TechnoServe - Senior Project Manager - Livestock & Agribusiness

I. TechnoServe Background:

TechnoServe (TNS) is a not for profit economic development agency which creates business solutions to poverty. We work closely with rural and urbanizing women and men in developing countries to build enterprises that generate income, create livelihood opportunities and fuel economic growth. Headquartered in the United States, we operate in more than 30 countries.

TechnoServe has been active in India since 2007, working to: 1) Strengthen value chains: We work hands-on with smallholder farmers, enabling them to grow high-value products, engage with private sector companies and sell in profitable markets; 2) Support entrepreneurs in poor areas: We provide business training and support to women and men who want to create thriving, sustainable enterprises; 3) Promote sustainable local economic development: Our market-led approach increases incomes for target groups, catalyzing further economic and social development in their communities. More information can be found at www.technoserve.org

II. Project Description:

The main objective of the program is to leverage our expertise of working in the Diary sector, design the supplier extension model; establish program governance systems; establish program management and monitoring systems; identify microfinancing opportunities for program farmers; and define the scope of the digital extension platform. TechnoServe would assist to create an extension model that builds the capacity of producers and suppliers, improve the capacities of actors at all levels of the supply chain and enhance systems and processes to achieve desired results. Our goal is to ensure that at least 90% of milk collected by suppliers meets pre-defined quality standards, and that suppliers collect at least 150% of required volumes. Towards this end, the proposed program will adopt a multi-pronged approach consisting of the following components:

1. Build the capacity of women, who are often primary operators of family-run small dairy farms, by identifying opportunities to promote gender equity in the program interventions

2. Establish governance and accountability systems to improve overall performance of clean milk supply chain

3. Identify opportunities for farm improvement and program intervention for different dairy-oriented financial needs

4. Identify and implement digital extension platforms

III. Position Description: Senior Project Manager will be responsible for the following functions but not limited to:

a. Overall Project Management and delivery of assigned tasks, providing support to the beneficiaries in the implementation of value chain development approaches/models;

b. Business plan development, Market analysis, Cost benefit analysis and facilitating preparation of detailed implementation report (DIR).

c. Stakeholder and Donor management

d. Project and Team Management and leading overall operations, Monitoring, Process Enhancements

Specific tasks include:

Stakeholder Management :

i. Stakeholder management with regard to technical aspects of design of training and extension plan;

ii. Spearhead the technical deliveries of the project with the support of field team.

iii. Design and conduct analysis of internal and external contexts including gender analysis to identify capacity-building needs of the farmers

Extension program design :

i. Based on capacity-building need assessment, development of training and extension module for dairy farmers;

ii. Conducting cost-benefit analysis of the recommended practices as per finalized training and extension plan

iii. Setting up an Input Delivery mechanism for the interrupted supply of feed, nutrition and preventive care of the dairy farmers

iv. Undertake demonstration of the selected training and extension plan in one of the selected villages

v. Review the training and extension design based on the learning of the demonstration.

Operations support:

i. Support in human resource planning and operations planning, support in on-boarding of the required extension staff;

ii. Providing technical back-up support to selected extension staff for on-farm handholding support to farmers;

iii. Enhance knowledge sharing through exposure visits, sharing experiences of projects undertaken, approach paper, Development of manuals; guidelines; good practice notes; knowledge materials etc.

iv. Pilot Digital farmer training solutions through digital technology providers.

Requirements :

- Must have a Master's Degree in Dairy Sciences / Agriculture / Agribusiness / Rural Development

- 15+ years of working experience in dairy management focused on clean milk procurement

- Experienced in designing and implementation of training and extension services;

- Prior experience of working with renowned national / multinationals / agencies engaged in milk procurement and supplier development, engagement with global donors

- Knowledge and experience of innovative technologies being used in dairy sector;

- Experience working with international donors / projects would be an advantage

- Strong team collaboration, Stakeholder management and leadership skills is desirable.

- Should possess good report writing, documentation and presentation skills

- Experience of managing teams and multiple project components

- Sound knowledge M/S Word/ Excel/ PPT, Excellent interpersonal skills;

- Flare for travel as the job profile requires 70% travel time and working in rural areas