BACKGROUND:

Passing Gifts Private Limited (PGPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heifer International USA and it provides services in educating, consulting, training, advising, and providing professional and technical services to individuals, associations, and entities in India and abroad, particularly those who support or are working in the areas of social advancement and sustainable development. This position may also require service agreements, secondment agreements, between entities, etc.

PGPL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

FUNCTION:

The Project Officer - Agriculture will lead Passing Gifts’ project activities on connecting the producer-owned cooperatives and self-help groups with financial institutions. S/he will lead the development and execution of the overall strategic vision, goal, and objectives of the access to the finance component.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES: (including approximate percentage effort)

Support project partners in effective project implementation and achieving project objectives (25%):

• Assist project partners in social capital building in the context of landscape.
• Assist project partners in staff selection, orientation and capacity building.
• Assist project partners in various farmers’ trainings, farmer’s field trips and exchange visits.
• Implement Government supported projects and ensure suitable convergence
• Ensure that project activities are completed on-time and on-budget as per the project implementation plan.
• Assist project partners to develop/produce market-oriented quality products.
• Ensure that training is delivered following the training module and schedule.
• Ensure that activities and trainings are supervised in field and follow-up instructions are given.
• Ensure that exponential POG and PSRP are completed following the schedule.
• Assist project partners to ensure that physical passing on of gifts and assets are tracked, quality is ensured and achieved within the approved time period.
• Ensure that PMD Pro tools (project planning, designing, project charter, RACI, Issue Log, PIP, Gantt Chart, project closing) are used across the project.

Program monitoring, review and reporting (25%):

• Ensure that the partner meets Heifer’s monitoring and evaluation requirements and deadlines.
• Review project progress (physical and financial) with partner staff on a monthly basis and ensure that reports are submitted on schedule.
• Participate in ongoing partner activities on a regular basis for quality control and improvement.
• Ensure that the activity-based reforecasting is prepared following the participatory method with appropriate stakeholders (PMC, co-funder, etc.).
• Ensure documentation and sharing of best practices.
• Promote the PSRP process at all levels of the project.
• Assist in organizing field visits of the Heifer team and other stakeholders.
• Ensure that activity-based reforecasts and fund requests are reviewed and submitted to regional and country offices as per the schedule.
• Participate in all field trainings on a quarterly basis and regularly at the initial stage of the project.
• Ensure that baseline and GIM surveys are completed each year.
• Ensure that auditors are supported, and the audit is completed successfully.

Sustainable agriculture practices (25%):

• Provide leadership to the development, roll out and effective implementation of the agricultural extension model in the project.
• Establish and lead market research to continuously evaluate the business environment to refine the model.
• Lead execution of the extension model, including on-the-ground set-up of operations, developing relevant relations with ecosystem actors, and effective flow of products and services.
• Exercise oversight on the operations of the model, with a focus on quality and diversification of products and services, capacity building, and scale up in promoting sustainable agriculture systems.
• Develop entrepreneurs as per the objectives of the project.
• Focus on SRI practices and build skills of the farmers.
• Promote a model kitchen garden effective at the FPO/farmer level.
• Promote horticulture product businesses at the FPO/farmer level.

Reporting, documentation and liaising with line agencies (15%):

• Network with relevant line departments, KVKs, and state agriculture universities at village and block levels for leveraging resources.
• Prepare official documents, reports, periodic statements and MIS reports for each project and share them with relevant stakeholders.
• Create agri-business plans for the farmers, facilitate bank and market linkages.
• Support monitoring and evaluation of the effects and impacts of the project.
• Share Heifer’s model with stakeholders and build relationships with them.
• Support the partners in mobilization of the committed co-funding (Catalytic Leverage Funding).

Optimize agricultural practices in the project (5%):

• Develop a package of practices in consultation with State Agriculture Universities and KVKs and disseminate the same in the project area.
• Conduct crop modeling, soil mapping and weather modeling.
• Prepare and conduct advisory sessions and training for farmers, policy makers and other stakeholders.
• Analyze agricultural data and report on findings.
• Maintain records of agricultural yields and services.
• Analyze soil composition as it relates to plant growth.
• Be actively involved in practices related to waste matter, increased production and irrigation practices.
• Promote organic agriculture across the project area.

May perform other job-specific duties as assigned (5%)

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• A bachelor’s degree in agriculture related field, having experience in planning and implementing agricultural development and/or livelihood related initiatives at the field level and minimum of four (4) years of experience, OR
• A master’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university in the fields of Agriculture Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development, Enterprise Development or other related field and minimum of two (2) years of experience.
• Experience with the commercial sector, agribusiness development in a mix of economic growth/trade, value chain competitiveness, investment promotion, or agriculture development is added advantage.
• Planning and Management, Agriculture, Agribusiness, or other relevant qualification is added preferences.
• Experience in working with FPOs and their businesses is highly recommended.
• Clear understanding of goat, backyard poultry, vegetable, and agri-product value chains.
• Innovative, analytical, and solutions-oriented mindset.
• Knowledge of enterprise development and linkages to poverty alleviation.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate challenging situations to achieve goals and deadlines.
• Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity.
• Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision.
• Ability to meet and deal with others in a courteous and tactful manner.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and to always maintain confidentiality.
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule.
• Fluent in Hindi, English, and local language, both spoken and written.
• Have an interest in animal/agriculture community development.
• Willingness and ability to travel locally and internationally.
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, web designing, collaboration platforms and tools, and electronic mail software (Microsoft preferred).
• Constant sitting, standing and walking, with occasional bending and lifting; may work at a computer for extended periods of time.