Principal Agricultural Technical Training Centre (Kamweti) at County Government of Kirinyaga

Job Description

• This is a senior-level position within the County Government of Kirinyaga. The officer will report to the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) – Agriculture, Livestock, Veterinary and Fisheries through the Chief Officer and will be responsible for the overall strategic, academic, and administrative leadership of the KATVET Centre.
• The Principal will spearhead the implementation of the KATVET Act and drive the Revitalization of KATVET pillar under the Wezesha Agricultural Transformation Strategy, ensuring the Centre operates as a flagship institution for agricultural vocational training, innovation, and agribusiness incubation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• An officer at this level will be responsible for, among others:
• Providing overall leadership, management, and administration of the KATVET Centre in line with the KATVET Act and County policies.
• Coordinating the design, implementation, and review of agricultural technical and vocational training curricula aligned to county and national priorities.
• Overseeing capacity building programs for youth, farmers, and value chain actors, including incubation and apprenticeship initiatives.
• Establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships with public institutions, private sector actors, and development partners for technology transfer and agribusiness development.
• Ensuring prudent management of financial, human, and physical resources in compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and other statutory requirements.
• Supervising the development of annual work plans, budgets, performance contracts, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks for the Centre.
• Promoting innovation, research, and adoption of climate-smart agriculture, mechanization, and value chain development.
• Ensuring quality assurance, accreditation, and continuous improvement of training programs in compliance with TVET standards.
• Facilitating effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and reporting on institutional performance.
• Serving as the accounting officer of the KATVET Centre.

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTMENT

• For appointment to this grade, a candidate must have:

Academic Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education or Bsc in Agriculture, Agriculture Economics, Agribusiness Management with a Diploma/pedagogy in Education.
• A Master’s degree in any of the above fields is an added advantage.

Professional Qualifications:

• Registration with a TVETA.
• Training in leadership/management will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 10 years’ relevant work experience, three (3) of which must have been in a senior management/leadership position in an agricultural training, TVET, or equivalent institution.

Functional Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership, policy implementation, and institutional management.
• Strong knowledge of agricultural value chains, vocational training, and climatesmart agricultural practices.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in ICT for training and management.
• Integrity Requirements:
• Must satisfy the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010,
• including clearance from relevant bodies (EACC, DCI, HELB, KRA, CRB)