Location: Soroti, Uganda (with frequent travel to the cluster farmers in Ojama village, Ocokican Subcounty and  the demo plot in Aminit)

→ Duration: 6 Months (with potential for extension)

→ Reports to: Startup Studio Officer

Who are we?

Rootical Business Builder is a Startup Studio that powers purpose-driven entrepreneurs in Uganda to build and own their regenerative agri-food companies. Bringing together talent, capital and ideas — a Startup Studio is a structured endeavour around a repeatable process to build businesses.

We are frontrunners. We aim to regenerate and reinvent how food is produced and consumed in Uganda, with highly innovative thinking and breakthrough business building methods. With our participatory studio approach to regenerative business development, we are unique in East Africa.

Are you ready to join our mission to build food system shaking businesses?

As part of our In-House Venture Building efforts, we are looking for a Field Operator to supercharge our efforts in building Water Farmers, a regenerative agroecological business in Soroti; which aims to restore degraded landscapes in Uganda while creating profitable livelihoods for smallholder farmers.

We leverage syntropic agroforestry, irrigation-as-a-service, and direct market access to transform how food is grown and sold in Soroti. Our model empowers smallholder farmers with pay-as-you-use irrigation water services while improving soil health and market access to power the transition to regenerative agriculture.

We are a lean, aggressive, mission-driven team looking for someone who is ready to work in the mud, under the sun, and alongside farmers to make regeneration profitable.

Job description

The Field Operator will play a key role in building a regenerative food-agroforestry-water business model. (S)he will support business development and market access for smallholder farmers in Soroti by implementing and maintaining syntropic agroforestry systems, water harvesting and irrigation structures. This role ensures smallholder farmers are supported to adopt regenerative practices and smooth functionality of solar powered irrigation systems. The role is ideal for a motivated self driven individual passionate about regenerative agriculture, community development, and social entrepreneurship.

THIS IS NOT A DESK JOB. THIS IS A DIRT-UNDER-YOUR-FINGERNAILS JOB.

You will not be standing under a tree giving instructions. You will be in the trenches-literally. You will dig, plant, carry, sweat, and sometimes fail alongside the farmers. Your credibility will be earned by working harder than anyone expects. If you are afraid of getting muddy, tired, or calloused, this role is not for you. If you believe that leadership means getting your hands dirty first, read on.

→ Key Responsibilities 

           1. Hands-On Field Implementation & Labour

1. • Actively participate in land preparation, digging planting holes, trenching for swales, and installing irrigation lines.

   • Demonstrate correct syntropic agroforestry planting and pruning techniques by doing them alongside farmers.

   • Assist in the physical construction and maintenance of shallow wells, water tanks, and solar pump systems.

   • Conduct regular physical inspections of plots, soil, and crops, often walking long distances between farm clusters.

   • Get your hands dirty daily – handling soil, compost, seedlings, tools, and water systems

     2. System Operation & Maintenance

     • Implement and maintain syntropic agroforestry systems to enhance biodiversity, soil health, and crop productivity.

     • Apply keyline permaculture principles for landscape-scale water and soil management.

     • Liaison with the service provider to establish the shallow wells and irrigation system infrastructure.

     • Operate and maintain solar-powered water pumps, swales, ponds, and irrigation systems.

     • Conduct routine checks and repairs on solar microgrids, and water storage infrastructure.

     • Troubleshoot technical issues and coordinate with suppliers for major repairs.

       3.Farmer Support & Training

     • Train and mentor smallholder farmers on syntropic agroforestry principles, organic pest management, proper water usage, irrigation scheduling, and system maintenance.

     • Conduct practical, on-farm demonstrations – not classroom lectures.

     • Assist in implementing syntropic agroforestry plots (e.g., planting, pruning, mulching).

     • Educate communities on greywater recycling and sustainable water management.

     • Troubleshoot field-level challenges (pests, disease, water issues) in real-time, working side-by-side with farmers to find solutions.

     • Gather farmer feedback to adapt and improve farming models and service offerings.

     4. Irrigation System Management

     • Monitor and maintain solar-powered irrigation systems across clusters.

     • Conduct routine cleaning of pumps, panels, and tanks.

     • Respond immediately to breakdowns or leaks—sometimes requiring crawling under bushes or into well pits.

     5. Market Access & Business Development Support

     • Lead business pilot implementation activities like testing out different components of the model with the pilot cluster of farmers.

     • Assist in developing market linkages for food forest products (vegetables, fruits, timber, nuts, etc.) and staples.

     • Lead market research efforts and engagement with potential off-takers and customers.

     • Establish and work with suppliers of organic inputs for the farmers.

     • Assist in aggregating produce from farms—this means lifting, weighing, packing, and loading.

     • Support quality control by physically inspecting harvests before transport.

     • Occasionally accompany produce to market to understand buyer requirements firsthand.

     • Support farmer cooperatives in value addition, branding, and sales strategies.

     • Community engagement and support on payment structures, fee collection and farmer mobilization.

       6. Data Collection & Reporting

     • Collect field data on crop growth, water usage, harvest yields, and farmer activity.

     • Monitor water levels and system performance.

     • Monitor and improve agroecological practices, including mulching, composting, and natural pest management.

     • Help document and report on farm productivity and economic impact for investors and partners.

     • Conduct regular field assessments to track soil health, plant growth, and water efficiency.

     • Take geo-tagged photos and videos documenting progress and challenges.

     • Track farmer adoption rates and challenges for business improvement.

     • Provide weekly verbal and written reports on system functionality and farmer feedback.

7. Community Engagement

• Work closely with cluster leads to ensure fee collection and service compliance.

• Mobilize farmers for feedback sessions, training sessions, field days, and maintenance activities.

• Promote pay-as-you-use model and troubleshoot payment issues (mobile money transactions).

→ Skills and Qualifications

Must-Have:

 Hands-on experience in agroforestry, solar irrigation systems, or water systems

 Diploma/Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Environmental Science, or related field.

 Ability to conduct basic repairs (plumbing, solar, etc.)

 Proficient in English and Ateso and/or Swahili

Nice-to-Have:

 Permaculture or agroecology exposure

 Motorcycle license or riding experience

 Familiarity with Soroti farming communities

 1+ years of hands-on experience in water/energy systems or agroecology.

We provide a stipend of UGX 1,000,000 to cover basic expenses (transport, communication and meals).

→ Mission & Mindset

In every new team member, we look for a strong alignment on values and shared vision.

• You are able to demonstrate how you embody Rootical’s values and share the vision of how our future food systems should look like.

• You are always thinking of creative solutions to challenges.

• You are a self-starter, able to tackle projects without much guidance.

• You don’t fear trying something new and experimenting.

• You are not easily overwhelmed.

• You believe in the power of entrepreneurship to solve some of the greatest challenges that we face and will jump for an opportunity to play a small part in a grand journey as we seek to make our food systems more fair and regenerative.

How to apply

Send your CV and 1-page cover letter to talent@rootical.org with the subject: “Field Operator – [Your Name]” by 9th March 2026.

Application Prompt: In your cover letter, describe a time you fixed a technical issue in a resource-limited setting. What steps did you take?

Join us in building water-secure, climate-resilient communities!

Rootical is an equal-opportunity Business Builder.

Women and youth are strongly encouraged to apply.

Date of publication: February 20th, 2026.

We accept applications on a rolling basis. Our goal is to have you start as soon as possible. We will no longer receive applications after March 9th 2026.