Livestock Productivity and Input Supply Specialist

Description

Background:

Heifer International is a is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit international organization committed to end hunger and poverty around the world and to care for the earth. Since 1944, Heifer International has worked with more than 39 million families around the world to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Working with rural communities in 21 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including the United States, Heifer International supports farmers and local food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods that provide a living income.

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Activity Summary:

Heifer International is a partnering with Land O’Lakes Venture37 to oversee the USAID/Haiti Programme d’Appui à la Rentabilisation de l’Elevage (PARE) which will begin in January 2023. The project aims to advance livestock production (cattle, poultry, goats, sheep, eggs, and dairy) market systems and to diversify incomes to increase the resilience of communities in two Resilience Focus Zones (RFZ) - one is in the southern region (South Department) and the other in parts of the north (North, Northeast and Plateau Central Departments). The project will address key opportunities and constraints to increase livestock productivity, facilitate private sector engagement, and manage environmental and natural resource considerations. The Livestock Activity will build upon lessons learned from past USAID and other donor funded activities and will coordinate closely with existing and planned USAID and other development partner programs and will align with the Government of Haiti’s priorities.

Position Summary:

The Livestock Productivity and Input Supply Specialist will lead overall activities for Objectives 1 and 2 of the Haiti Resilient Livestock Market Systems Activity in the South department. He/She will play a key role in developing and overseeing productivity and input supplies activities in the South department that will align with the overall project work plan. Specifically, he/she will work with key market actors to improve the productivity of livestock systems based on the interests and capacity of smallholder livestock keepers to adopt sound practices that result in financial, social, and environmental benefits. The Livestock Productivity and Input Supply Specialist will oversee activities that increase household and livestock system resilience including the promotion of appropriate livestock breeds, management practices that are climate smart, and approaches that encourage sustainable landscape management, and help livestock keepers to better manage risk. The Specialist will also coordinate closely with private enterprise, industry associations, farmer-based organizations, regional government ministries, local authorities, and other implementers to ensure coordinated and impactful activities. The Livestock Productivity and Input Supply Specialist will report to the Southern Resilience Focus Zone Lead and will work closely with Livestock Production Lead.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS:

Passionate about international development; curious about Heifer’s mission and how USAID programming can contribute to our 2030 goals; excellent communication skills; eagerness to mentor and coach team members, peers, and supervisees; problem solver; and flexible.

Primary Responsibilities:

A. Project management (90%)

• Drive technical implementation of livestock production activities in close collaboration with the Southern RFZ Lead, the Livestock Production Lead, and other project members.
• Work closely with the Southern RFZ Lead and Objective Leads to develop and execute project workplans and maintain technical oversight of all livestock production activities in the South Department.
• Provide leadership, and direction to field-level activities related to livestock production, productivity, and input supply.
• Contribute to the development and oversee the implementation of activities that focus on increasing livestock productivity and production through the promotion of locally appropriate livestock breeds, community breeding, animal feed and forage, animal health products and veterinary services, appropriate genetic improvements, and animal care and herd management in the focus zone.
• Identify and facilitate innovative livestock productivity activities in the South Department that strengthen enhance collaboration between smallholders, the private sector, and with local authorities and increase access to appropriate financial management products, and ICT innovations that better help farmers to manage risk and protect their livestock assets.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of a catalytic project grants under contract mechanism designed to spur private sector investment, incentivize the broad participation of livestock market systems actors, and facilitate entry of new actors and new investment into the livestock sector.
• Provide technical support and input into project reporting deliverables including annual and quarterly reports, project-level analyses, and other deliverables as needed on the project.

B. Other (10%)

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor based on organizational need and availability.

Minimum Requirements:

1. An undergraduate degree (e.g. BA/BS) in animal production or animal science, agricultural or rural development, international development, veterinary sciences, or other relevant field.
2. A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated senior technical experience on agricultural development programs with a focus on resilience and livestock in Haiti.
3. Proven leadership ability and technical capacity to build and facilitate high-level relationships.
4. Experience and/or technical knowledge in managing development projects and activities, particularly related to livestock and agricultural productivity.
5. Experience in livestock production and management including experience in locally appropriate livestock feeds, inputs, veterinary supplies, and networks.
6. Experience in locally appropriate and climate smart livestock approaches including sustainable landscape management practices.
7. Experience with implementing activities in resilience programs in direct support of project beneficiaries and rural communities.
8. Proven capacity to collaborate across projects, be flexible, and creative and successfully work with an intercultural team in development and post-conflict contexts.
9. Ability to communicate effectively, instilling trust and confidence.
10. Strong interpersonal and written and oral presentation skills.
11. Fluency or proficiency in oral and written French.
12. Proficiency in Haitian Creole.
13. Functional oral and written English.

Preferred Requirements:

1. An advanced degree (e.g. Master’s) in animal production, animal science, agricultural, or rural development or other relevant field.
2. 15 years of demonstrated senior technical experience on agricultural development programs with a focus on resilience and livestock in Haiti or the Caribbean.
3. Fluency in oral and written English.
4. Experience working in difficult and uncertain environments in developing countries.
5. Experience in a relevant technical area such as market systems development and strengthening, climate smart agriculture, value chain development, gender, and youth issues. Previous experience working in Haiti a plus.

Most Critical Proficiencies:

1. Knowledge and experience of USAID rules and regulations including FAR and AIDAR clauses and relevant other US government rules and regulations; knowledge of other international development agencies is a plus.
2. Ability to work in uncertain environments and maintain agility.
3. Fluency in Spanish a plus.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

1. Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities in a rapidly changing environment. Must be flexible and able to improvise to handle a variety of situations.
2. Ability to effectively supervise, delegate, mentor, and train individuals and teams using participatory methodologies. Strong facilitation skills preferred.
3. Ability to build and maintain relationships remotely and work effectively with colleagues and stakeholders with limited opportunity for personal interaction.
4. Strong interpersonal skills in a changing environment, with the ability to challenge the status quo courageously and tactfully, and effectively influence improvement.
5. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
6. Constant sitting and working at a computer for extended periods of time.
7. Constant face-to-face and digital communication with colleagues and stakeholders.
8. Ability to accommodate flexible business hours across time zones.
9. Ability and willingness to travel internationally and domestically as needed; adequate physical condition necessary for travel to project sites in remote areas.