Project Director – SAFEGRO Project

Position:                           Project Director – SAFEGRO Project
Employment Type:           Full-time for duration of project
Location:                          Hanoi, Vietnam
Reports to:                       Food Safety/Risk Assessment Specialist based in Canada
Remuneration:                 Salary is subject to negotiation based on established market rates

About the Project

The SAFEGRO project to improve food safety in Vietnam is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Key government partners on this project include the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) as the lead ministry, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT). In partnership with the University of Guelph, Alinea International works with national and regional governments to enable food safety regulations, with private sector suppliers, including farmers, and with consumers to improve demand for safe food in Vietnam. The objective of the project is to improve the performance of central and local governments in enforcing food safety regulations and to increase the competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products domestically and internationally. The 5-year project (2020-2025), with funding of CAD12.8M, will focus on Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City but work across the entire agro-food value chain by engaging and enhancing the capacities of three key target groups: the public sector (enabling environment), value chains (supply side) and consumers (demand side).

About Alinea International Ltd.

Alinea is an international development consultancy providing technical and management expertise that helps people improve their lives. We work with governments, investors, companies and communities to create lasting change. Over 35 years, Alinea has successfully delivered more than 515 projects worldwide.

Committed to Inclusivity and Diversity: Alinea provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants based on merit. Alinea is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Candidates may be subject to due diligence and enhanced background checks as deemed appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

The Project Director (PD) is based in Hanoi, Vietnam and is responsible for the overall management and leadership of the project, management of the Project Team in Vietnam (consultants, office personnel and sub-contractors) and the administration of project resources (human, financial and material) managed from the field. The PD will represent Alinea at the highest level and will oversee the strategic direction for the project in consultation with the project team. The PD will collaborate and coordinate with the Local Project Manager (LPM) on overall project implementation.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

A.   Providing strategic direction, managerial and administrative services towards the project. This includes:

• Providing management and oversight for activities conducted in the field including planning, implementation, and monitoring activities;
• Ensuring the quality and integrity of the activities implemented by the Project personnel;
• Ensuring the overall application of the GAC Results-based Management, Monitoring and Evaluation approach for the project, including the explicit achievement of gender equality and women's empowerment results;
• Ensuring the effective monitoring of progress and results as per the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF);
• Overseeing the work of project personnel to achieve expected project results;
• Overseeing the sourcing and contracting of all necessary expertise for project implementation and developing and maintaining a network of experts;
• Managing and supervising project personnel;
• Ensuring effective knowledge sharing including the identification and effective dissemination of Project successes, innovations, best practices and lessons learned;
• Anticipating and identifying risks and issues and addressing them in a timely and effective manner;
• Overseeing all project financial transactions ensuring effective and transparent financial practices, procedures and reporting;
• Reviewing, authorizing and delivering all project reports and plans to DFATD as per the project reporting requirements; and
• Overseeing the procurement of goods and services under the project.

B.    Developing an effective relationship with the Development Section of the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam. This includes:

• Communicating with the Technical Authority on a regular basis as required for the successful implementation of the project;
• Providing the Technical Authority with important information and intelligence related to all matters of project activities, administration, results achievement, financial accountability, and budget control as required.

C.    Developing and maintaining an effective working relationship with key Vietnamese entities involved in the Project: MARD, MoH, MOIT, sub-national governments as well as other stakeholders. This includes:

• Communicating regularly with the MARD-appointed senior official and involving him/her during each Annual Work Plan (AWP) development and implementation process and through the Project Coordination Committees;
• Providing continuous communication and coordination with national and sub-national government entities to stimulate their on-going collaborative participation and commitment to the project;
• Ensuring project activities are focused on building the Vietnamese authorities' capacity to sustain the Project's expected results during and beyond the project life;
• Providing senior level technical and project management advice to national and sub-national government entities, and other stakeholders, as required;
• Identifying other stakeholders for achieving project results; and
• Analyzing and presenting the project results to DFATD and stakeholders, as required.

D.          Supporting and participating in the project's committees and working groups.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or Doctorate in food science, veterinary science, agriculture, animal husbandry, epidemiology, food microbiology or a related discipline;
• At least 60 months of professional experience in project management, at a senior level (project manager, team leader, director or higher);
• Experience managing complex multi-stakeholder relations, working with a diverse group of stakeholders ranging from government departments, donors, civil society and/or non-governmental organizations, media, farmers/producers, processors, and distributors;
• Demonstrated communication and relationship building skills;
• Minimum of 4 months managing a work assignment related to international development projects;
• Minimum of 2 years managing a work assignment related to food safety or food quality;
• Experience providing high-level strategic direction and oversight to project planning;
• Experience applying principles of results-based management and risk management;
• Experience with human and financial resource management;
• Experience reviewing and approving work plans, progress reports and financial reports;

Additional Qualifications

• National/international experience in safe/quality food value chains, food inspection, and food safety;
• Experience providing institutional capacity building;
• Demonstrated experience working in Vietnam or in the region;
• Knowledge of Vietnamese institutions, universities, companies and ministries involved in food safety;
• Must be fluent in English;
• Must be Vietnamese citizen, permanent resident, or holding a valid Vietnam work permit.

Interested applicants are asked to submit their cover letter and CV to [email protected] by 17h00 on 18/02/2022. Please include the position title in your subject line and state your approximate salary expectations as a net monthly rate in Canadian dollars. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted; no telephone enquiries, please. For more information about the project, please address specific questions to [email protected]