Senior Associate - Agronomy

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for facilitating training and capacity building on certified Organic Guar cultivation practices for registered farmers in the program. Specific responsibilities include:
Lead and oversee the
overall implementation
of the Organic Guar Program in the designated project area, ensuring
effective planning, coordination, quality delivery, stakeholder engagement, and timely achievemen
t of program objectives and certification requirements.
Build the capacity of Field Extension Officers (FEOs) on
rain-fed organic Guar agronomy and sustainable crop production practices.
Support the
development, review, and periodic revision
of training modules, lesson plans, and learning materials on certified organic Guar agronomy.
Plan and schedule
farmer training and Training of Trainers (ToT) programs
in alignment with the rain-fed Guar production cycle, and provide technical training and guidance to trainers.
Monitor the quality and effectiveness of training delivery and provide
ongoing handholding, coaching, and follow-up support
to trainers.
Provide
post-training technical advisory and field-level handholding
to farmers to strengthen adoption of organic Guar cultivation practices, with a focus on soil health, crop nutrition, pest and disease management, and other key agronomic practices.
Support the Program Manager in
coordinating with organic certification bodies
, including APEDA-accredited and USDA-accredited agencies, for audits, inspections, and certification-related processes.
Maintain and regularly update
Internal Control System (ICS) documentation
for organic Guar certification and support compliance with
NPOP and NOP organic standards
.
Plan, establish, and monitor
organic Guar crop demonstration plots
at farmers’ fields to facilitate practical learning and promote adoption of recommended practices.
Maintain and regularly update
program MIS, farmer databases, and other project records
, ensuring accuracy, data quality, completeness, and timely reporting.
Basic Qualifications:
Required Languages:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in
English and Hindi
; knowledge of
Marwari
will be an added advantage.
Master’s degree in Agronomy, Agriculture Science, Soil Science, Agricultural Extension, or a related discipline from a reputed university/institution
Minimum
5 years of hands-on experience in organic crop cultivation
, preferably with rain-fed crops such as Guar and Moth in arid/desert agro-climatic regions
Travel:
Willingness to
live and work in remote locations and travel extensively across the program geography
using a two-wheeler. Must own a two-wheeler and hold a valid driving license.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Technical & Climate-Smart Agriculture Expertise:
Strong working knowledge of
rain-fed and arid agricultural systems
, with demonstrated experience in implementing organic, regenerative, and climate-smart agricultural practices and improving farmer adoption.
Training & Capacity Building:
Demonstrated ability to
design, plan, and deliver end-to-end, large-scale farmer training and Training of Trainers (ToT) programs
, using appropriate adult-learning and participatory training methodologies.
Community Engagement & Stakeholder Management:
Proven experience in
community engagement and farmer mobilisation
, with the ability to build relationships and effectively engage government officials, certification bodies, institutions, and diverse agriculture-sector stakeholders.
Team Leadership & Collaboration:
Demonstrated ability to
lead and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
across diverse skill sets, geographies, and functions, with strong ownership, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.