Job Description
The USAID/Nepal-funded KISAN II project is improving food security in twenty Hill and Terai districts in the Western, Mid-Western and Far-Western regions of the country and four districts in the Central region. The purpose of the project is to increase resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of income growth in the Feed the Future Zones of Influence. KISAN II will help lead firms. input suppliers, and private sector change agents catalyze agricultural productivity competitive market systems. a stronger enabling environment, and business and literacy skills for households in two Zones of Influence. We are recruiting for the following management-level positions:
Senior Business Opportunities Manager:
The Senior Business Opportunities Manager (SBOM) will identify, develop. and nurture a network of agribusinesses with the capacity, interest, and/or potential to expand business operations in the KISAN II zones of influence based on end market dynamics The SBOM will identify and address barriers and opportunities for agribusinesses to expand sourcing from smallholder farmers and/or on-farm services. He/she will identify capacity gaps across private sector actors (i.e. in supply chain, business operations, finance, etc.), and facilitate capaCity building plans and access to training services. Heishe will liaise closely with financial institutions and identify bank and non-bank finance solutions and products for agnbusinesses to expand their services and networks. He/she will identify ICT solutions that can be tested, piloted, and scaled to improve transaction efficiency and transparency
Minimum Experience: Advanced degree in business or an agriculture-related field
- Minimum of 5 years’ practical experience providing firm-level business development support services including, but not limited to, supply chain management, business operations. and financial management
- Experience with both formal and informal finance mechanisms
- Track record in designing and rolling out training programs targeting SMEs
- Demonstrated track record of working with financial service providers, investors, and private sector actors. Positions open in Nepalgunj and Kathmandu.
Senior Agriculture & Production Manager:
The Senior Agriculture and Production Manager (SAPM) will work closely with the Sr. Business Opportunities Manager to identify market opportunities for private sector enterprises in the agriculture sector to expand their sourcing or business operations in the KISAN II regions and deepen their relationships with stallholder farmers. The SAPM will provide partner agnbusinesses with agronomic technical advisory support and quality control that will help ensure sustainable win-win relationships with smallholder farmers. He/she will identify farmer association capacity gaps and develop a training and capacity budding program to be delivered through local service providers or directly through the private sector. He/she will provide quality control and technical assistance to farmer associations to ensure contracts with agribusinesses are fulfilled and renewed in the next growing season. He/she will also provide technical oversight and guidance to protect field staff in strengthening the capacity of farmer groups.
Minimum Experience: Advanced degree in an agriculture-related field
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in agribusiness project management in Nepal
- Track record of working with or for agnbusinesses
- Demonstrated understanding of agriculture at the production and processing levels
- Fluency in Nepali and English
- Ability to live/relocate to Nepalgunj.
Cluster Business Manager:
The Cluster Business Manager will provide technical and operational leadership of KISAN II cluster offices in either Kathmandu, Banke, Surkhet, Dang, Kaitali, Dadeldhura, or Palpa. They will be responsible for implementing KISAN market-led approach at the district and province level. This will include developing and nurturing partnerships with private sector actors in the agriculture sector and identifying opportunities and barriers for farmers to access higher value markets. They will facilitate linkages between farmers and improved inputs and services. He/she will Identify and access opportunities for agribusiness to invest in, within the KISAN II regions. Cluster Managers will identify farmer association capacity gaps and work with project Patna technical experts on capacity strengthening. They will manage a staff consisting of technical and administrative experts covering multiple districts in each cluster.
Minimum Experience: Advanced degree in agriculture or business-related field
- 7 years of experience working in agricultural/agribusiness development, including 4 years’ project and staff management experience
- Proven ability to foster and maintain partnerships with agnbusmess actors
- Demonstrated experience in business strengthening and value chains (especially for rice, maize, lentil, and high•value commodities) “Candidates for this position are requested to clearly specify their location preference (Kathmandu, Banke. Surkhet. Deng, )(Stall, Dadeldhura. or Palpa) in their cover letter”
Agriculture Productivity & Marketing Manager:
The Agnculture Productivity & Marketing Manager wxt be based in duster offices in either Kathmandu. Banke, Surkhet, Dang. Kailali, Dadeldhura. or Palpa. He/she will work closely with the Senior Agriculture and Production Manager (SAPM) to provide agronomic, marketing, and business operation support to farmer associations This will include building and nurturing relations with farmer associations and working with them to identify market opportunities and capacity gaps that need to be addressed to respond to market dynamics. He/she will provide agronomic technical advisory support to agnbusinesses operating in the region. He/she will provide quality control and technical assistance to farmer associations to ensure contracts with agnbusinesses are fulfilled and renewed in the next growing season. He/she will also provide technical oversight and guidance to project field staff in strengthening the capacity of farmer groups
Minimum Experience: Advanced degree in an agriculture-related field
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in agnbusiness project management in Nepal
- Track record of working with or for agnbusinesses
- Demonstrated understanding of agriculture at the production and processing levels
- Fluency in Nepali and English • ) “Candidates for this position are requested to clearly specify their location preference (Kathmandu. Banko. Surkhot. bang. Kodak Dadeldhura. or Palpa) in their cover letter**
Regional M & E Manager
The KISAN II Regional M&E Manager will be based in Nepalgunj and work under the leadership of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director and manage regional implementation of KISAN II’s M&E and continual learning plan. This will include regional, provincial, and district based systems to track project outcomes and outputs are property implemented. S/he will assist in the design of survey instruments, conduct field survey activities, and participate in and/or conduct data quality analysis. Site will also provide capacity building and mentorship to field-based staff and partners in M&E. and will assist in designing, compiling and disseminating routine reporting.
Minimum Experience: Degree (preferably master’s) in agriculture, statistic, natural or social sciences or similar field
- Minimum of five years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation for agriculture programs in Nepal • experience on USAID funded project highly desired
- Must be good at working with team, have good creative analytical skills and communication skills, and the ability to work in a multicultural environment
- Fluency in Nepali and English
- Ability to live/relocate to Nepalgunj
GIS Expert:
The GIS Expert will develop the parameters of GIS mapping with USAID. This will include defining data points (beneficiary Household, Market agro vet shops. LSP locations and range. nurseries, MIT suppliers. MUS. DU, etc.) and identifying the reports (maps) required. He/she will gather additional data from field and develop plan for collecting data which will define who collects data. what they will collect and how data will be collected. This will be tied to a time line and include steps to collect of existing data layers. He/she will prepare and produce resource maps of structures and Project specific information in original base maps and in updated digital maps of settlements. roads and major land marks:
Minimum Experience: Advanced degree in natural or social sciences or a similar field
- Minimum of 5 years’ practical experience
- Minimum of five years of experience in development of spatial databases for agriculture or community devetopment assistance programs in Nepal
- USAID experience andlor work with a contractor or international NGO managing GIS for program
- Computer/IT/GIS: Candidate must be expert in Arc GIS (10) fully able to work with MS Access. MS Office – Word. PowerPoint and Excel.
How To Apply
APPUCATIONS: Applicants must submit a cover letter and current CV to jobs.KISAN@winrock.org Applicants should reference the position they are applying for in the subject line of the email. Closing date for applications is 17 September 2017