Jobs at TechnoServe Kenya

The Associate Agronomy Advisor shall support the implementation of strategies that will enable clients to achieve sustainable increases in coffee quality and yields.

Key roles and responsibility

• Sensitize cooperative leadership, smallholder coffee farmers and local stakeholders on the TechnoServe coffee project work.
• Implement existing strategies to provide assigned cooperatives with agronomy training and with structured post-training farm visits to improve adoption.
• Train and advise farmers being assisted by the project on coffee agronomy best practices with the objective of helping them to improve coffee yields and quality.
• Train, mentor, coach and support assigned Farmer Trainers on all technical and operational aspects of their work and in relationship with farmers. This includes assisting them to set performance goals, continuous assessment of performance and giving feedback.
• Participate in the implementation of the defined project monitoring, measurement and evaluation activities that ensure accurate and consistent capture of date for project reporting and documenting of the impact of our work.
• Create linkages between cooperative leadership, farmers and suppliers of recommended inputs and other farm requirements.
• Collect, collate, validate and submit the specified project data and clients’ reports within stipulated time lines.
• Cultivate and manage good relationship with clients both at leadership and farmer levels as well as with key industry stakeholders and community leaders at local levels.
• Keep abreast of developments concerning coffee at the cooperative and in the local community and regularly report these.
• Understand, respect and promote TechnoServe’s values, vision, and strategy in the implementation of assigned duties.
• Any other relevant tasks as assigned by the Senior Business Advisor.

 Required skills and experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agronomy, horticulture or related agricultural sciences or 2 years’ experience in the coffee sector doing similar work.
• At least two years’ professional experience – ideally in the private sector – in one or more of the following areas: coffee processing or agronomy; business or cooperative management; SME development; agriculture; training; extension services.
• Good understanding of the Kenya coffee industry and especially the cooperatives sector.
• Possess an aptitude and skills for training adults in a field set up.
• Strong planning skills and ability to generate innovative solutions in highly dynamic work situations.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare and present well-written, cohesive analyses and reports.
• Strong interpersonal, collaborative and cross-cultural skills.
• Willingness to spend significant time in project implementation sites located in rural areas.
• Valid motorcycle riding licence.
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili.

go to method of application »

We are seeking to hire a dynamic and motivated Chief of Party to lead an anticipated five-year USDA Kenya Feed Activity.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide strategic guidance, leadership, management, and general technical oversight of the program.
• Lead overall implementation and management of the program, from inception to close-out, ensuring that the program achieves established goals and impact targets.
• Continuously develop operational efficiencies and drive innovations in delivery.
• Oversee development and submission of project deliverables on time and within budget.
• Recruit, lead, manage, and supervise delivery teams comprising long- and short-term team members and consortium partners.
• Serve as the primary liaison with USDA, the Government entities and all counterparts, implementing partners, and stakeholders involved with the program.
• Act as a spokesperson for the program and present its work regionally/globally.

Qualifications:

• A master’s degree or equivalent in business, international development, economics, public policy, education, agricultural economics, or other relevant field (or a bachelor’s degree with 12+ years of experience).
• At least eight years of relevant professional experience in international development, feed sector, and/or agricultural livestock value chains (livestock, dairy, poultry, aquaculture, etc.)
• Significant experience working with agribusinesses, including familiarity with business models, supply chain management, finance needs, and technical assistance needs
• Experience leading and managing large teams with a high level of leadership, interpersonal, technical, and analytical experience, as Team Leader, Chief of Party, or other Program Director level role.
• Experience leading USDA, USAID, or other bilateral-funded projects is highly desirable.
• Prior work experience or collaboration with private sector companies and businesses.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaboratively with a broad range of public and private sector counterparts and other key stakeholders.
• Experience successfully implementing gender-integrated programs is a plus.
• Fluency in English required