The key role of the Commercial Dairy Farm Advisor (National) is to contribute to the implementation of the various strategies applied by the project.

The Commercial Dairy Farm Advisor is part of the national team and works closely with national advisers under the direct guidance and reporting to the deputy Project Manager (strategic).

The position holder will primarily focus on the Professionalization (Commercial Dairy Farmer Program, CDFP) component of the BRIDGE+ project, which targets to reach out and support 600 Commercial Dairy Farms in the project implementation target regions through 60 Field level Dairy Farm Advisors and 20 Practical Dairy Training Farms (PDTFs) to be established at selected project implementation target Commercial Dairy Farms.

The position holder assists the team leader (Policy, Partnership and Professionalization Advisor) in the management of the Commercial Dairy Farm Programme.

This specifically includes the supervision and coaching of the field level Dairy Farm Advisers, ensuring that they can play their role effectively and contribute to positive outcomes for the selected target commercial dairy farms.

• Leads specific assignments or project activities, defining and developing appropriate implementation approaches with the ability to apply these under field conditions. Liaises closely with field staff, associates, and partners and builds their capacity for implementation leading to concrete and specific results, based on pre-formulated targets.

Knowledge Development

• Contributes to internal and external knowledge development products and processes, sharing of lessons learned for application in daily practice.
• Liaises with external partners, including government to mobilise knowledge and capacities for the generation of specific and measurable results within the component of the project.

Project and process development

• Provides leadership in developing implementation modalities and contributes to strategy adjustments as part of the project team, based on lessons learned. Acts on improvement areas within the project and gives feedback. Ensures lessons learned are applied in daily practices and informs implementation across the project area.

Positioning

• Contributes to the identification of market opportunities and threats within the context. Actively participates in strategic positioning meetings and is able to present BRIDGE+ project to stakeholders. Builds and maintains relations with project stakeholders and partners and suggest new partner opportunities.

Business Development

• Is aware of and identifies opportunities for Business Development policies and procedures. Leads assignments on a local/(sub)national level and provides support to proposal development.

People Management

• Take part in project campaigns and specific assignments and through on the job coaching increase the capacity of field staff, associates, and partners. Provides hands on training, where necessary, and contributes to the development of training manuals and guidance.

• MA/BA Degree in Agro-economics, Business or livestock related field.
• BSc/MSc in Diary technology or Animal science or related field

Experience

• Minimum 6 years’ experience in development work and project implementation of which at least 3 years in the dairy sector.
• Familiarity with and ability to apply BRIDGE+ strategies.

Competencies

• Problem analysis
• Coaching
• Focus on quality.
• Result orientation
• Persuasiveness