Consultant (Project Manager)

Position: Consultant (Project Manager)

Location: Dili, Timor Leste

Application Deadline: 31 May 2022

Type of contract: Consultancy Contract

Language(s) required: English (proficient/fluent writing and oral skills)

About WorldFish

WorldFish is an international, non-profit research and innovation organization reducing hunger, malnutrition and poverty across Africa, Asia and the Pacific. For over 45 years, our work on sustainable aquaculture and fisheries has improved the lives of millions of women, men and youth.

Fish and other aquatic foods grown in and harvested from oceans, lakes, rivers and ponds provide income for more than 800 million people and provide 3.3 billion with 20% of their animal protein intake. Our focus on sustainability makes sure that the way we produce and use these foods today means a plentiful future of generations to come.

Our evidence-based solutions range in scale from households to global policies and spans across six interlinked themes: nutrition, gender, climate, sustainability, economy and COVID-19.

We champion aquatic foods for healthy people and planet and believe that a sustainable blue planet of well-nourished children, women and men is within our reach.

Position Objective

Partnership for Aquaculture Development in Timor-Leste Phase 2 (PADTL2), funded by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) New Zealand and USAID, builds on the sound foundations laid by the first five-year phase (2014–2019) of PADTL for the scaling of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) farming in Timor-Leste.

The consultant will oversee the implementation of PADTL2 and will be based in Dili, Timor-Leste. S/he will be providing comprehensive scientific, technical and management support to implement the PADTL2 Project which include but not limited to development of work plans, budgets, monitor progress, technical supervision of staff and consultants, represent WorldFish at external meetings and provide general procedural guidance to the government and national partners in designing and implementing specific research and development projects.

Scope of Work

• Under guidance of Project Leader, ensure effective and efficient day-to-day operations of the PADTL2 project, including exceptional financial tracking and reporting with the highest integrity, alignment and accountability for quality in WorldFish systems and procedures.
• Provide technical guidance and manage implementation of Aquaculture Project in Timor-Leste according to the project scope.
• Develop activity-level work plans and budgets, monitor progress against project objectives and milestones, draft project reports, provide regular updates, and identify and alert potential risk factors to Project Leader and other relevant parties.
• Conceive, design and conduct research on aquaculture, integrated agriculture-aquaculture (IAA) systems, or aquaculture value chain and market fields,
• Develop and oversee the M&E system for the PADTL2 project and ensure appropriate links and alignment to the Resilient Aquatic Food Systems for Healthy People and Planet Initiative outputs;
• Identify and contract, where necessary, and supervise the local office team to support implementation.
• Technically review the national and international consultants’ mission reports and other documents produced (e.g. training materials and research reports) before submission to the Project Leader, ensuring that all reports, manuals and other documentation prepared by consultants are of high quality.
• Identify and contract, where necessary, and coordinate with partners for implementation of relevant components of the project.
• Provide technical guidance and support and capacity building to national staff and partners in setting up and implementing effective systems for project administration, documentation, storage and analysis of data collected by projects and in preparing written materials.
• Represent WorldFish at external meetings and consultations and ensure that the project’s objectives and outputs are communicated appropriately.
• Prepare project reports/knowledge products as required for WorldFish, MFAT New Zealand and USAID.

Deliverable:

• Provide a monthly report on the assigned task to the Project Leader.

Requirements

This opportunity might be suitable for the consultant (s) who have the skills and qualifications listed below:

• A Doctoral degree in aquaculture, fisheries, rural development, or social science and at least 5 years of relevant work experience. OR A Master’s Degree with at least 10 years of relevant working experience.
• Strong leadership, coordination, communication and program management skills (including work plan development and budgeting) with excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Demonstrated experience in agricultural project management and administration, with substantial knowledge in aquaculture and value chain.
• Ability to work with a diverse range of partners; government, NGO and private sector.
• Demonstrated experience in aquaculture/rural livelihood systems research and development in developing countries context.
• Experience in participatory planning and development techniques and livelihoods approaches in support of natural resources management or community development projects.
• Experience in the collection, storage and analysis of social and natural science research data.
• Experience coordinating multiple team members.
• Excellent communication skills with strong command of writing in English.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Language skills in Tetum, Bahasa Indonesia, Portuguese or Spanish a distinct advantage.
• Working experience in Timor-Leste is desirable.
• Familiarity with integrated farming systems, fish hatchery management, aquatic food systems and value chain in a developing country context.
• Experience in developing project proposal and obtaining research funds through competitive grant schemes.