Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) is a Foreign Charity specializing in commercial solutions to poverty. MEDA uses innovative approaches; market linkages, investment finance and business development services to improve profits for producers and enterprises along selected value chains. MEDA is recruiting highly motivated and capable staff for the following position:
The Senior Agronomist provides technical support to developing the value chain by researching technologies, refining extension and field-level replication to ensure high productivity gains, and high quality harvest-Post Harvest storage in the Rice Value in MEDA’s Ethiopians Driving Growth through Entrepreneurship and Trade (EDGET) project. The Senior Agronomist is key member of the SNNPR Value Chain Team. The position will be held in Mizan, Benchi-Maji Zone.
The position is collaborative in nature, working closely with Finance Specialists, Value Chain Specialists, BDS Officer to assist the VC team in strong agronomic and extension to ensure farmers are meeting EDGET outcome, output and impact indicators. The Senior Agronomist will provide the VC team with up-to-date, best practices and agricultural production information and extension.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
Conduct experiments or investigation in field-crop problems and develop new methods of growing crops to secure more efficient production, higher yield, and improved quality.
Plan and carry out breeding studies in collaboration with BoA and other stakeholders at farms to develop and improve varieties of rice with respect to characteristics, such as yield, quality, adaption to specific soil or climates, ad resistance to disease and pests.
Assist with special projects, such as trade fairs, promotional events, advertising, product development support in close collaboration with project clients.
Work with public institutions and research institutions, entrepreneurs, cooperatives, business community to build sector-wide, mutual benefits on the value chain, including reduction of transaction costs, reduced waste, reduction in risk, and to increase market opportunities, i.e., volume and/or profit.
Key member of the innovation and guarantee fund oversight committee, providing expert input of criteria, award, accountability and reporting of funds, and leveraged investments.
Job Requirement
Qualifications:
Essential:
Bachelor’s degree in agronomy or a related area, such as soil conservation, agriculture education, or general agriculture.
Five years of experience in project implementation of enhanced extension or crop research or production.
Excellent oral and written communication in English and Amharic, including report writing
Desired:
Five or more years of experience of proven results using innovative extension or technologies to increase crop productivity.
Knowledge of production (Rice), including quality control, market standards, and/or product development
Computer skills: Microsoft Office Applications, specifically Excel and Word and Access
Core Competencies:
Results oriented; Demonstrating accountability and commitment; Communicating effectively; Gathering information/research; Sound decision making; Building relationships; Solution oriented; Understanding others; Developing capability; Promoting teamwork; Managing and improving performance
Number Required: 1
Duty Station: Mizan, Bench Maji Zone, SNNPRs
Terms of employment: One year with very high possibility of extension.