Agri-Business Advisor

Agri-Business Advisor

Agriterra (www.agriterra.org) is a Dutch agency that aims to professionalize farmers' organizations and cooperatives worldwide, with advice from experts from the Dutch agricultural sector. Agriterra’ s opinion is that strong farmers' organizations and cooperatives lead to more participation, economic growth and a better distribution of income. Agriterra focus on economic development and work closely together with the Dutch agribusiness.

Agriterra cooperate with farmers’ organizations and cooperatives, professionalizing their functioning and service provision to their members, where the members want to increase their productivity and income, their position in the markets, access to finance and to add value to their products.

Agriterra Vietnam registered in December 2017 and currently active in Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, Dak lak, Quang Nam, Binh Phuoc.

We have offices in Hanoi and Danang. We are looking for an experienced and dynamic national candidate to fill in position: Agri-Business Advisor (employment contract), based in Da Nang with frequent travel to the target areas in Hue and Quang Nam.

Responsibilities:

Activities:

• To initiate, facilitate, and monitor developments and progress of cooperative development in target areas in Hue and Quang Nam; based among others on established targets and key performance indicators written down in action plans.
• To give follow-up and advise in two or three of the following topics:
  
  • Governance and internal management
  • Financial management
  • General proper recording (membership, volumes produce, minutes, etc)
  • Forestry production (acacia and rattan); medicinal plants; beekeeping;
  • Business planning
  • Value chain development
  • Public engagement and legal affairs
• To conduct value chain analysis and assessments of potential partners (cooperatives) in target areas.
• To keep updated information systems on partners and contribute to knowledge management for:
  
  • cooperatives: action plans, missions, field visits, communication
  • farmers: field schools
  • value chain partners
  • local government

Expected results:

• Result-driven advice by tailor-made financial, business and governance support that contribute to the setting up and strengthening of cooperatives in the target areas.
• Establish and strengthen agricultural farmers organisations (cooperatives) in Quang Nam and Hue;
• Advice on improvement of cooperatives’ internal organisation, position on the market and growth ambition.
• Increase number of farmer organisations having a potential healthy agri-business, having access to loan capital and/or financial services and/or having a sustainable and effective service provision system to members.

Candidate profile

• Formal education in MBA, Finance, Agricultural Economics, Forestry or related studies
• Computer literate (MS Office, preferably Accounting software)
• Fluent in Vietnamese and English
• Experience in advising and training people, achieving lasting results
• Experience with farmer-led enterprises, farmer cooperatives and federations of farmers cooperatives
• Expertise in project, financial, governance and business management
• Flexible (no 9-5 mentality), able and willing to frequent travel (>50%)
• Diplomatic skills to develop partnership with governmental and business entities
• Committed to smallholder farmers’ economic development
• Appreciative communication skills and attitude
• Respectful and patient attitude, pro-active, convincing and target-driven
• Self-geared (able and willing to work independently)
• Generalist: eager to learn other topics and expand skills

Contract Duration:

The selected candidate will be offered initially for one year employment contract with two months’ probation time and possibility of extension subject to availability of funds. The position gives the selected candidate many opportunities for promotion within the organisation if growth of the program will develop as expected.

The closing date for application: 10 Dec 2018

How to Apply: Interested candidates can send your application to email [email protected]

Please be advised that only short-listed applicants will be contacted.