Manage AOFG cotton program and regional staff (facilitate planning and implementation of monthly activities for 35 full time staff members + 100 part time Farmer Trainers)
Co-develop a 5 year strategic plan for the development of financially sustainable, professional managed Cluster and Regional Associations
Develop and implement a targeted strategy to increase the outreach of the cotton program to include other organic certified crops
Develop and implement a targeted strategy to increase farmer participation in the program (target of 10,000 farmers by 2010)
Develop and implement a targeted strategy to increase effectiveness of capacity building intervention
Develop and implement a targeted strategy to integrate farmer associations into new value chain and/or income generation activities
Coordinate the delivery of targeted capacity building services focusing on business development of Farmer Associations, technical training in sustainable agriculture and certification training for Fairtrade and Organic compliance
Customize and implement a Human Resource Management strategy
Customize and implement Monitoring and Evaluation systems
Manage fund utilization and reporting activities for donor compliance
Proposal development targeting international donors, government programs and commercial partnerships
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Post-Graduate or MBA degree from a reputed University/institution focusing on issues related to agribusiness, rural development, sustainable agriculture, textile management or supply chain management
Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience at middle/senior management level
Strong commitment to develop and implement business models that create employment opportunities and generate income for small and marginal farmers
Clear understanding of small farmer issues and clear understanding of socio-environmental and economic implications of sustainable agriculture and Fair Trade policies
Understanding of participatory methodology for the facilitation of capacity building training
Knowledge of Business Development Services, rural finance and value chain services for agriculture cooperatives
Team leader with a learning attitude, innovative, determined and professional, and willing to travel and stay in rural areas
Strong managerial skills, including well developed skills in managing complex institutional relations and interactions among a variety of stakeholders
Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills in English
Conversational Hindi (and preferable Telugu and/or Marathi)
Experience in delivering Agriculture Extension Services to Small Farmer Organizations.
Experience developing and implementingstrategic operation plans, and monitoring and evaluation systems for field operations
Experience with financial administration (fund allocation systems through budgeting, requisition and utilization systems).
Strong knowledge in cotton value chain, including capacity building for promotion of the farmer’s organization for input/output marketing, agricultural infrastructure and extension education
Previous experience with and clear understanding of results-based approach to project implementation, monitoring, and reporting
Experience developing, implementing and managing a human resources strategy
Experience fundraising, including identifying resource requirements, researching funding sources, establishing strategies to approach funders, submitting proposals and administrating fundraising records and documentation
