This position, Extension Project Manager, Crop Residue Management Program will be responsible for managing our outreach to farmers as part of TNC’s initiative to end crop burning by 2022 in Northern India. Position will be located in Ludhiana with extensive travel in the region. Reports to Project Head, Crop Residue Management Program.
The Extension Project manager, Crop Residue Management “PM”) is responsible for managing TNC’s farmer outreach program in Punjab, Haryana and Western UP aimed at efforts to end crop residue burning in Northern India. Crop burning is responsible for more than a quarter of the winter air pollution in the region including Delhi. Emissions from burning are a significant contributor to the region’s climate change and burning causes long term depletion of soil nutrients and organic matter. PM will be responsible for developing and launching a program to accelerate the use of “the Happy Seeder” an Indian invented implement that no till seeds crops and uses crop residue as a mulch, thus reducing water and herbicide use while maintain or increasing yields. This technology makes burning of residue unnecessary.
This job requires close working relations with BISA, CIMMYT and Tata Trust who are collaborating with TNC and KVK’s and government extension programs to provide the frontline support of farmers making the transition to zero burn conservation agriculture. While each of these partners will have their own employees working with farmers, the function of this job is coordinate, standardize and train these workers to launch a coordinated on the ground, village focused effort to help farmers and service providers adopt new approaches. Working with local and international agricultural research, extension and training institutions as well as government, strengthen educational support for this approach. The Extension Program Manager will work in a complex political environment between central and state governments as well as the University system, farmers, cooperatives and NGOs. The program envisions partners hiring up to 40 people providing education and demonstration projects across the three-state region of Punjab, Haryana and Western UP. Supporting the hiring and training of these personnel is the essential function of this position
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Supports up to 40 staff in partner organizations with responsibility for training, and development, communications, teaching and finance activities.
- May lead or monitor work groups consisting of staff, interns and volunteers covering a wide geographic area.
- Must build relationships with external parties and negotiate complex agreements to accomplish program goals.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment.
- Experience in developing and implementing strategies, managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
- Knowledge of financial mechanisms such as micro credit or other rental, lease or loan programs for farmers/manufacturers
- Experience in extension services and/or training and curriculum design especially related to agricultural industry and farmers.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience leading effectively in stressful situations.
- Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
- Experience communicating effectively with internal colleagues, farmers, partners, government officials and/ or media.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
- Experience negotiating.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multicultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated. Punjabi, Haryanvi languages preferred. Hindi proficiency essential
- Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities.
- Ability and willingness to communicate and work closely with partners, farmers and scientists to develop strategies and meet conservation objectives.
- Excellent communication skills via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages