Junior Field Program Officers at Vertical Biodiversity Fund

Apply before : June 13, 2020

Company

The Vertical Biodiversity Fund (VBF) is a non-profit making company based in the Eastern Region of Nepal registered in 2017. We are working with farmers, youth, and local communities across a vertical gradient from Koshi Tappu to Kanchenjunga to protect the natural environment and to support farmers to grow organic and nutritious fruits and vegetables. In collaboration with KTK-BELT, the goal of the VBF is to become the Nepali operational entity to run the “Vertical University project” in collaboration with other local partners and stakeholders. 

Position and Scope of Work:

The Junior Field Program Officer position is a junior level management and coordination role which requires assisting in coordination, oversight, monitoring and implementation of activities that VBF and KTK-BELT implement. The core responsibility of this position is ensuring project outcomes are met as per the project log-frame, ensuring smooth communication with concerned government authorities, organizing MPAC/CPAC meetings with the Social Welfare Council, managing staff and overseeing the day-to-day activities of the VBF and KTK-BELT vis-à-vis implementation of the ‘Vertical University Project.’  

Duty Station: 

• Based on the project site or in Kathmandu as per the project needs 
• It is integral that the incumbent has strong internet access and digital literacy to be able to work online during the COVID-19 period 

General Responsibilities:

• Assist with the implementation of the project activities based on the project logframe and budget allocations within the assigned project sites
• Assist with the monitoring and evaluation of the implemented activities
• Assist with the preparation of progress activity reports for all relevant stakeholders
• Participate in and represent VBF in government meetings, community meetings, and activities
• Strategically communicate the goals, objectives, outcomes of the Vertical University project to stakeholders

Government Relations Responsibilities:

• Assist with the coordination with concerned gaunpalikas to ensure that VBF and KTK-BELT program activities are incorporated into annual plans and budgets in Asar/Shravan in the Gaun Sabha
• Assist with the proper engagement with SWC when required
• Assist with the development of a list of contacts for representatives of relevant Wards, Rural Municipalities, Government Ministries, Departments 
• Assist with the coordination of CPAC/ MPAC meetings and reporting requirements based on the SWC/ local and regional government guidelines

Financial Coordination Responsibilities

• Properly implement the activities as per the budget lines in the field and collect proper receipts and data as supporting documents 
• Coordinate with the Finance/ Admin Coordinator to ensure budgetary compliance 

Monitoring and Evaluation 

• Ensure that proper monitoring methods are followed for tracking indicators 
• Ensure that all supporting programmatic documents are collected, stored in dropbox on a monthly basis 
• Provide all activity photos to the IT officer/ Media Lead 
• Support the drafting of reports as per need on a quarterly/ yearly basis 
• Learn the basics of the DELTA monitoring and evaluation software to be able to integrate relevant data 
• File all documents relating to the M&E framework as per the document storage protocol
• Ensure proper reporting and communications with the Partners Orgs following the donor reporting protocol 

Personnel related responsibilities

• Liaise with all of the field staff- guardians/ farm workers/ other offline staff to ensure that they understand their work plan, deliverables and are monitored
• Assist with the coordination and management of travels for consultants/ field staff
• Administrative Responsibilities
• Assist with the logistics of high level site visits with concerned authorities
• All photocopying, scanning, printing work relating to the program
• Ensure all assets are being used properly
• Filing, archiving services as needed for the relevant projects
• Support all board related administrative duties such as board minuting etc. 
• Other duties as assigned  

Key Qualification & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Management, Education, Environmental Conservation, or Rural Development or related fields desirable
• NGO/ INGO project experience a must
• Background in environmental conservation an advantage
• 1-2+ years of working experience in related field desirable
• Effective interpersonal, management and negotiation skills proven through successful interaction with stakeholders, regional/local authorities, experts and NGOs/communities 
• Demonstrated ability in team management and collaboration 
• Strong Academic profile and professional background
• Prior field based experience in project management and administrative coordination required
• Prior experience of working in I/NGO environment with the experience of coordinating donor funded field projects desirable

Special Skills and Competence

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Nepali, and typing skills in both languages
• Strong computer literacy 
• High degree of patience and sensitivity, and ability to work in sensitive climate
• Leadership qualities including professional communication and writing skills, public speaking ability, and project planning competencies
• Highest degree of gender and caste sensitivity is a must

Timing: The initial contract shall be for three months on a probationary/trial basis and extended upon successful completion to a longer duration based on both project funding and performance of the candidate. 

Remuneration: Based on experience and project resources 

Documents to be Submitted by the Applicants (incomplete applications will not be reviewed):

• Cover Letter stating qualifications, work experience and salary expectation 
• Resume/ CV
• 2 written work samples, which can be an articles, essays, videos, photographs or reports where you are the principal author
• Professional copies of academic certificates and/or other relevant documents
• Name, email, and phone number for 3 professional references

Applying Procedure

Please send all application materials to ‘vbf@belt-project.org’ with ‘Junior Field Program Officer’ in the subject heading of the email.

Selection criteria

We highly encourage minority applicants to apply including those who identify as women and indigenous community members/ minority caste groups. Internal candidates, particularly fellows from our catchment areas will be given priority. 

We reserve the rights to not hire for this position or to postpone the start date based on project funding. The initial trial period will be only for three months.