Project Manager – Technical Assistance full-time NEW

Description

COLEAD is an inter-professional association established under Law 1901 in France, dedicated to supporting the sustainable transformation of agri-food systems in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, with an historical anchorage and consolidated experience in the horticultural sector across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Since its creation, COLEAD has implemented development programmes in more than 50 countries, financed by public and institutional partners. The organisation is ISO 21001 certified and operates under a governance framework that reflects its inter-professional nature and its commitment to the long-term transformation of agri-food systems.

As part of the implementation of the MAHEBER Programme – “Mobilizing Actors in Horticulture for Entrepreneurship and Boosting Ethiopian Resilience”, COLEAD is recruiting a Project Manager within its Technical Assistance Department, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
MAHEBER aims to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of Ethiopia’s horticulture sector by supporting horticultural stakeholders in adapting to evolving sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS), commercial, social and environmental requirements in local, regional and international markets. This includes strengthening the capacities of private-sector operators, producer organisations, public institutions and support-service providers. This reflects the programme’s focus on strengthening Ethiopian horticultural stakeholders’ capacity to respond to evolving market and regulatory requirements.

The Project Manager will be based at COLEAD’s office in Addis Ababa and will work under the direct supervision of the MAHEBER Programme Coordinator, in close collaboration with COLEAD’s Technical Assistance Department and programme teams in Nairobi, Brussels and Lomé.

Main responsibilities

As Project Manager, you will take operational responsibility for a portfolio of partner-beneficiaries and technical assistance and capacity building activities, from needs assessment and project design through implementation, monitoring, evaluation and follow-up.

More specifically, you will be responsible for:

• Development of support projects (‘development projects’) for partner-beneficiariesAnalyse in-depth applications for support received from potential partner-beneficiaries.
• Implement COLEAD’s Sustainability Self-Assessment System (SAS) with companies and other relevant partners and prepare the corresponding assessment reports.
• Work with partner-beneficiaries to identify needs, priorities and appropriate capacity-building solutions and translate these into structured individual development projects.
• Guide partner-beneficiaries towards relevant COLEAD resources, expertise and networks and build lasting working relationships with them.
• Implementation of technical assistance and capacity building activities
• Manage and coordinate the implementation of capacity building activities agreed with partner-beneficiaries, including technical assistance, training and other targeted support.ùPrepare terms of reference and contribute to the identification and selection of appropriate experts and service providers.
• Coordinate the contracting, mobilisation, and evaluation of external service providers in accordance with COLEAD and donor procedures.
• Coordinate with local partners and service providers regarding the technical, administrative and logistical arrangements required for activities.
• Organise and monitor calls for expressions of interest and other processes used to select participants or partner-beneficiaries for programme activities.
• Ensure that planned activities are implemented to the expected quality, within agreed timelines and in accordance with applicable procedures.

Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting

Plan, coordinate and monitor MAHEBER technical assistance and capacity building activities falling under your responsibility.
Ensure appropriate technical, administrative and financial follow-up of activities under your responsibility.
Maintain complete and accurate programme records, including activity documentation, invoices, certificates and relevant monitoring data.
Ensure timely and reliable inputs to programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the implementation, results and follow-up of technical assistance activities.
Identify implementation issues and propose practical solutions and corrective actions where required.

Teamwork and programme contribution

Work closely with the MAHEBER Programme Coordinator and COLEAD colleagues responsible for Technical Assistance, Training and other programme components.
Maintain regular contact with Ethiopian horticultural companies, producer organisations, competent authorities, support organisations, experts, training providers and other programme stakeholders.
Contribute to the organisation and assessment of tenders and other procedures for selecting external service providers.
Contribute to workshops, conferences, trade fairs and other events organised by or involving COLEAD under MAHEBER.
Contribute, where relevant, to the development of training resources.
Contribute to other COLEAD activities where required by programme implementation needs.

Requirements

Higher education degree (ideally Master’s degree) in a relevant field such as agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, plant protection, food science, environmental sciences, agribusiness, economics, management or project management.

At least seven (7) years of proven/relevant professional experience, including substantial experience in Ethiopia’s agricultural or horticultural sector.

At least three (3) years of demonstrated project management experience, including responsibility for planning, implementation, monitoring and follow-up of activities.

Practical experience working with horticultural businesses, producer organisations, public institutions and/or business-support organisations, with a sound understanding of horticultural value chains and the challenges affecting their competitiveness and sustainability.

Demonstrated experience in designing, managing, and monitoring technical assistance, capacity-building or organisational development activities.

Experience managing external experts, consultants or service providers, including preparation of terms of reference, monitoring of assignments and evaluation of deliverables.

Experience with project monitoring, reporting and administrative and financial follow-up.

Good digital literacy and command of standard office and collaboration tools. Experience with CRM/ERP systems, online reporting tools, digital learning platforms or project management systems is considered an asset, as is the ability to quickly learn and adopt new digital tools.

Fluency in English and very good knowledge of Amharic are required. Knowledge of another COLEAD working language, particularly French, Spanish or Portuguese, is an asset.

Skills and competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

Strong project management, planning and organisational skills, with the capacity to manage several activities and partner files simultaneously.
A high degree of autonomy, initiative and accountability, while working effectively within agreed procedures and reporting lines.
Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate identified needs into practical and structured support activities.
A results-oriented and solution-focused approach, with the ability to anticipate implementation challenges and propose appropriate responses.
Rigour and attention to detail, particularly regarding project documentation, budgets, procedures and monitoring data.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish constructive working relationships with private-sector operators, public institutions, professional organisations, experts and colleagues.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly with diverse stakeholders in both face-to-face and digital environments.
Strong teamwork and collaboration skills in a multicultural and geographically distributed organisation.
Flexibility and the ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities.
Commitment to continuous learning and to COLEAD’s mission, strategy and values.
Benefits
This is a full-time position based in Addis Ababa, with an initial contract duration of one (1) year, renewable.

Regular travel within Ethiopia will be required. The successful candidate should also be available for occasional short-term assignments within the Eastern African region and, where relevant, travel to Belgium or other countries linked to the implementation of MAHEBER.

The position is to be filled as soon as possible.​

We offer a competitive remuneration package aligned with local market standards, taking into account the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications.

To apply, please send your CV + cover letter + references by Friday 16th of October 2026, 5pm CEST.

Joining COLEAD means becoming part of a passionate multicultural team. It’s also an opportunity to enjoy an enriching experience within a civil society organisation working for cooperation and development in the agri-food industry. COLEAD’s values are commitment, difference, humanity, performance and continuous improvement.

Tagged as: agriculture & rural development, colead