Job Description

Title: Agri-Machinery Specialist

Company Name: International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ D. in agricultural engineering or related field with minimum 5 years of experience in working on machinery and pre- and postharvest practices, including rice value chain.

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ Agri-Machinery Specialist-Feed the Future Bangladesh Climate Smart Agriculture Activity
∎ Current Job Openings --> Full Time --> Full Time Asia
∎ Dhaka • ID:20121047• Full-Time/Regular
∎ IFDC is an independent non-profit organization that combines innovative research, market systems development, and strategic partnerships to spread sustainable climate-smart agricultural solutions for improved soil health, food security, and livelihoods around the world.
∎ IFDC is recognized by the Government of the People`s Republic of Bangladesh as an International Organization. IFDC established its Asia Divisional Office in Dhaka Bangladesh and enjoying diplomatic status under the same Government declaration.
∎ IFDC is recruiting for the above project in Bangladesh.
∎ The Feed the Future Bangladesh Climate Smart Agriculture Activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will work in 21 Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI) Districts targeting 900,000 farmers and 2,485 private sector enterprises including 10-20 big companies. The Activity`s purpose is to: facilitate farmers, firms, and public sector actors to increase the sustainable productivity and diversity of smallholder farmers through a more resilient and inclusive food and agriculture production system in Bangladesh. The goal is to sustainably improve food security and the nutritional status of the rural population, decrease the incidence and severity of poverty among the rural poor, and better adapt agriculture systems to meet the threats and challenges linked to climate change-related events, thus transforming farming systems through climate-smart agriculture (CSA). Mainstreaming women and inclusive development presents a significant opportunity. Meaningful participation of women is essential to purpose and goal achievement.
∎ The Activity will result in marked improvements in smallholder farmers` access to and use of high-quality CSA technologies and practices as well as CSA inputs, to improve productivity of target crops such as rice, pulses, legumes, and vegetable and other suitable crops. More than 200 model CSA villages will be developed in the ZOI districts with a village farm area group seeking advice on how to set up and operate an agriculture cooperative to serve area farmers with CSA input supply and sale of harvested crops by linking farmer-members to buyers. These 200 villages will be advertised as model villages and gradually spread all over the country. Farmers` incomes will increase, bolstering food and nutrition security.
∎ The three intermediate results (IR) of the Activity are:
∎ IR 1: Increased availability of climate-resilient varieties of target crops through seed system strengthening.
∎ IR 2: Enhanced market delivery of climate-adapted innovations of agro-inputs, including seeds, practices, and climate information services.
∎ IR 3: Increased smallholder farmer application of climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices.
∎ IFDC is seeking to recruit a qualified and self-motivated national Agri-machinery Specialist to fill the position, who will work with the technical team of the above Project, to be based in Dhaka.
∎ Agriculture Mechanization Specialist will be responsible for the implementation and overseeing of all mechanization-related activities of the project in all ZOI districts directly with the DAE and in partnership with the relevant designated private sector partners. S/He will work under the direct supervision of DCOP and will be responsible for all aspects of mechanization-related outputs of the project at the district level, ensuring compliance with USAID rules and regulations, the internal policies of Bangladesh CSA, and the prevailing Bangladesh Government`s Laws and Regulations. S/he will be responsible for overall, implementing, and monitoring the mechanization activities. The incumbent will be responsible to assess and identify specific issues related to pre- and post-harvest practices in rice, pulses, oilseeds, and hortic

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Agriculture Mechanization Specialist will be responsible for the implementation and overseeing of all mechanization-related activities of the project in all ZOI districts directly with the DAE and in partnership with the relevant designated private sector partners. S/He will work under the direct supervision of DCOP and will be responsible for all aspects of mechanization-related outputs of the project at the district level, ensuring compliance with USAID rules and regulations, the internal policies of Bangladesh CSA, and the prevailing Bangladesh Government's Laws and Regulations. S/he will be responsible for overall, implementing, and monitoring the mechanization activities. The incumbent will be responsible to assess and identify specific issues related to pre- and post-harvest practices in rice, pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural crops in the ZOI. This includes a) the extent possible to which improved pre-and post-harvesting practices, especially for rice crop; b) set up quality standards for all seasons based on identified shortcomings; and c) make recommendations for developing an optimal model of pre (transplantation of paddy, pulses and oilseeds) and post-harvesting management (harvesting, packing, drying, storing) including cold chain management for horticultural crops (pre-cooling, sorting, grading, packaging, transportation). The incumbent will develop a plan along with other USAID-funded project partners on climate-smart mechanization and postharvest technologies/innovations for rice-based production systems that will contribute to the mitigation of climate change and/or to adaptation to the effects of climate change, especially on rice crops.
∎ Review the existing system, and identify gaps and challenges faced by farmers in the existing pre-and post-harvesting mechanization problems with all stakeholders including research organizations, DAE extension officials, private sector agri-machinery companies, and smallholder farmers.
∎ Develop detailed specifications of machinery that are used in rice, pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural crop plantation, crop protection, irrigation, harvest, and post-harvest, evaluate their performance including environmental soundness, and scale appropriate agricultural machinery through the private sector.
∎ Development of climate-smart (mitigation or adaptation) mechanization and postharvest technologies/innovations in rice-based, rainfed, and irrigated ecologies and value chains in 21 ZOI districts. This may involve mechanization options to support a shift from transplanting to direct seeding systems and to facilitate diversified cropping, residue management practices (e.g., to reduce straw burning), usages of residues, development of by-products from rice, interventions further down in the rice value chain such as improved drying (with minimized fossil energy use).
∎ Development of dissemination, scaling, and partnership approaches, and/or business models (e.g., linkages with manufacturers, after-sales services of farm machinery) for mechanization and postharvest technologies/innovations that will lead to impact 'at scale', such as improved resilience to climatic change and climatic shocks, and improved food security and reduced poverty among rice value-chain actors (e.g., farmers, millers).
∎ Observe and document existing practices on crop nutrition, irrigation, and IPM before and during the growing period that affect the final quality and shelf life of the product and provide key issues identified and recommendations made for improvements in training manuals in terms of crop nutrition, irrigation, pattern, and IPM.
∎ Contribute to developing strategic partnerships, knowledge sharing, and capacity development of various stakeholders.
∎ Collaborate with government, donors, rice R&D partners, and private enterprises to align with client and donor expectations across USAID initiatives and other MOA projects.
∎ Communicate key messages and project progress with donors, policymakers, and other primary stakeholders.
∎ Coordinate closely with project partners and build a relationship with other stakeholders to ensure project activities are transferred effectively.
∎ Novel climate-smart mechanization and postharvest technologies.
∎ Effective scaling approaches, business models, and partnerships with public and private sector parties, including leading R&D entities and equipment manufacturers and service providers in Bangladesh.
∎ A well-functioning and effective project activity team mobilization based on principles of mutual trust and respect for gender and youth inclusion.
∎ Observe transplantation and harvesting practices during the peak season and recommend, and prepare local trainers on improved mechanized transplanting and harvesting practices: instruments used during transplanting and harvesting, right harvesting time, keeping crops in the right place.
∎ In the case of horticultural crops, assess existing practices and identify key bottlenecks and make recommendations for developing a full fledge business model for private sector companies on cold chain: establishing cold storage, with, sorting, grading, packaging, labeling, and cooling capacity.
∎ Conducts any task required by the DCOP/COP, or his/her designee, in his/her area of competence.
∎ He/she is supervised by and reports to the DCOP. She/he works in close collaboration with IFDC technical and other support teams, IFDC staff members and colleagues from other project consortium members. The agri-mechanized specialist will not supervise any staff but collaborate with the technical team lead (CSA Team leader, Soil Health, Seed, Water Management, Capacity Development, Business Development specialists) and the cross-cutting teams (Financial Inclusion, environment, Gender, and Youth specialist).

Additional Requirements:
∎ This is a senior position that requires highly motivated and self-driven individuals with the following qualifications.
∎ Ability to work independently under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
∎ Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and international environment.
∎ Strong interpersonal skills, and team working skills with the ability to maintain effective work relationships.
∎ Previous experience of working as Agri-machinery expert or any relevant experience in USAID-funded projects.
∎ Excellent communication skills with the ability to express ideas clearly, logically, and effectively.
∎ Ability to assess priorities and work on own initiative.
∎ Great organizational skills and attention to detail in CSA agri-machineries.
∎ Good communication and interpersonal skills.
∎ Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the achievement of goals.
∎ Good teamwork skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
∎ Background on mechanization and pre-and postharvest mechanization of different crops including rice.
∎ Have a mix of practical field skills, quantitative abilities; appreciation of interdisciplinary work, and a core commitment to achieving science-led agricultural development.
∎ Experience managing technical teams in agriculture, climate and/or economic resilience including training, capacity building, mentorship, and day-to-day management.
∎ Strong oral and written communication skills; excellent demonstrated interpersonal and negotiation skills.
∎ Demonstrated commitment to gender equity and youth inclusion.
∎ Strong commitment to sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing credit.
∎ Experience collaborating effectively with diverse sets of stakeholders, such as local NGOs, private sector extension agents, government officials, donor representatives, and local and international staff.
∎ Demonstrated ability to implement projects with rigorous timelines and deliverables and to track program quality through donor-approved monitoring and evaluation systems.
∎ Ability to respond on short notice and plan and execute several activities at once.
∎ Ability to work under pressure, as part of a team or independently, and meet deadlines consistently.
∎ Proven leadership, interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, and ability to build and motivate diverse teams.
∎ Excellent English oral and written communication skills; knowledge of Bangla strongly preferred. Previous experience with the culture and context of South Asia/Bangladesh is strongly preferred.
∎ Computer proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS PowerPoint.

Compensation & Other Benefits:
∎ The is a national position with a duty in the project office in Dhaka.
∎ The position requires intensive travels (up to 50% of the time) in target Zone of Influence (ZOI) districts in Bangladesh and may require some international travel to other IFDC countries.

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 10 Jun 2023

Company Information:
∎ 21 May 2023
∎ International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Category: NGO/Development

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