Description
Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of disability.
About Us
Heifer has worked in Nepal since 1957 and has had a permanent corporate office in the country since 1997. Heiferโs economic growth work in Nepal has been funded by its own funding from private donations and work with all donors from USAID, European donors, multi-lateral banks, foundations, private sector partners and the Nepali national and local governments. Our technical assistance projects cover everything from small holder farmers, cooperatives, to women empowerment, local government development, environment, youth employment, entrepreneurship, SME development, and value addition for livestock and agriculture products (everything from post- harvest handling, packaging to market linkages). In addition to our Nepal work, Heifer is currently implementing similar projects throughout 18 offices around the world.
Role Summary
Heifer International is currently seeking a Director - Climate Smart Agriculture for the upcoming 5-year USAID-funded Nepal Agricultural Transformation activity. The position is contingent upon award, with an anticipated total value of $50-99.99 million. The full-time Nepal-based Director - Climate Smart Agriculture will ensure the incorporation of climate-smart agricultural practices across the projectโs objectives and activities, supporting the enhancement of climate and economic resilience of women, youth, and marginalized communities. He/she will promote climate smart agricultural practices that drive income increases for smallholder farmer participants and respond to changing climactic conditions, protecting selected value chains. The Director will provide input into the technological innovations and best practices proposed to increase agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and diversification for smallholder farmers. He/she will bring expertise in agricultural practices appropriate for communities in both terrain and hill landscapes within rural Nepal.
Overall areas of technical responsibility will include:
โข Help smallholder farmers deploy contextualized, industry-standard best agricultural practices that are responsive to climate change and climate variability.
โข Promote nature-based technical solutions for increasing agricultural productivity.
โข Develop and deploy climate risk assessments to guide interventions that help smallholder farms increase their resilience.
โข Build awareness of climate change and resilience practices within agricultural value chains.
โข Advocate for the women, youth, and marginalized communities in all project activities that involve private and public sector stakeholders.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
โข Lead and manage the intervention strategy, work planning, and activity design for promotion of climate smart agricultural practices.
โข Provide cross-cutting support to women, youth, and marginalized communities who are participating in the project.
โข Advocate for the women, youth, and marginalized communities in all project activities that involve private and public sector stakeholders.
โข Work closely with a project delivery team that will consist of both long-term technical assistance and short-term technical assistance staff.
โข Coach regional field-based advisors, local partners, and other local stakeholders.
Qualifications:
โข At least eight to ten (8~10) years of experience in international development projects, with a particular emphasis on climate smart agriculture, climate and environment
โข Undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering, Agroecology, Natural Resource Management, Climate Change studies, or related field
โข Extensive knowledge and professional technical experience working with smallholder farmers and climate smart agricultural practices
โข Demonstrated ability to train and coach project participants through formal and informal methods in climate smart agricultural practices
โข Prior experience working in Nepal, Asia, or developing country context
โข Demonstrated management, leadership, decision making and interpersonal skills with the host country government staff, local and donor counterparts, and other implementing partners
โข Excellent oral and written communication skills
โข Proficiency in MS Office suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and online meeting platforms (such as Zoom)
โข Ability to travel to rural areas of Nepal
โข Fluency in Nepali is required; working knowledge of local Nepali languages preferred.
โข Full professional proficiency in English is required.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. CVs submitted for this opportunity may be retained in our database for other/future opportunities, unless we are directed otherwise.