Field Officer Job in Kenya

Position: Field Officer

Region: Mombasa,
Kenya

Industry: Manufacturing

Our client, East Africa’s
leading manufacturer and distributor of FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) with
a product line based on coconuts is urgently recruiting for a talented Field
Officer.

You’ll work closely with
coconut farmers to ensure that appropriate farming knowledge and practices are
implemented to obtain maximum sustainable production.

You will be responsible for
providing technical assistance, advice, and support to coconut farmers assigned
to you.

You will work closely with
farmers to identify and address agricultural issues, and promote adoption of
good agricultural practices, and new technologies and innovations that can help
sustain and improve coconut productivity and quality. This work will contribute
tour client’s annual organic and fair for life certification requirements (or
other certifications as may change from time to time) and your work plan will
be set by your supervisor and manager.

You will also be required to
build strong relationships with farmers supplying the company, ensuring that
our client is constantly aware of the evolving needs of its smallholder
farmers, and that the company is offering solutions to meet these evolving
needs in an effort to drive and grow farmer loyalty to our client.

In this role, you will work
closely with the buying clerks to ensure that the coconut requirements of the
Company are met in terms of quality and quantity.

Key Responsibilities:

Farmer Activities

• Work with farmers to establish accurate records of their farm
  size, no. of trees and estimated annual yield. Ensure that this
  information is correct through constant farmer visits and follow ups.


• Execute the approved annual work plan in order to establish
  and maintain good working relationships between the Company and the
  farmers. Onboard new farmers on behalf of the company ensuring integrity
  of information recorded.


• Conduct farmer visits as per the route plan shared by your
  supervisor. Visit all the farmers assigned, monitor farm activities and
  submit report of each visit as per the template prescribed by your
  supervisor. These reports in aggregate form the harvest plan which
  provides an accurate forecast of the projected yield against which
  strategic decisions are made.


• Provide monthly reports against targets set in the work
  program, and as requested by the ICS


• Supervisor. Conduct capacity building/trainings through
  incorporation of modern extension delivery methods like digital extension
  on the following:


• Agronomy/Good agricultural practices and climate smart
  production practices


• Farmer groups formation and management


• Organic farming practices and fair-trade compliance


• Attend all scheduled staff trainings and development courses


• Implement programs that support smallholder farmers in
  maximizing productivity and drive loyalty to our client. These programs
  include:




• Advance programs


• Seedlings programs


• Trainings


• Yield monitoring and setting




• Identify model farmers, select and establish demonstration
  farms for learning purposes


• Monitor prices, other buyers’ activities and report on the
  changes in the market to your supervisor


• Identify and document any risks, whether environmental or
  otherwise, that may result in changes to forecasted production levels from
  smallholder farmers.


• Mobilise farmers to attend meetings, workshops and trainings
  organized by our client. Ensure follow up with farmers who did not attend
  the group trainings and share a report.


• Mobilise and train buying clerks, harvesters and collectors
  on quality, documentation and soft skills when relating with farmers.


• Implement the budget issued by the ICS Manager as per the
  annual work plan for the scheduled activities. Organic and

Fair For Life Certification

• Carry out internal inspections for the farmers assigned,
  consistent with the organizational strategic plan and compliant with
  Ecocert and USDA organic standards (and/or the standards of other
  applicable accreditation bodies).


• Participate in witness inspections and objectively offer your
  opinion on the performance of your colleague for the purpose’s improvement
  for the internal auditor.


• Document and keep records of recruited farmers in the
  Company’s database, ensuring that they are regularly updated and accurate
  as per the company requirements.


• Implement all ICS activities in accordance to the annual
  certification work plan.


• Shall be responsible for the appropriate documentation of
  activities in the satellites, processing facility and maintenance of all
  records in required formats.


• Monitor and report all the non-compliances that directly
  affect organic integrity and breach of fair-trade standards in allocated
  area of operation.


• Ensure quality standards are met and constant supply of raw
  materials in accordance with the requirements of each organic standard and
  fair for life standard.


• Ensure organic integrity, good standing and guard the
  reputation of our client as a company that upholds the highest standards.


• Update the office on external partners’ activities and
  engagement at the village level. When needed, attend events as advised by
  the office and give feedback as required.


• Take part in data gathering exercises as required by the
  management


• Attend the monthly ICS reviews as planned by your supervisor:




• To discuss the work plan


• Previous month performance vs targets


• Current month targets (financial and non-financial),
  timelines and milestone objectives.

Metrics

• Smallholder Farmer Suppliers (Active small holder farmers as
  a % of the total)


• All relevant data required of smallholder farmers




• Develop quarterly harvesting schedules


• 100% farmer visit on a quarterly basis




• Maintain the groups assigned to you;




• 100% farmer training attendance across at least two
  trainings annually


• 100% supply of projected coconuts to our client


• 80% collection of advances within guidelines set in the
  policy




• achieve 100% of the target in farmers recruitments


• 100% Organic farmers certified as per the work plan


• 90% accuracy to yield projections – within reasonable
  conditions


• 100% coverage on harvesters, buying clerks and collectors
  trainings.


• Accurate and timely monthly reports as per approved templates
  and work plan

Key Competencies & Qualifications

• A Diploma in Agriculture


• At least two years of relevant work experience


• Excellent knowledge and understanding of farming practices
  including GAP, Climate smart farming techniques.


• Computer proficiency: Moderate computer skills, particularly
  Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint


• Ability to communicate effectively with people across all
  literacy levels.


• Ability to use smart gadgets in data collection and doing
  surveys


• Confident public speaker


• Willingness to spend long hours in the field riding and
  walking in the farms.


• Ability to speak fluently in English and Swahili


• Motorcycle riding experience with a valid license

If you’re up to the challenge,
kindly send your CV and cover letter only to recruitment@linkarkconsultants.com
before the closing of 30th June 2023.

Clearly indicate the position
applied for and the expected salary in the subject line.