Senior Associate - Agronomy

TechnoServe; Bikaner; On-site; INR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

TechnoServe is seeking a Training and Capacity Building Specialist in India to lead the Organic Guar Program. You will coordinate training delivery, develop modules, and ensure certification readiness across project sites.

The role requires a Master’s in agronomy or related field, at least 5 years in organic cultivation, and experience with rain-fed crops in arid regions. Travel to remote locations and field coaching are essential components.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agronomy or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in organic crop cultivation.
• Experience with rain-fed crops in arid regions.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall implementation of the Organic Guar Program across the project area.
• Build the capacity of Field Extension Officers on organic Guar agronomy.
• Develop, review, and revise training modules and learning materials.
• Plan and schedule farmer trainings and Training of Trainers programs.
• Monitor training delivery quality and provide ongoing coaching to trainers.
• Provide post-training advisory and field-level handholding to farmers.
• Coordinate with organic certification bodies (APEDA/USDA) for audits.
• Maintain ICS documentation and compliance with NPOP/NOP standards.
• Set up organic Guar crop demonstration plots at farmers' fields.

Skills

Training Delivery

Capacity Building

Community Engagement

Team Leadership

Education

Master’s degree in Agronomy, Agriculture Science, Soil Science, Agricultural Extension, or a related discipline

Job description

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 achievement 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.