Background: The GCAP, financed by the World Bank and USAID, is Ghana’s flagship agricultural project.

The project is currently being restructured including the following revised Project Development Objective: To improve agricultural productivity of both smallholder and nucleus farms in selected project intervention areas through increased access to reliable water, land, finance, agricultural inputs, and-output markets.

The restructured GCAP will consist of the following seven components:

(i) Strengthening investment promotion infrastructure and facilitating secure access to land;
(ii) Securing PPPs and smallholder linkages in the Accra Plains;
(iii) Securing PPPs and small-holder linkages in the SADA Zone;
(iv) Project Management including M&E and impact analysis;
(v)  Investments in physical rehabilitation and modernization of existing public irrigation and drainage infrastructure; (vi) Support to the restructuring of irrigation and drainage institutions of the Government of Ghana; and
(vii) Support for the development of Water Users’ Associations and new scheme management institutions.

GCAP is looking for suitable candidates for a number of key positions as specified in detail below.  Each position will be for three years. Selected candidates will be on probation for the first year; if confirmed based on satisfactory performance, the term will be extended by two years. For national positions, an extremely attractive remuneration package will be offered in accordance with the provisions for nationally recruited staff in World Bank funded projects in Ghana. For international positions, an internationally competitive package will be offered.

Organizational Reporting: Reports to the Project Coordinator/Senior Procurements Specialist, GCAP

GCAP is looking for a dynamic and energetic Contract management Specialist (to be located in Accra) with knowledge and experience in the use of modern contract management tools to assist the Project Coordinator and the team in achieving the project outputs in a timely and orderly manner.

Duties:

The Contract Management Specialist (CMS) is responsible to ensure that all GCAP contract management activities proceed as per the Procurement Plan (PP) for goods, works and services. The CMS will report to the Project Coordinator and ensure that high quality standards are followed at all stages of contract performance. Specific responsibilities would include but not be limited to:

•   Maintain all documentation, work schedules and correspondence between PIU and Contractors.
•   In the case of consultant services, monitor actual delivery against the milestones specified in the contract agreement.
•   Advise the PIU Project Coordinator regarding any non-compliance of the above and advise the type of action to be taken.
•   Ensure timely issuance of notice to Contractors.
•   Ensure that Variation Order (VO) and/or Change Orders are issued in a timely manner.
•   Ensure that construction schedules are regularly monitored.
•   Issue periodic notice to the contractor in cases where the performance progress is not in line with the schedule agreed to in the contract and advice the Project Coordinator and other core staff in the PIU regarding poor performance and follow up with monitoring of remedial actions taken.
•   Ensure the contractor has deployed the requisite machinery and manpower as required in the bid documents and the contracts in the case of civil works and advise the Project Coordinator and relevant staff of PIU regarding any non-compliance and follow up with monitoring of remedial actions taken.
•   Ensure that time extensions if any are issued before the contractual completion dates.
•   Advice the Project Coordinator and relevant staff overseeing a particular contract when to apply Liquidated Damages (LD).
•   Issue timely notice for LD where they arise.
•   Keep a separate file for each contract from issuance of RFP/ ITB to final payment.
•   Maintain a database of geo-referenced photographs of work progress from start to completion.
•   Maintain all quality control reports for each contract including OK cards.
•   Maintain physical and financial progress of each contract.
•   Prepare an inventory of Contractors.
•   Hold workshops with Contractors on performance improvement, etc.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   Essential: At least B.Sc. Engineering academic qualification, with 15 years of experience in implementing contract management of which at least 5 years should have been for projects funded by international financing institutions. Knowledge of World Bank guidelines and procedures in contract management and fluency in English essential.

Desirable: Knowledge and ability to use web-based real-time contract management systems.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Qualified and interested applicants should send application letters with copies of curriculum vitae, certificates and other relevant documentation to:

The Chief Director
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
PO Box M 37,
Accra, Ghana

For further information please contact:

The Project Coordinator
Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP)
Ministry Of Food And Agriculture (MOFA)
Po Box MB.37, Accra

jobs@gcap.org.gh

Tel: +233-0302686948

Applicants are to include direct contacts (reliable telephone, fax numbers and email address) in their applications in order to facilitate early and easy conract Only short listed applicants will be contacted.

Closing Date: 13 July, 2015