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About the Project:

Pakistan Agricultural Technology Transfer Activity (PATTA) is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project designed to increase smallholder farmers’ access to markets, alongside their overall development impact and cost-effectiveness. Smallholders farmers in Pakistan use outdated and less effective technologies, leading to stagnant or dwindling productivity and returns, particularly in the horticulture and livestock sub-sectors. Because improved technologies that are affordable, impactful, and safe have not yet penetrated the vast smallholder market. PATTA will combat these challenges by galvanizing ongoing private-sector investment to commercialize the types of agricultural technologies that enable smallholders to increase their incomes, improve farm productivity, create jobs, and enhance economic growth and stability. These technologies include seeds, fertilizers, water pumps, improved plant and animal breeds, precision agriculture, and integrated soil fertility management, amongst others.

Position Description:

Working under the direct supervision of the Chief of Party, and coordinating with the PATTA team, the Agricultural Technology Specialist/Director will be responsible for managing the Crops and Livestock Technology Unit and improving smallholder farmers access to new agricultural technologies. The Agricultural Technology Specialist shall be responsible for leading agricultural efforts for the project. The incumbent envisions private sector development approach to effectively partner with technology businesses, user groups and other market actors to implement solutions to adopting improved agricultural practices.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

The Agricultural Technology Specialist/Director specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the

following:

  • Lead and oversee the work of the Technical Development Unit to identify and promote a wide range of improved technologies for smallholders and specific adaptations that better meet their needs.
  • Responsible for supporting the Chief of Party towards the development and design of annual program work plan activities and management and oversight of activities implementation. 
  • Oversee market and cost-benefit analyses to identify profitable product lines and related technologies for smallholders.
  • Work closely with the Business Development Unit and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Unit to conceptualize, design and successfully implement project intervention to achieve contract results within budget and timeline.
  • Review RFP’s and/or EOIs of potential project partners, participate in the selection of finalists, and provide technical contributions to scopes of work, implementation plans, and training and demonstration plans, materials, and presentations.
  • Work closely with the Director of MEL to monitor implementation, gather and disseminate feedback, incorporate findings, and recommend related adjustments to new extension materials and trainings
  • Promote thought leadership on improved technologies and adaptations required to meet smallholder needs and increase uptake by integrating findings into papers and articles, participating in industry events, and delivering presentations.
  • Shall assist to support broad adoption of agricultural technologies across target populations in
  • Pakistan.
  • Shall assist to identify and support Pakistani vendors who sell agricultural technologies to
  • producers and agribusinesses to enable adoption of high-impact technologies.
  • Shall assist to promote selected technologies for commercial development, scaling and adoption.
  • Shall assist to partner with local Pakistani vendors to cultivate and broadly disseminate technologies and innovative practices.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in agriculture, agribusiness or another relevant field, or equivalent experience;
  • Previous private sector experience;
  • At least 7 years’ private sector application of agricultural technologies or similar experience preferred.
  • Previous experience in USAID program management or other donor project implementation and operations is highly preferred.
  • Previous supervisory and personnel management experience is an asset.