Coordinator-Tea

WWF India; India; Remote; INR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

WWF India seeks a coordinated professional to help develop and localize a Package of Practices for smallholder tea growers, emphasizing Integrated Pest Management. The role involves engaging with research partners and state organizations, coordinating Farmer Field Schools, and supporting certification processes and supply-chain linkages.

You will work across sites in Assam, requiring travel and collaboration with farmers, estates, and local partners to ensure adoption of nature-positive

Qualifications

• Strong stakeholder coordination across research, government, private sector, and community actors.
• Ability to design and facilitate farmer-level training (FFS experience a plus).
• Sound understanding of agri-supply chains and market linkage facilitation.
• Good planning, budgeting, and reporting discipline.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with research institute stakeholders (e.g., Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Assam Agricultural University, ICAR) to develop and localize a Package of Practices (PoP) for smallholder tea growers, focusing on IPM and relevant agronomic practices.
• Maintain relationships with research partners for technical validation and updates to PoP.
• Design and run Farmer Field Schools (FFS) for smallholder tea growers; plan scheduling, venues, and farmer mobilization; track attendance and outcomes.
• Coordinate with certification bodies (Rainforest Alliance and others) to support adherence to certification audit processes; organize documentation and internal systems.
• Coordinate with tea estates domestically and for export to facilitate inclusion of certified smallholder production into formal supply chains; support sourcing relationships and branding efforts.
• Coordinate with Bought Leaf Factories to ensure smallholder production meets FSSAI food safety standards; support pesticide residue management and safe handling practices.
• Ensure project activities (Outcome 3.3) are implemented on schedule within budgets; maintain stakeholder engagement records; contribute to donor and internal reporting.
• Undertake other tasks assigned by the Project Manager/supervisor.

Job description

Job Summary

Research Coordination & Package of Practices - Coordinate with research institute stakeholders like Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Assam Agricultural University, ICAR, and other relevant bodies to develop and localize a Package of Practices (PoP) for smallholder tea growers (STG), with particular emphasis on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and other agronomic practices relevant to small tea growers.

Ensure Tea Garden Management content reflects nature positive and wildlife friendly principles consistent with the project elephant-conflict mitigation goals.

Maintain a working relationship with research partners for ongoing technical validation and updates to the PoP.

Farmer Field Schools (FFS)

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) - Coordinate with subject-matter experts and research partners to design and run Farmer Field Schools for smallholder tea growers, using the food management practices and certification requirements as curriculum inputs.

Plan FFS scheduling, venues, and farmer mobilization in coordination with local partners and community structures.

Track FFS attendance, learning outcomes, and practice adoption as part of project M&E.

Certification & Compliance Support

Certification & Compliance Support - Coordinate with certification bodies (Rainforest Alliance and others as relevant) to support smallholders through the adherence of compliance and certification audit process.

Provide or organize hands-on support to farmer groups/estates for meeting and maintaining certification standards, including documentation and internal management system requirements.

Track certification status, gaps, and renewal timelines across the smallholder base.

Market & Supply Chain Linkages

Market & Supply Chain Linkages - Coordinate with tea estates: both domestically and export-oriented/international brands to facilitate the inclusion of certified smallholder production into formal supply chains.

Support the development of sourcing relationships and agreements that create sustained demand for smallholder green leaf.

Contribute to branding and market positioning of smallholder-produced tea, in coordination with WWF communications and relevant partners.

Food Safety & BLF Coordination

Food Safety & BLF Coordination - Coordinate with Bought Leaf Factories (BLFs) to ensure smallholder production meets applicable FSSAI food safety standards.

Support farmer-level compliance activities (e.g., pesticide residue management, hygienic harvest/handling practices) required for BLF acceptance and food safety norms.

Project Management & Reporting

Project Management & Reporting - Ensure all Outcome 3.3 activities are implemented on schedule and within allocated budgets, flagging risks/delays early to the Project Manager.

Maintain accurate records of stakeholder engagement, farmer participation, certification progress, and expenditure against work plans.

Contribute to donor and internal reporting as required.

Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Project Manager/supervisor in support of project objectives.

Requirements

• Strong stakeholder coordination skills across research, government, private sector, and community actors.
• Ability to design and facilitate farmer-level training (FFS experience a plus).
• Sound understanding of agri-supply chains and market linkage facilitation.
• Good planning, budgeting, and reporting discipline.
• Proficiency in Assamese and/or local dialects, plus working English/Hindi.
• Willingness to travel extensively in Assam within the tea growing regions, conflict-hotspot districts, and outside Assam if required.

Disclaimer: This job posting has been aggregated from external source. Role details, content, and availability are subject to change. Applicants are advised to confirm the latest information directly on the company website before applying.

Disclaimer: The job location mentioned in this description is based on publicly available information or company headquarters. Role details, content, and availability are subject to change. Applicants are advised to confirm the latest information directly on the company website before applying.