Solidaridad Network Asia
 

Job Profile: Program Manager- Tea & Associate Crops

 

Introduction

Solidaridad (www.solidaridadnetwork.org) is an international network organization working in Asia and across the globe to address farmers’ poverty and workers’ wellbeing through empowerment and promoting sustainability compliances. Solidaridad Network Asia, as part of Solidaridad Asia is operating in Bangladesh and promoting ecosystem-based solutions for agricultural productivity and responsible industrial practices that increase income and employment for the farmers and rural urban poor.

Our work focuses on fostering sustainability and empowerment of farmers and workers to develop scalable environmental sound and economically viable sustainable solutions in the agricultural and industrial landscape. We support in co-creation of business cases for economic empowerment of the farmers and workers, and support in improving enabling and conducive environment for public and private sector investment, ensuring that farmers and workers are not left behind.

Vision: We envision a world in which the economy works for all: where all we produce, and all we consume, can sustain us while respecting the planet, each other, and the generations to come.

Mission: We enable farmers and workers to earn a living income, shape their own future, and produce in balance with nature by working throughout the whole supply chain to make sustainability the norm.

Overall Job Description

The Program Manager Tea and Associated Crops, will be responsible for developing operational strategy of sustainable supply chains of Solidaridad programming in the northwest Bangladesh. S/he will steer the tea and matured programming of Solidaridad, co-create business innovations for agricultural productivity and economic prosperity. S/he will promote viable and resilient production systems and land use planning to promote sustainable agricultural practices, reduction of chemical use and improvement in soil health.

The Manager will promote cooperatives and MSMEs to create ecosystem services for access inputs, technologies and modern farming techniques. S/he will maintain strategic partnerships with the CSOs, private sector and the respective public authorities for fostering transformative change in service delivery for improved market integration. The Manager will maintain relations and engagement of the relevant stakeholders for improving access to technologies, services and financing.

S/he is accountable for delivering results and responsible for achieving the milestones of the project. S/he will execute and manage the field mobilization and operation ensuring best optimization of budget, teams and resources. The Manager will monitor and track the progress of the programme and will evaluate successes and challenges to enhance learning.

Under the overall supervision of the Country Manager, the Manager will accelerate the Tea and associate crops portfolio of Solidaridad in Bangladesh.

The position will be based in Panchagarh/ Thakurgaon with frequent field visits to Solidaridad operational areas.

Duties and Accountabilities

Viable and Resilient Production:

  • Knowledge and technology transfer to the smallholders to grow and diversify production and businesses in a climate-smart manner
  • Develop and maintain cluster approach for production and marketing of farm produces.
  • Develop farming clusters wise ecosystem services for access to inputs, technologies, finance, and market.
  • Support farmers to get organized and transfer knowledge for adoption of CSA/Regenagri practices and farm business planning to improve productivity and quality. 
  • Promote digital tools and technologies for access to technologies, services, climate and market information.
  • Develop proof of concepts in order to bring innovations in land-use planning, water management and water use, and climate change adaptation.

Inclusive Service Delivery:

  • Promote access to relevant technologies, inputs, products and services, including finance tailored to the needs of the smallholders, MSMEs and local businesses.
  • Develop MSMEs for access to technologies and services.
  • Develop partnerships with financial institutions to facilitate access to finance for smallholder farmers.
  • Empowerment of smallholders to have access to services, knowledge and technologies on sustainable production and marketing.
  • Facilitate workshops and demonstration for creating strategies that addresses the technical and financial needs of smallholder farmers.

Inclusive Market Connection:

  • Mainstream inclusive trade, sourcing and pricing
  • Organize match making events for better market connection and business negotiation for fair pricing;
  • Organise local dialogues to improve fair sourcing, transparency, and sustainable production practices;
  • Invest in grassroots innovations for co-creation of seed to market.
  • Spur innovative business cases for mobilizing public-private investment in production and marketing.
  • Promotion of local eco-system-based farming and improving trade and investment agri-system through the engagement of the multi-stakeholders

Planning and Operational Management:

  • Provide programmatic and technical inputs to develop project strategies, policies, and implementation plans.
  • Work closely with team members and partners to support programming targeting women’s and smallholder empowerment by improving women’s skills and livelihood options, with a focus on their condition and position.
  • Ensure quality project implementation and troubleshooting as and when required.
  • Ensure reporting structures are observed in a timely and quality manner. Troubleshoot any reporting issues as required.
  • Promote functional collaboration with the private sector, market intermediaries, and relevant stakeholders.
  • Support implementation of monitoring & evaluation systems, working closely with the Project’s technical team
  • Process documentation, collection, and compilation of required information from the entrepreneurs and stakeholders and deliver it to the line supervisor.
  • Prepare project reports and impact stories.

Education & Experience Criteria

  • Masters in management/social sciences/ sciences/agriculture from any recognized University;
  • The candidate should have at least 8 to 10 years of working experience on agriculture-related projects.
  • Experience in project rolling out, project management, partnership management, and M&E including financial management as well;
  • Familiarity and understanding of global sustainable debates and issues;
  • Knowledge and experience in liaison with GOB and NGO counterparts and development partners; able to coordinate with appropriate stakeholders and involve them in planning, monitoring and evaluation of project activities;
  • Excellent Knowledge of performance evaluation and change management principles.

Person Specifications & Attributes

  • Excellent leadership skill and organizational skills to keep employees motivated and management of field operations;
  • Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
  • Good initiator has liaison skills, negotiation skills, administrative and management skills, organizational skills, and interpersonal skills.
  • Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements constructively.
  • Outstanding analytical writing skills in English and Bengali; excellent communication skills and fluent spoken English are required;

Employment Type

  • Project based fixed term

Salary & Other Benefits:

Solidaridad offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with Solidaridad Asia’s pay scales and Service Rules. The benefits package includes a provident fund, festival bonus, gratuities, and medical insurance as per the organizational policy.

Apply Instructions

To apply, please send a CV (3 pages max.) and a cover letter (1 page) explaining your desire, your relevant skills, and your experiences at recruitment.hrsna@gmail.com. The position applied for should be clearly mentioned in the subject line of the email. Only short-listed candidates will be called for an interview.

Closing date of the application is 30 March 2025

Solidaridad strives to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination for all job applicants and employees, and we seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, and disability.