Agronomist at Vibrant Village Foundation

Key areas of responsibilities are:

Program Planning & Development

• Play an active role in all the stages of the program from design to all the phases of implementation
• Be responsible for the design of the annual work plans, tools and processes for the effective implementation of the program activities
• Work with the head of finance and operations in preparation of the program budget in line with the proposal and annual work plans
• Be the key link between the program and ACT and other program partners and stakeholders

Lead Implementation of Agricultural Extension services

• Provide leadership in mobilization, recruitment, organization and strengthening of farmers and farmer producer groups
• Provision of on-ground advisory extension services to farmers
• Promote & support commitment of farmers to soil health improvement
• Provide leadership and on the ground guidance in the setting up of RA/CA demonstrations and organizing field days, farmer exchange visits
• Support capacity development of farmers on CA through the VVF -Trainer of Trainers (TOT)
• Extension Model (designed/provided by ACT)
• Facilitate development and signing of contract farming agreements between farmers and aggregators
• Provision of ground oversight, enforcement of contract farming and address emerging issues
• Provide findings/feedback to the farmers and other stakeholders

Program Strategy Leadership

• Work with ACT and the program M&E team in the development of M&E strategy and in the establishment of baselines and follow-up of program indicators
• Work with and provide leadership to the M&E team in the data capture systems and tools that properly monitors and evaluates the program objectives.
• Monitor the progress of the project and adoption of the technologies and provide feedback to all the key program actors and the other stakeholders
• Ensure that crop production systems and activities among the program farmers and farming communities contribute to sustainable agriculture
• Ensure the CA/RA values and principles being promoted by Vibrant Village Foundation are fully embraced by the farming communities and other key program stakeholders
• Lead design of appropriate practices and provide technical agricultural value chain support in the areas of crop production and livestock keeping
• Keep up to date with developments in the sector, including best practice examples, to ensure on going organizational and personal development and learning
• Provide technical support to the post-harvest handling and marketing of local crop products
• Monitor and document the project progress, lessons, good experience and impact in collaboration with the farming communities and other program stakeholders
• Identify any challenges and obstacles to the achievement of the program vision and goals and trouble shoot in a timely manner
• Advice program teams on best practices to ensure quality outcomes for all crop production activities

Administrative Responsibilities

• Provide technical and administrative leadership to all the program staff including ensuring all staff JDs are up to date and facilitation of their capacity development
• As part of the senior leadership team, play an active role in setting the strategic priorities for the organization
• Actively monitor the program progress and preparation of reports on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual basis
• Performs other duties as assigned by the line manager.

These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job-related duties as required.

All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established.

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

• MSc/BSc in Agronomy, Plant Sciences, Crop sciences, Arid land agriculture, Extension or other related disciplines
• Knowledge of the agriculture development & policy environment in Kenya
• Knowledge of agriculture value chains, mechanization uptake among small scale farmers and the principles of Conservation Agriculture
• Knowledge of gender and social inclusiveness

Experience

• At least five years of practical work experience in the field of agricultural crop production, agricultural mechanization, RA/CA and related.
• Previous NGO work experience in rural development,
• Good Experience in rural development particularly in diversified livelihood and participatory research approaches.
• Experience with international organization, public sector institutions
  and/or funding agencies
• Practical experience in providing training on crop production and protection to staffs and smallholder farmers.
• Experience of project planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation.

Skills & abilities

• Excellent ability to develop and translate plans into cost-effective operations and activities in line with identified and available resources.
• Very good English and Swahili language skills (written and spoken)
• Understanding of Luo/Luhya and sensitivity to local cultures
• Computer literacy, crop-related computer software applications, excellent record keeping and report writing
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Good team building skills and the ability to work in a multi partner approach
• Training need assessment and training facilitation
• Willingness to spend up to 50% of work time with rural farming communities, ability to work with minimum supervision
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of Vibrant Village Foundation
• Good community level facilitation and coordination skills