Job Description

Job Title: Project Manager

Duty Station: To be based in Dindigul (Tamil Nadu), India

Reports to: Project Director/Technical Lead

Date of issue: 20th February 2024

About SEEDS Trust:

SEEDS Trust (Social Education and Environment Development Scheme Trust) is a non-profit, working for the development of livelihood of forest dependent communities and for the conservation of landscapes and species, in Tamil Nadu. It works on conservation plus social initiatives, to ensure better landscapes to ensure better livelihoods to the communities dependent on them. More details available in the organization website: www.seedstrust.org.in

The Project:

Currently SEEDS Trust is beginning an agroforestry project in the Ayyalur landscape of Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, with the support of the Livelihoods Carbon Fund SICAV-RAIF-LCF3, Luxembourg. The main objective of the project will be to rehabilitate the degraded landscape and to achieve better livelihoods for the communities that are largely dependent on the surrounding forests.

The project will plant multi-purpose and fruit tree saplings in around 8,000 ha in private farmlands of about 8,000 families in the fringe villages of the proposed Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary. The income generation from the trees and other allied income generation activities promoted by the project are expected to reduce the pressure on the Ayyalur forest and improve the resilience of the communities, both of which will directly impact contribute to the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the UN at the larger level.

In order to facilitate the project implementation, SEEDS Trust seeks to recruit the services of one (01) Project Manager on an annual contract basis, renewable based on annual performance evaluations. This is a full-time position, requiring local travel and will be based at Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

Main functions

Reporting to the Project Director, the Project Manager will be responsible for the overall implementation (activities, reporting, M&E, human resources and budgets) of the project, by providing technical support to the project team including an M&E Officer, Field Coordinators and village level volunteers. The Project Manager will be responsible for developing and managing systems for day-to-day planning, monitoring, documentation, data management, reporting and stakeholder engagement plans in line with SEEDS Trust and Livelihoods Venture requirements. The Project Manager will play a key role in promoting key learning and accountability for continuous improvement of the project and for wider learning of the organisation and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

This is a full-time on-site role as a Project Manager of the Ayyalur Livelihoods Project, who will be responsible for overseeing the tree planting campaign and related livelihood interventions in the Ayyalur region, participating in the planning process, implementing strategies, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the program, and identifying new innovative solutions to adapt the project according to periodic learnings. The Project Manager will be a key person to synergize the Field Team, the Project Management Committee and Administration team’s roles and responsibilities. Other key responsibilities of the PM include:

· Preparation and execution of the Annual Work Plans (considering key project activities, impact goals and grant tranches) in close coordination with the Project Director and Technical Lead and implementing them as per timeline.

· Support project partners in conducting tree audits, annual impact surveys, interim evaluations, etc. and support the Project Management team in the creation of reports of the same.

· Documentation of important meetings, stakeholder consultations, project grievance mechanism, case studies, and best practices/success stories of the project and showcasing them.

· Support and monitor the project MEL Officer’s work to provide analysis and feedback.

· Providing support in the training, building material for capacity building, and identifying various technological options for the smooth implementation of the program.

· Identifying opportunities for the program to participate in activities at various levels to build their visibility.

Expected skills and competencies:

Postgraduate degree in social (MSW) or natural science (agriculture, forestry, etc.) discipline.

5-6 years of work experience in NGO/Development/Agroforestry sector or relevant domain.

Knowledge on non-timber forest products, forest rights, value chain development, etc. will be added advantages.

Skilled in MS Office (Excel, Word & Powerpoint) and data management computer packages; GIS knowledge a plus

Excellent writing and presentation skills in English.

Working knowledge of Tamil is important, can be negotiated for motivated individuals.

Proactive and resourceful with good inter-personal skills, able to interact at all levels of the project.

Result-oriented and self-motivated.

Willing and able to travel and spend 60% of his/her time on the field

Ability to multi-task with tight deadlines/schedules and attention to details

Remuneration: Rs. 40,000 per month with additional benefits like insurance, will be adjusted annually to inflation.

Contract Type: Annual (with a probationary period of three months), with a possibility of extension based on annual performance assessments.

How to Apply: Interested candidates please submit your CV, and a cover letter addressed to the Project Director, SEEDS Trust, with two references from previous work and expected joining date. Please send CV and all details as a single PDF document to jobs@seedstrust.org. We will be able to communicate only to the successful candidates selected for an interview. This is a repost; those who applied in the earlier round need not reapply.

Application Due Date: 25th March 2024 and tentative interview date 1st week of April 2024.

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