Jobs at Heifer International

The position will lead in the digital transformation for Heifer Project International Kenya . As an established digital professional , you will have the skills to influence at every level, imparting your digital knowledge and skills in a constructive, empowering, and collaborative way. Working closely with our Communication officers and program teams , you will be the driving force behind our oDescriptionrganization's digital transformation.

Objectives of this Role

1. Drive digital innovation and serve as a cross-functional change agent across the organization
2. Set and implement digital strategy by working with cross-functional partners to map and transition traditional processes to digital ones
3. Be a digital evangelist, championing the use of digital technology and practices to engender a digital mindset from the top down
4. Ensure collaboration, knowledge sharing, and digital best practices between partners and colleagues to help embed a robust digital ecosystem
5. Measure return on investment ( ROI ) on digital projects, fine-tuning approaches as needed to ensure we're investing in the right tools and resources

Key Responsibilities

1. Provide support in the role out of the digital transformation (60%)
2. Provides support for the implementation of the Heifer Project International – Kenya digital platform.
3. Support the implementation of a clearly-defined and compelling digital strategy for Heifers Kenya programs
4. Ensure that all relevant digital initiatives are fully integrated into the strategic-planning process for leadership commitment, resource allocation and execution
5. Provides support for the implementation of the Digital Innovation Strategy, aiming at better-informed country planning through quality data; better informed digital support for systems transformation; and inclusive digital agriculture ecosystems;
6. Work with teams across the business to generate innovative digital solutions for products, services, processes, customer experiences, marketing channels, and business models

Capacity development (30%)

1. Assists in building awareness and capacity amongst Heifer Staff on data/digital agriculture;
2. Build, manage and continue to grow an internal and external digital innovation ecosystem
3. Work closely with HR to attract and retain top talent, and to build digital capabilities across the company

Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEAL) (10%)

1. Undertakes and supports monitoring and evaluation of implemented projects and activities;
2. Analyses relevant technical data and/or statistics for input in various documents;
3. Maintains records, update databases (e.g. the digital knowledge repository

Minimum Requirements

1. University degree in agricultural economics, information and communication technologies for development and related areas.
2. Min 5 years’ experience in a similar role designing and launching digital platforms
3. Proven track record of leading successful digital transformation projects
4. Understand core business processes and associated technical solutions
5. Have an innovative and disruptive mindset, constantly looking forward
6. Experience managing and leading a digital team
7. Proven influencing and collaboration skills
8. One year of relevant experience in digital agriculture and data management.

Competencies

1. Results Focus
2. Teamwork
3. Communication
4. Building Effective Relationships
5. Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

1. Extent and relevance of experience in digital agriculture, addressing for example: advisory services, market linkages, financial services, data management, use of geospatial technologies, blockchain, artificial intelligence, drone use in agriculture, etc.
2. Experience with management of online interactions is considered an asset. Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.

go to method of application »

Description

The Business Development Officer under the overall guidance of the Project Manager, will provide overall leadership in designing and implementing appropriate interventions within the project with the objective of improving the business capacity of 6,000 Poultry producers in Nakuru, Nairobi and Uasin Gishu Counties.

This will be achieved through capacity building of distributors and supporting their marketing, extension and promotion work to increase their reach and improve the quality of input services and advisory services they provide to poultry producers. The interventions to be led by the Business Development Officer seek to increase the overall level of competitiveness of the poultry production business at farm and producer organization level.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Business Development

1. Undertake the identification and capacity assessment of feed distributors in target counties.
2. Support distributors to establish partnerships with cooperatives and other retail actors to strengthen their outreach to 6,000 farmers.
3. Capacity Building of distributors and their extension staff in extension approaches, social capital, marketing, and promotions.
4. Develop and implement an annual calendar of joint promotions, field days and events to market and support uptake of feeds and other products in the target areas.
5. Analysis and conducting of feasibility to assess and develop new business, investment and financing options

Capacity Development 

1. Design, develop and deliver business management training packages/modules, in liaison with partners and other relevant project staff
2. Identify and carry out a comprehensive capacity assessment of the distributors, dairy cooperatives and poultry farmers and thereafter develop and deliver a capacity building programme
3. Develop capacity building and operationalization of the business and marketing plans for the distributors, cooperatives and poultry farmers through joint planning, monitoring.
4. Support distributors, cooperatives, and poultry producers to put in place and implement efficient financial management systems and build their capacity in all aspects of financial management

Collaboration 

1. With the project manager, develop the business of the Poultry producers with backward and forward linkages into the total value chain
2. Incorporate within the framework of the project, potential ‘win-win’ business opportunities which can attract different value chain actors to engage in transactional relationships with the farmer producer organizations and develop a platform for the achieving these partnerships.
3. Work in close coordination with the relevant project staff on quality assurance and control for all livestock-based product for processing, packaging, marketing, and distribution

Minimum Requirements

1. Degree in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business management, Rural Development, Animal production with post graduate diploma or experience in Business management or a related field is required
2. Experience implementing activities in large, complex projects in challenging environments.
3. 5 years field and technical experience working on agribusiness development projects.
4. Significant experience in building public/private partnerships, preferably in the Livestock sector.

Most Critical Proficiencies:

1. Strong business skills, leadership, strategic and innovation skills.
2. Strong communication skills in both English, Swahili, and other local languages of the cluster area.
3. String business skills development, strategic planning and planning for farmer business organizations.
4. Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain development that reaches women, youth, the poor, and underprivileged.
5. Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and design catalytic activities within the value chain (e.g. the concept of quality-based pricing).
6. Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies aimed at providing institutional capacity building to key partner institutions with a view to build a more efficient, competitive and sustainable livestock industry. This requirement is in line with the need to have in-built ‘exit strategies’ within the project as a measure of ensuring that there are self-sustaining businesses by project end.
7. Knowledge of and experience in setting up cottage industries for processing locally branded poultry products (eggs and meat) for onward supply to niche and markets as well as implementing supply promotion/stimulation strategies in the context of the sub-sectors.
8. Experience in facilitating establishment of strategic alliances and joint ventures with local and foreign processors.
9. Knowledge and experience in strategic business planning and business analysis.
10. Demonstrate ability to undertake market assessments and use the information generated to support the producer organizations to leverage these opportunities to remain competitive.
11. Knowledge of equity financing (e.g. venture capital and/or private equity investing).
12. Strong computer literacy, preferably with Microsoft Office Suite.