
3. Ability to foster and maintain a spirit of unity, teamwork and cooperation.
4. Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues, potential donors, and the public.
5. Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision.
6. Ability to meet and deal with others in a courteous and tactful manner.
7. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
8. Sensitivity in working with multiple cultures and beliefs, and to gender equity.