Cluster Coordinator – SAYE

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Coordination & Management (30%)   

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of SAYE project activities and ensuring timely implementation of project activities in within budget.
• Organise monthly, quarterly and annual budgeting sessions at cluster level and ensure alignment of project goals.
• Support district teams within the cluster in tracking activity budgets and ensuring accountability.
• Ensure cost-effective use of project resources and flag any variances or inefficiencies.
• Promote active youth, women and people living with disabilities’ participation across all project platforms and activities.
• Ensure youth, women and people living with disabilities input is reflected in project strategies and that feedback mechanisms are in place.
• Uphold and monitor safeguarding and inclusion standards throughout project implementation.

 Technical Oversight, Quality Assurance & Compliance (20%)

• Offer technical guidance to cluster teams, front-liners and partners in areas such as agribusiness, youth employment, financial access, PSA engagement and digital integration tools.
• Ensure that all project interventions adhere to technical standards and support the SAYE project’s goals in youth agribusiness and employment.
• Identify and manage cluster level risks, issues, challenges, gaps and recommend timely corrective actions. Custodian of the cluster risk registers ensuring regular monitoring and updating.
• Ensure that teams and partners fully comply with all requirements, covering reporting, accountability and asset management whilst employing adaptive implementation strategies.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning & Reporting (20%)    

• Monitor progress against project targets and provide timely updates to regional and national teams.
• Contribute to learning and adaption at cluster level to inform innovations for project strategic alignment.
• Support the documentation of success stories, key learnings, and adaptive approaches based on field experiences.
• Promote the effective use of MEL tools (Indicator Reference Sheets) and platforms in managing Cluster activities.
• Collaborate with MEL officers to ensure high-quality data collection and analysis; compile and submit performance reports (monthly, quarterly, and ad-hoc); and contribute to reflective learning sessions.
• Stay informed on emerging trends and innovations within the Agribusiness sector to continuously enhance capacity-building initiatives, providing support and guidance to strengthen the capabilities of consortium partners.
• Continuous learning for individual growth and career progression.

Team Leadership & Supervision (10%)

• Manage and support a multidisciplinary cluster team including business facilitators, MEL officers, and support teams.
• Offer line management and learning and development support to business facilitators, regularly reviewing performance and delivering ongoing coaching, mentoring, and team-building activities to drive high employee engagement.
• Promote Heifer values, shared ownership, and a positive working culture at the cluster level.

 Market Linkages and Value Chain Integration (10%)      

• Nurture and strengthen business relationships between Agri-hubs and partnerships with off-takers, input providers, financial service providers, government agencies and development partners to build profitable and sustainable markets.
• Scan the cluster agribusiness eco-system to identify potential partnership opportunities and contribute to business case development.
• Support the strengthening and operationalizing of the Agri-hub development processes within the cluster.
• Develop strong Agri-hub governance structures and systems, operationalize robust business plans, identify investment and business opportunities.

 Consortium & Stakeholder Engagement (10%)

• Align partner interventions with the overall project objectives across the districts within the cluster.
• Act as the primary liaison between consortium partners, implementing organizations, and local stakeholders within the cluster.
• Organize and lead regular coordination and planning meetings among project staff and partners.
• Promote collaboration and ensure efficient resource use by minimizing overlap and maximizing value for money.
• Build strong working relationships with district authorities and technical departments.
• Ensure project activities are integrated with district development plans and local systems.

JOB REQUIREMENTS 

• Bachelor’s degree (required), Master’s degree (preferred) in Agriculture, Development Studies, Economics, Business Administration, Animal Science, Social Sciences, or related field.
• Post Graduate qualifications in Project Planning and Management or PMP Certification a must.
• Proven 7–9 years of project coordination experience in multi-stakeholder development programs, ideally in youth employment, agribusiness, or livelihoods with a strong understanding of markets systems thinking or approaches.
• Experience in developing and nurturing private public partnerships at country and regional level in a fact paced project environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of Agribusiness market systems.
• Demonstrated understanding of youth engagement principles.
• Sound Knowledge of agrifood systems, digital platforms and inclusive finance.
• Sound Knowledge of Safeguarding and gender-sensitive programming.
• Demonstrate experience in project management including donor project budgets management for multidimensional projects.
• Knowledge of the local context in the cluster districts (e.g., Busoga sub-region)
• Experience in supervising teams and managing performance.
• Fluency in English and local languages (a plus)