Expertise France is seeking a Head of Component Fisheries for the upcoming implementation of the European Union-funded Private Sector Development (PSD) Project in Liberia.

Reporting to the PSD Project Manager, the Head of Component Fisheries will lead the fisheries component of the project—overseeing strategic and operational implementation, supervising its financial and administrative management, and coordinating a dedicated team.

The project will primarily focus on the aquaculture value chain, particularly inland fish farming. It aims to strengthen coordination among stakeholders and reinforce each link of the supply chain, from input suppliers to production and post-harvest handling. The objective is to enhance the bargaining power of smallholders, improve market access, and contribute to inclusive, sustainable economic growth.

Cross-cutting themes such as climate resilience, gender equality, youth and PWD inclusion, and reduced dependency on imports will be integrated throughout.

More specifically, though not exhaustively, the Head of Component Fisheries’ tasks will include:

Project implementation and coordination:

During the inception phase of the project, a number of key elements for this component will be confirmed or refined to ensure a smooth launch and alignment with the operational context. The Head of Component Fisheries will contribute to the following:

• Validation of specific intervention areas within the pre-identified regions;
• Confirmation of selected fish farming clusters and relevant value chain actors;
• Development or fine-tuning of specific methodologies in collaboration with stakeholders, particularly regarding grant eligibility criteria and support mechanisms;
• Joint review of the work plan and implementation schedule to adjust sequencing or timing as needed;
• Initial stakeholder engagement to validate assumptions and foster early ownership;

In charge of the implementation of the Fisheries component, the Head of Component Fisheries will:

• Lead the planning, scheduling, and coordination of activities in accordance with the overall project work plan;
• Identify expertise requirements for the various activities and ensure proper mobilisation of technical experts;
• Draft calls for proposals, procurement plans, technical guidelines, and contribute to quality control of contracts and monitoring of contractual commitments;
• Coordinate with the procurement officer to contract external expertise;
• Ensure quality control of activities and deliverables, verify alignment with the indicators defined in the project’s logical framework, and provide guidance to technical experts;
• Actively participate in the implementation of activities by providing strategic direction and ensuring the integration of cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, youth and PWD inclusion, and climate resilience.

Team Management:

The fisheries team will be composed of four staff members: one in charge of the fisheries grant scheme and three regional animators. The Head of Component Fisheries will:

• Responsible for the hiring of the Fisheries team;
• Manage, coordinate and supervise the Fisheries team to ensure that the component achieves its objectives;
• Facilitate regular team meetings and plan team activities to ensure a smooth component implementation;
• Ensure the supervision of staff performance, set individual objectives for each team member, ensure workload management and hold individual annual performance evaluation meetings;
• Ensure compliance with EF’s security rules and supervise that the team respects the security guidelines especially during field trips.

Stakeholders’ engagement and strategic alignment:

Multiple stakeholders are currently implementing fisheries-related interventions in Liberia. To ensure the effectiveness and added value of Expertise France’s contribution, the Head of Component Fisheries will:

• Establish close collaboration with partners and stakeholders in the fisheries sector;
• Promote synergies and avoid duplication with existing or parallel interventions;
• Lead consultations with technical experts, value chain actors, and national institutions to define priorities, ensure alignment with national strategies, and encourage stakeholder participation.

Reporting and accountability:

The Head of Component Fisheries will contribute to internal and external reporting processes to ensure transparency, coordination, and accountability; and more specifically will:

• Ensure regular internal reporting at project level to monitor progress, inform decision-making, and facilitate coordination among components ;
• Provide timely and accurate inputs to the Deputy Project Manager, Project Manager, and the wider project team to support high-quality reporting to the EU Delegation and other stakeholders;
• Contribute to the preparation of Steering Committee meetings and technical committee sessions;
• Maintain close coordination with the Agriculture Project Officer based at Expertise France headquarters.