Agricultural Productivity Coordinator at RTI International

RTI is currently seeking to fill vacancies for the Kenya Crops & Dairy Market Systems (KCDMS) Activity which is part of the Feed the Future program, America’s initiative to combat global hunger and poverty. In this regard, USAID is partnering with RTI International on a 5-year (Oct 2017 to Sept 2022) cooperative agreement KCDMS Activity to help increase agricultural production and reduce poverty and malnutrition in Kenya. The project will also spur competitive, resilient market systems in Kenya’s horticulture and dairy sectors. We seek to recruit Regional Agricultural Productivity Coordinator for Nyanza Region to be based in the Kisumu office.

Job Summary:   The productivity Coordinator leads and coordinates the implementation of the project activities and provide technical expertise focusing on identification of potential and existing technologies/enterprises with potential for growth and the provision of a wide range of business development services (BDS). Maintain relationships with key sector partners, consultants, host county counterparts and stakeholders at county level. Collaborate with colleagues across KCDMS on technical, and strategic planning initiatives. Ensure best practices and lessons learned are captured and disseminated across project and serve as a representative of the project to clients, stakeholders, and partners, providing key inputs for technical or management decisions. Responsible for managing program deliverables including planning and coordination of all activities.
Under the guidance of the USAID/KCDMS Senior Agricultural Productivity Specialist and the Technical/ Deputy Chief of Party, ensure that all KCDMS project supported activities implemented through sub-grantees are effectively and sustainably integrated throughout the Dairy/Crops value-chain.

Essential Duties:

• Support the development of the Activity’s strategy for Priority Area 2 – Diverse agricultural production and improved productivity.
• Participate in a review of innovative extension and input supply models in the area of responsibility, identify strengths and weaknesses and identify potential private sector partners for collaboration and joint investment under the Partnerships and Innovations Fund.
• Identify private sector embedded extension systems; Review business models and viability of incorporating training and extension (T&E) into private sector operations (such as dairy cooperatives or agricultural input suppliers);
• Build and maintain relationships with county-level public agricultural extension systems; Work with counties to develop extension strengthening plans; Design technical assistance to support sustainable, county-led training programs and information systems.
• Manage technical and administrative personnel and subcontractors in the implementation of a large, complex activity to build capacity of actors in targeted value chains.
• Lead in the review of innovative input supply models in Kenya and in the KCDMS zones of Influence, identify strengths and weaknesses, and identify potential private sector partners for collaboration and joint investment under the Partnerships and Innovations Fund.
• Support the design of, then oversee interventions to improve farmers and relevant actors’ access to quality inputs.
• Lead the Activity’s support for agro dealers strengthening, including associations-building or platform development and identify and coordinate technology demonstration opportunities.
• Liaise with Priority Area 1 team to co-design support for “lead firms” that are in the inputs sector (may include business planning, management, accounting, inventory, recordkeeping, capacity building, or investment facilitation.)
• Coordinate the development, implementation and reporting on detailed management plans that may include implementation plans, deliverable tracking, etc., for activities in Western Kenya.  
• Collaborate with Access to Finance Specialist to design innovative financial products that support the needs of input suppliers and farmers.
• Facilitate and support market development and business-to-business linkages (especially Producer group to processor).
• Contribute to grants management with particular attention to the Productivity component.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation, learning, and reporting and provide technical oversight and support all data tracking by the in M&E staff of the sub-grantees with attention to Productivity.
• Contribute to Social Inclusion activities in line with Productivity.
• Ensure project activities meet USAID (SUAP) and NEMA environmental compliance requirements
• Collaborate with staff and partners across all priority areas to ensure cross-fertilization of ideas and coordination of activities.
• Identify and document technical best practices and lessons learned and compile biweekly/monthly reports on project activities accomplished during those periods.
• Report directly to the Director for Productivity Component 2 on all aspects that pertains to the achievement of results.
• Any other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Desired Skills and Experience

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in agricultural economics, agronomy, agribusiness management or related field and 6 years of experience, Master's degree and 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
 
Skills & Abilities

• Excellent oral and written skills in English. Fluency in Kiswahili preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to be collaborative across projects, flexible and creative.
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Excellent knowledge of MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to work well with others
• Ability to listen and communicate well both verbally and in writing
• Ability to work independently
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to obtain proper security clearances as noted by contracts

Essential Competencies/Behaviors:

• Critical Thinking: Obtains information, identifies key issues and relationships, and breaks down problems into simple tasks or activities.
• Integrity/Trust: Demonstrates honesty, is widely trusted, keeps commitments, treats people with dignity and respect, admits mistakes; doesn’t misrepresent him/herself for personal gain.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness/Teamwork: Ability to develop positive working relationships and work effectively with others.
• Initiative/Results Oriented: Takes action to achieve goals beyond what is required, is pro-active, and is a self-starter.
• Motivational Fit: Is motivated to work, would fit in well with organization.
• Technical/Professional Knowledge: Performs complex tasks in area of expertise.

 
Physical/Mental Demands

Physical and mental demands of this role include those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, as outlined above.  Examples include:  remaining in a stationary position for long periods of time; operating a computer and other office machinery; thinking, learning, and concentrating effectively and frequently communicating with other people, both within RTI and outside of RTI; frequently moving about inside and travel between offices and laboratories; frequently conducting laboratory site inspections(if applicable), ability to handle the stress associated in meeting frequent, multiple and tight deadlines, ability to work in excess of 40 hours per week as workload and deadlines may require, ability to have regular, reliable and predictable attendance.

Disclaimer

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.