Field Officer/Agronomist at International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Job Description

Terms of Reference

Job Description

The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), is a non-profit public international organization in the soil fertility and agricultural development sector. IFDC is headquartered in Alabama, USA, with two regional coordination offices in Africa.

IFDC is seeking to recruit a Field officer/Agronomist who will serve as the technical officer to implement field activities for an Irish Aid-funded project titled “Potato Value Chain Capacity Building Project (PCB)”. The project will be implemented in in Nyandarua County, Kenya, and it seeks to introduce improved potato seed varieties with an aim of increasing productivity and incomes while ensuring food security, and also link farmers to sustainable markets.

This project will be implemented through a Private Public Partnerships that includes the county government of Nyandarua, Kirinyaga Seed Company, input suppliers and their agents, financial institutions. The incumbent will be based in Nyandarua County and will work closely with the County government officials in planning, implementation and oversight of agronomic activities.

OVERVIEW

The overall purpose of this post is to support the planning and coordination of agronomic components of the PCB project.

Role and Responsibilities

Main duties include but are not limited to: 

• Establishing and monitoring on-farm demonstration plots with strong market-linkages 
• Providing agronomic and management support to PCB partners. This may include work planning with farmers’ associations/groups, county extension officers, Agro dealers, farm input companies, buyers and other implementing organizations.
• Undertaking regular visits to project areas and meeting with partners and stakeholders to discuss barriers to success, opportunities for advancement, and progress made toward achieving project goals and objectives; 
• Prepare and coordinate field days with partners in the potato value chain
• Assisting in the identification of opportunities for project development and expansion 
• Representing IFDC in the county with stakeholders from public and private sectors, development partners and stakeholders to further the aims of IFDC in the region.
• Work in close collaboration with the Project Team Leader on project operations issues and identify synergies and alignment between PCB project and interface with other implementing partners in the County 
• Any other activities as requested by the Team Leader.

Required Skills

• Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks;
• Ability to work independently and to take initiative;
• High level of initiative, enthusiasm and teamwork; 
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently to the field; 
• Valid driving license.
• The agronomist’s work will involve traveling to meet farmers, using a motorbike.
• Excellent oral, written and inter personal and communication skills in Kiswahili and English fluent comprehension of the local language is required; 
• Ability to mobilize, and engage farmers;
• Good knowledge of the issues facing the potato industry – policy, market dynamics, actors – locally and nationally;
• Proficiency in MS Office for data management, research, training and reporting.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• 5 years of experience in agronomy or related fields;
• First Degree in agriculture, agribusiness or a related field preferred;
• Proven and extensive project management experiences, strong knowledge on potato production;
• Experience with extension models, training and capacity building projects 
• Proven and extensive experience in implementing agricultural projects addressing a range of issues across the value chain.