JOB ADVERT: Program Manager Cocoa & Landscape

The organization

IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative convenes companies, CSOs, governments and others in public-private partnerships. Together we drive the joint design, co-funding and prototyping of new economically viable approaches to realize green & inclusive growth at scale in commodity sectors and sourcing areas. Our approaches are designed to drive sustainability from niche to norm in mainstream markets, delivering impact on Sustainable Development Goals. We focus on creating positive impact on deforestation, living incomes and living wages, working conditions, toxic loading and gender. IDH is supported by multiple European governments (Dutch, Swiss, Danish, Norwegian) and we work together with over 500 companies, CSOs, financial institutions, producer organizations and governments in 11 sectors and 11 landscapes in over 40 countries worldwide. IDH is a dynamic and demanding organization of about 150 staff members and consultants at the HQ in Utrecht, the Netherlands and several overseas offices and hubs in South America, Asia and Africa.

 To strengthen its work in Cameroon, IDH is recruiting a: 

Program Manager Cocoa & Landscape

About the program

Cameroon’s plan is to reach a cocoa production level of 600,000 MT by 2030, this is likely to put forests at further risk. Out of tradition farmers are used to planting cocoa under forest, which means that over time cocoa production may come at the detriment of the primary forests. Production and protection can become a win-win situation if local stakeholders are engaged and included in the management of natural resources.

The program strategy is based on a landscape approach, which implies working together with industry partners (also from other sectors), public sector, financiers, CSOs and knowledge partners. Developing land-use plans that consider the needs of local communities and the absolute necessity to protect the countries’ forest, will ensure that the cocoa sector and wider local economy can thrive on the long term. This will help to build cocoa farming into a more sustainable livelihood option for rural entrepreneurial farmers.

 Job profile

The Program Manager, based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, reports to the Program Director Cocoa of IDH. The Program Manager is part of the IDH Team and will closely collaborate on operational matters with the cocoa and landscape program teams.

IDH is looking for an organized, service-oriented, self-motivated, team player with leadership skills and a strong interest in supply chain sustainability and forest conservation.  You are both analytical and practical, able to work independently and learn fast. Working in a results-oriented, flexible and hands-on manner, you execute given projects quickly and thoroughly, maintaining a good overview on delegated tasks.

 Key responsibilities

1. Strategic Program Development:
Coordinate the development of the Cocoa program, including:

• Align with key-stakeholders to ensure their engagement and commitment (government, private sector including farmers organizations/cocoa industry/financiers/etc., CSOs and donors)
• Contribute to the team work on content development
• Prepare and organize monthly consortium meetings
• Prepare the appropriate reporting

2. Stakeholder management and networking

• Assure clear communication and alignment with partners and development of communication material for outside stakeholders.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with key partners

3. Operational program management

• Responsibility for ensuring targeted results and impact in the development and implementation of the program with operational support and guidance from IDH HQ Program Management.
• Run the required program facilitation, administration, and reporting within the overall regional structure.
• Manage contracts with implementing partners, engineers, and consultants (with legal and administrative support of the IDH Operations team in Utrecht).

Requirements

• Working and thinking at Master degree level, in agribusiness or related area preferred.
• 5-10 years working experience in an international business environment
• Deep knowledge of and network within the Cocoa sector;
• Knowledge of international trade and agro-commodity supply chains
• Experience with stakeholder management in an international environment
• Experience in project management & (financial) administration and project budgeting
• Experience with the private sector, preferably in supply chains
• Experience in managing (sector and/or sustainability) coalitions is an advantage
• Experience in international development is an advantage
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially a good working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English and French.

Competencies

• Outstanding analytical capabilities
• Good strategic reflection capabilities
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, in writing and verbally;
• Pro-active-, service- and detail-oriented, analytical, structured and business minded
• Highly flexible; able to take initiative and work independently
• Organized and ability to have a helicopter view of what need to be done at which time

Conditions

IDH offers a challenging position with opportunities for growth within an enthusiastic and passionate team.  As an IDH team member you can contribute to positive global change. The position is for 40 hours per week.  The successful applicant will initially be offered a temporary consultancy contract with competitive remuneration, but with the possibility to extend. 

For more information about IDH, please visit www.idhsustainabletrade.com. For questions about this position, please contact Jonas Mva Mva (Program Director Cocoa) at mvamva@idhtrade.org

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to send an application (motivation letter and 2-page resume in English) to Iris van Oort (HR Officer) at jobs@idhtrade.org, mentioning “Program Manager Cocoa & Landscape” in the subject line. We encourage applicants to respond as soon as possible, latest by 24 August, 2018. 

Candidates are based in Cameroon or should have permission to work in Cameroon.