Regional Advisor, Seeds of Life program in Timor-Leste
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Timor-Leste
Location: Based in Same, Manufahi District, Timor-Leste.
Commencement date: 01 January, 2014
Duration: Until 30 June, 2016
Closing date for applications: 30 November, 2013
Remuneration: A competitive package will be offered
Description of the organisation:
Seeds
of Life (SoL) is a program within the Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries (MAF) in Timor-Leste (East Timor). SoL aims to improve food
security in Timor-Leste through increased productivity of food
crops. The Governments of Timor-Leste and Australia collaboratively fund
the program. Australian funding is provided through the Australian
Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Centre
for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and is managed by
ACIAR. The Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA)
within The University of Western Australia (UWA) coordinates the
Australian funded activities. Details of the program are available on http://seedsoflifetimor.org/
The
SoL team consists of a team of more than 80 professional Timorese staff
plus 11 international advisors. There are three regional advisors
(RAs). This RA position is based in the District of Manufahi. Frequent
travel to Dili and other Districts will also be required. The RA will
work with the Director and staff of the District MAF office and the SoL
advisors for research, formal and informal seed production. The RA will
report to the SoL Australian Team Leader (ATL).
General description of position
The Regional Advisor will:
- Establish and maintain a close primary counterpart relationship with the Directors of the District MAF Offices within his respective Districts;
- Play a lead role in coordinating the implementation of Program activities at District level, providing an operational interface between the Program and the Districts.
Key tasks and responsibilities
The Regional Advisor will:
- Establish a close working relationship with the Directors of the District MAF Offices as primary counterparts, and actively guide and mentor staff of the District Offices involved in the implementation of Program activities.
- Advise and support MAF district staff involved in implementation of replicated trials on research stations and the on-farm trial and demonstration program.
- Advise and support MAF district staff involved in planning and managing the multiplication and distribution of formal seed.
- Advise and support MAF district staff involved in establishing and managing Community Seed Production Groups (CSPGs) as a means of increasing production of informal seed.
- Provide support for the operation and management of the National Seed System for Released Varieties.
- Support the implementation of targeted capacity building activities designed to support the professional development of MAF staff at district and sub-district levels.
- Facilitate field evaluation activities of the monitoring and evaluation unit.
- Assist with the dissemination of improved variety technical and promotional materials.
- Assist with the organisation of improved variety mass media campaigns at district-level.
- Provide inputs as required to Program reports and monitoring activities.
Skills and experience
The successful candidates will have:
Essential
- A degree in agricultural science or equivalent.
- Demonstrated understanding of and some experience in the application of research and extension methods in a developing country.
- Previous work experience in SE Asia.
- Strong communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
- Willingness to work independently in remote and isolated areas.
- Fluency in English and at least basic proficiency in either Tetun or Bahasa Indonesian.
Desirable
- Experience in Timor-Leste.
- Training or capacity building experience.
- Management experience.
- Post-graduate qualifications in agriculture.
Apply:
Interested
candidates can submit a short covering letter, CV, names of three
referees and a document addressing the required skills and experience
electronically to Dr Harry Nesbitt, Adjunct Professor, University of
Western Australia (h.nesbit@bigpond.net.au). Further enquiries can be addressed to Professor William Erskine, tel. (+61 8) 6488 1903. For further information on the Seeds of Life program see http://www.seedsoflifetimor.org/ .
Only
applicants including a cover letter addressing the essential Skills and
Experience mentioned above will receive acknowledgement of their
application.
