Latest Career Opportunities at Heifer International April 2024

Veterinary medicine jobs, Animal Science jobs, Monitoring and Evaluation jobs, Project Management jobs, Agricultural Economics jobs, Statistics jobs, Computer Science jobs, Information Technology jobs,

Livestock Officer

Function

Under the leadership of the Project Manager, the Livestock Officer will be responsible for providing technical support and coordination in implementing training and promoting the adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices among smallholder farmers in the dairy and poultry value chains.
The Livestock Officer will also support Social and Behaviour Change (SBCC) campaigns to increase farmer knowledge on biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices as well as support efforts to ensure farmer and value chain actors access to financing to implement biosecurity practices.
The Officer will also support farmer-producer organizations to offer quality and reliable services to their members, through a robust extension system which will facilitate easy access to inputs and services, all of which will ultimately contribute to increased production and productivity. The Officer will also support partnerships with Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) partners in Kenya, Government (both at the National and County Levels), and other stakeholders implementing similar projects under the one health approach.
This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS

Result Oriented, self-motivated, stakeholder focus, manages complex environments, excellent and effective communication, resourceful, manage conflict, interpersonal savvy, builds networks, situational adaptability, enthusiasm, team player, and respectful.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES

Training and Technical Support in Biosecurity, Antimicrobial Use, and Good Farm Management Practices (45%)

Responsible for leading the review, preparation, and development of training curriculum and materials on biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and farm management as well as animal health and nutrition-related issues.
Mobilize Community Agrovet Entrepreneurs (CAVES) and technical experts as appropriate, and arrange their training on biosecurity, antimicrobial use stewardship, and farm management practices in collaboration with county governments engaged by the Project.
Support deployment of farmer training and promote the adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use stewardship, and good farm management practices.
Support research on the Return on Investment (ROI) on the adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and farm management practices as well as holistic nutrition in poultry and dairy value chains.
Provide technical support to farmer-producer organizations to offer quality and reliable services to their members, through a robust extension system which will facilitate easy access to inputs and services to increase production and productivity and promote adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices.
Engage with National, County, and Sub County veterinary technical personnel and other stakeholders (as required) in disease surveillance and reporting as well as the design and field implementation of livestock treatments and vaccination campaigns.

Project Planning, Administrative Management, Budgeting & Reporting (30%)

Support the development and implementation of project work plans and budgets in line with the donor and Heifer’s regulations, guidelines, and requirements.
Support implementation of approved work plans and budgets to achieve project objectives and targets as set out in the Cooperative Agreement, Results Framework, and approved work plans and budgets in line with the donor and Heifer’s policies, guidelines, and requirements.
Support the development and timely submission of high-quality reports, budgets, and other contractual project deliverables in line with the donor and Heifer’s policies, guidelines, and requirements.
Provide advice and support monitoring of project activities for results, keeping track of project progress and actual or potential problems, and recommending remedial options.

Technical Support to Social and Behaviour Change Campaigns (SBCC), Access to Finance and Project Monitoring and Evaluation (20%)

Provide technical input in the development of SBCC messaging and communication campaign materials.
Ensure that technically sound social behavioral change messaging is deployed to communities in the target counties where the project is implemented.
Support the development of Access to Finance biosecurity-focused products and farmer access to financing to implement biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices.
Provide technical support in the development of monitoring and evaluation tools, conducting MLE activities, and reporting.
Support periodic reporting of project results in line with the donor and Heifer’s results framework and reporting guidelines and requirements.

May perform other job-specific duties as may be deemed necessary and as assigned. (5%)

Deliverables based on duties assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine, Animal Science, or Animal Health from a recognized institution.
At least five (5) years in animal production, epidemiology research, and monitoring of zoonotic and transboundary diseases, livestock value chain competitiveness, or project management.
Experience and ability to manage training programs targeted at farmers, farmer producer organizations, and other value chain players in animal health & husbandry, biosecurity, antimicrobial use, nutrition, and farm management.
Considerable experience building public/private partnerships, preferably in the Agriculture/ Veterinary/Animal Health sector.
Experience in the delivery of animal extension services and influencing policy formulation and decisions in the livestock/animal health industry.
Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in One Health, antimicrobial use stewardship principles, farm management/ animal production, and veterinary practice.
Substantial technical experience in implementing animal health intervention and managing projects funded by USAID and or other donors.
Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies aimed at providing institutional capacity building to Producer Organizations to build more efficient, competitive, and sustainable animal/livestock value chains.

Preferred Requirements

Master’s degree or equivalent in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science or Animal Health from a recognized institution.
Kenya Veterinary Board Registered.
Complementary experience in biosecurity, antimicrobial use industry principles and standards, launching campaigns, and integrated development issues under the one health approach.

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Most Critical Proficiencies

Strong project cycle management skills and fiscal management skills including planning, management of project budgets and reporting.
Effective communication skills in both English and national language/s.
Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in poultry and beef value chain development.
Must be a team player and can execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness, and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and foster and maintain a spirit of unity, teamwork, and cooperation.
Ability to manage training programs targeted at farmers in livestock farming, feed, and health.
Experience in facilitating strategic alliances and partnerships with the private sector, including extension and processing.
Strong computer literacy, preferably with Microsoft Office Suite.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully.
Courteous and of high integrity, especially in high-pressure situations.
Self-starter and self-motivator with the ability to work in a multicultural setting.
Must be a team player and can execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
Ability and willingness to travel extensively, both locally and internationally
Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.

Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

FUNCTION

The Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Officer will manage the development and implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Systems for the TRANSFORM Project. The Officer will provide overall technical support, advice, and oversight on project-level monitoring, evaluation, collaborating, learning, and adapting. A strong emphasis for this role is on data collection, data quality assurance, data analysis, reporting, dissemination, and learning. The PME Officer will report to the Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, and work in liaison with the Project Manager and team.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS

The ideal candidate is detailed oriented, self-driven, and has strong leadership skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES

Implement monitoring, evaluation, learning, and systems for the Project. (30%)

Prepare and maintain MEL Plan for the project.
Collect and manage data to support needs assessment, TRANSFORM project logical framework design/Review and target setting, and progress management.
Work with external evaluators to conduct the Baseline, Mid-term, and final evaluations.
Conduct and manage the monitoring of semiannual project progress, annual surveys, living income validation, and support evaluations as per the M&E plan.
Ensure the effective implementation of MELS policies, procedures, and guidelines for the TRANSFORM project.
Ensure proper use of available digital tools and technology for effectively managing MELS activities, including data collection surveys using SurveyCTO.
Provide support to implementing partners in preparing their MELS plans, and in using digital tools for data collection and management.
Disseminate learning findings from project monitoring, evaluation, and research.
Lead learning events with key stakeholders within the project communities, implementation partners, and Heifer in general
Elevate MELS-related challenges to PME Manager and Project Manager for coordination with Signature Program Technical Lead and Country Director to find timely solutions.

Data management, analysis, and utilization for learning. (25%)

Conduct and/or quality assure all M&E data collected in the country.
Summarize/ aggregate data at County/ Farmer Owned Agribusinesses (FOAB) level and contribute to organization-wide aggregation.
Manage all data properly in clean form, and analyze to use for project management, learning, and meet all the reporting needs.
Provide expertise in the design, management, and evaluation of study protocols, questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis.
Ensure timely data collection, analysis, and reporting as well as measurement against the project performance indicators and reporting to stakeholders as needed.
Work with the project management to respond to periodic donor and Heifer requests for additional information on project activities and results.
Document, store, and share lessons learned, successes, failures, and best practices via case studies.
Collect data through Heifer’s Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) SurveyCTO system.
Conduct internal Data Quality Assessment (DQA) using SPSS and oversee implementation of DQA recommendations.

Contribute to program effectiveness: design monitoring, evaluation, learning, and systems for the Project. (20%)

Design monitoring and evaluation plan incorporating core standard indicators defined by TRANSFORM Project and set targets for indicators.
Create an indicator reference sheet for all indicators.
Design Monitoring and reporting tools for the projects
Ensure adaptive learning from monitoring and evaluation findings.
Support the Project Manager in monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reporting.
Lead in monthly aggregating and reporting of Catalytic Leverage Fund (CaLF) from Producer Organizations
Contribute to the design of monitoring and surveillance systems and analyses of data from them.
Implement the project’s Results Framework & logical framework for TRANSFORM.
Design data collection tools, plans, and processes for all required information, ensuring high quality and integrity of data.
Review and adjust M&E plans and targets, tools, and processes periodically.
Ensure alignment of TRANSFORM M&E plans and procedures with donor standards and requirements.
Support the development of a MELS activity budget for the TRANSFORM project.
Coordinate Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) efforts throughout the life of the project at regular intervals to review and encourage the use of data in decision-making.
Track project outcomes through the annual Global Indicator Monitoring (GIM) Surveys.

Capacity development. (15%)

Equip program, distributors, and FOAB staff with skills to deliver MELS activities efficiently.
Orient and build Heifer, donor, and implementing partners’ capacity in MELS activities including proper record keeping and data management.
As needed, supervise and manage supporting staff for efficient work and maintain project and MEL compliance.
Provide coaching and training to equip staff to deliver the assigned responsibilities efficiently.
Contribute to the recruitment, training, and supervision of external parties that are contracted to implement special surveys and studies required for evaluating project effects and impacts for TRANSFORM.

Business development. (5%).

Support the development of concept notes, project proposals, and submissions to potential donors.
Support research and evaluation initiatives in specific Project Counties.
Assist in networking with other development organizations, governments, and other line agencies in promoting Heifer’s and donor development model/initiatives, and potential collaborations.

Perform other job-related duties as requested. (5%)

Deliverables based on duties assigned.