Background:
Passing Gifts Private Limited (PGPL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Heifer International USA, providing education, consultation, training, advice, and professional services to individuals, associations, and entities in India and abroad. PGPL collaborates with Cargill Inc and the International Poultry Council in the implementation of the “TRANSFORM” project in India, funded by USAID. The project focuses on advancing market-driven animal health solutions, improving farm productivity, and enhancing farmer incomes while addressing global health security concerns. PGPL is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.
Function:
Reporting to the Project Manager, the Project Officer – Livestock Technology and One Health will provide technical support and coordination with implementing partners in conducting training programs. The role emphasizes the promotion of biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices among smallholder backyard poultry farmers in Andhra Pradesh.
The Project Officer will also support Social and Behaviour Change (SBCC) campaigns to enhance farmer knowledge on biosecurity and antimicrobial use. Additionally, they will contribute to efforts ensuring farmer and value chain actors’ access to financing, promoting biosecurity, antimicrobial use stewardship, and good farm management practices.
Responsibilities and Deliverables:
1. Training and Technical Support (45%):
- Lead the review, preparation, and development of training curriculum and materials.
- Mobilize Community Agrovet Entrepreneurs (CAVES) and technical experts for relevant training.
- Support deployment of farmer training programs and promote adoption of biosecurity measures.
- Conduct research on the Return on Investment (ROI) related to biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and farm management practices.
- Provide technical support to farmer producer organizations to enhance production and productivity.
2. Project Planning, Administrative Management, Budgeting & Reporting (30%):
- Support the development and implementation of project work plans and budgets.
- Implement approved work plans and budgets in line with donor and Heifer’s regulations.
- Develop and submit reports, budgets, and other contractual deliverables in a timely manner.
- Monitor project activities, progress, and address potential issues.
3. Technical Support to SBCC Campaigns, Access to Finance, and Project Monitoring and Evaluation (20%):
- Provide technical input in the development of SBCC messaging and communication campaigns.
- Ensure technically sound SBCC messaging is deployed to communities in target areas.
- Support the development of Access to Finance products and farmer access to financing.
- Contribute to the development of monitoring and evaluation tools, conduct MELS activities, and report findings.
- Periodically report project results in line with donor and Heifer’s guidelines.
4. Other Duties (5%):
- Perform other job-specific duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Skills:
- Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Veterinary Science with relevant experience.
- Knowledge and experience in poultry and livestock programs.
- Familiarity with feed mill and hatchery management, and community organizations.
- Fluent in Hindi, English, and local languages (spoken and written).
- Strong leadership qualities, communication skills, and organizational skills.
- Interest in animal/agriculture-based community development.
- Competent in word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, web designing, collaboration platforms, and electronic mail software.
- Ability to work independently and travel locally and internationally as needed.
Essential Competencies:
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- High degree of honesty and integrity.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work responsibly with little supervision.
- Ability to handle challenging situations tactfully.
- Maintain confidentiality with sensitive information.
- Willingness to work a flexible schedule.
- Interest in animal/agriculture community development.
- Ability and willingness to travel locally and internationally.