Program Officer – Stewardship TELA Maize Kenya

Organizational Context

AATF is an international not-for-profit organization facilitating and promoting public/private partnerships to enhance smallholder farmers’ food security and livelihoods in SSA. AATF works with African governments, private and public technology owners and developers, NGOs, seed companies, and African smallholder farmers to identify and access technologies that address farmers’ key problems and empower them through the availability of a choice of agricultural innovations that generate wealth and health for their families and communities. AATF is a registered charity under the laws of England and Wales and has host country status with the Governments of Kenya and Nigeria. The Foundation depends on partners’ and investors’ ongoing support and collaboration to meet its objectives.

AATF wishes to recruit a suitably qualified Programme Officer – Stewardship (TELA Maize Kenya) to be based in Nairobi, Kenya for a period of 2 years, renewable depending on performance and funds availability. Under the matrix supervision of the AATF Stewardship and Quality Manager.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Oversee implementation of the stewardship strategy for TELA maize and other agricultural technologies.
• Coordinate the application of quality management systems (QMS) and enhance quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) through implementation of seed testing and standard operating procedures (SOPs) towards maintaining plant product integrity for seed production and seed distribution by project Licensees and stakeholders.
• Support the management of liabilities and risks associated with the commercialization of the TELA maize and other AATF technologies.
• Track, verify, document, and report any incidence related to TELA maize and other AATF projects and products at research and development, seed production, seed processing, seed storage, and seed distribution levels. Follow up on all incidents by documenting the incident management actions, root cause analyses (when relevant), corrective actions, and communications. Report each incident related to the project output to the AATF Stewardship Unit.
• Coordinate and document stewardship periodic training activities for seed companies, extension workers, agro-dealers, farmers and ensure that growers are adequately trained on stewardship requirements for the cultivation of TELA maize and other AATF’s products in Africa. Share training logs with AATF Stewardship Manager quarterly.
• Monitor and ensure farmer’s compliance to the product stewardship requirements (including IRM and refuge). Implement and document actions to improve levels of compliance when below expectations.
• Ensure compliance through deployment and implementation of digital tools such as the SAMAWATI Stewardship Compliance App and Agridrive App.

Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

• A master’s degree from a recognized University in agriculture, biosciences, management, or related disciplines, or a bachelors with at least 10 years cognate experience in lieu of higher degrees.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience and sound knowledge in field agricultural operations, agricultural research, and development with a reputed private or public sector seed entity, preferably in Africa.
• Sound knowledge and experience in the agricultural seed regulation and inspection.
• Experience in seed production, seed processing, and seed distribution.
• Quality Management Systems in seed production, knowledge of Excellence Through Stewardship (ETS) and ISO is an advantage.
• Good understanding of the SSA agricultural biotechnology socio-political and policy environments.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. A working knowledge of a 2nd language – French, would be an added advantage.