Agriculture Farmland Waste Expert (Agronomist): Cities for Infrastructure Growth Zambia (CIGZambia)

• increasing urban productivity
•  improving inclusive access to urban economic infrastructure services
•  increasing investment into urban economic infrastructure services
•  enhancing national and regional integration between cities

Talented, committed and responsible people from diverse backgrounds are essential for us to fulfil our purpose of reimagining Zambia. We strive to unleash the power of our people and we cultivate an organizational culture that is inspired, curious and empowered.

Bioenergy definition: We define bioenergy as a source of energy derived from farmland, forest, manure and municipality waste or energy crops for electricity, heat or transport.

About you:

•  We are seeking an Agriculture Farmland Waste Expert for the bioenergy team.
•  The biggest benefits of this role are, having to contribute to shaping the potential bioenergy market in Zambia by defining the scope and potential for growth in this sector.
•  You have expertise in agriculture crops and residue waste use for energy generation from farmland. You have knowledge of soil, plants, seeds, agriculture products and effective and efficient farming practices (conservation farming, etc.). You can conduct research and field checks, take samples and make observations, perform tests, and identify agriculture waste challenges and problems, analyse impact of plant or soil nutrition, damage from insects or wildlife, weather or climate changes, or the use of specialized products, such as pesticides, fertilizers, crop quality and yield.
•  The biggest challenge of this role will be multitasking and completing documents to adhere to international “client-ready” levels.
•  The current team around this role is made up of a bioenergy feedstock experts, strategic planning & business development, project funding, household/medium/large bioenergy experts, demand expert, gender/social/climate change experts, government procedures expert, monitoring & evaluation and behavioural change communication expert. The team, in general, describes themselves as passionate, adaptable and ultimately, capable.

About the Role – Main purpose and scope of work:

•  The main role of the Agriculture Farmland Waste Expert will be qualitative and quantitative analysis and field trips to understand the potential of agriculture residues for energy generation from farmland across Zambia for approximately 50 crops.

Duties and key responsibilities:

•  Studying plant waste, plants, soil, farmers in order to develop assumptions on bioenergy potential and related impact on better planting, cultivation, and harvesting techniques, improve crop yield, and solve problems facing the agriculture industry.
•  Researching, developing, and promoting farming practices or products which enable to leverage bioenergy potential and that diminish the effects of changes in soil, climate, and weather or prevent damage from pests.
•  Visiting fields to collect seed, plant, and soil samples and testing samples for nutritional deficiencies, diseases, residues energy content or other changes.
•  Assisting with the plant residue selection process and the development of residue harvesting, storage and usage schedules, budgets, and timelines.
•  Keeping detailed records regarding fields, customers, crops, residues and samples.
•  Generating reports and presenting findings to management, clients, or other interested parties.
•  Promoting products and techniques through educational presentations to increase bioenergy uptake.
•  Managing teams of scientists or enumerator while conducting field visits or laboratory work.
•  Creating, maintaining and monitoring project plans, project schedules, work hours, budgets and expenditures.
•  Organizing, attending and participating in stakeholder meetings.
•  Documenting and following up on important actions and decisions from meetings.
•  Preparing necessary presentation materials for meetings.
•  Ensuring project deadlines are met.
•  Determining project changes.
•  Providing administrative support as needed.
•  Undertaking project tasks as required.
•  Ensuring projects adhere to frameworks and all documentation is maintained appropriately for each project.
•  Assess project risks and issues and provide solutions where applicable.
•  Ensure stakeholder views are managed towards the best solution.
•  Chair and facilitate meetings where appropriate and distribute minutes to all project team members.
•  Create a project management calendar for fulfilling each goal and objective.

Required Qualifications / Minimum Requirements:

•  Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Agriculture, or related field.
•  > 5 years of work experience.
•  >2 years of work experience as an Agronomist
•  Worked for 2 organizations (> 2 years’ experience with each).
•  Working knowledge of MS Excel Formulas.
•  Working knowledge of MS Word Styles.
•  Working knowledge of MS PowerPoint Shape Formatting
•  Ability to work outside, stand, walk, kneel, and stoop for extended periods.
•  Awareness of industry trends, technology, and developments.

Key Qualifications (skills & experience):

•  International exposure
•  Multitasking
•  Trustworthiness
•  Time management
•  Organizational skills
•  Problem-solving skills
•  Negotiation skills
•  Writing skills
•  Communication skills
•  Computer skills
•  Teamwork
•  Work schedule
•  Work environment
•  Added advantage:
  o MSc degree
  o Additional certifications
  o International experience in the field of bioenergy
  o A driver’s licence is a plus

Applications:

Please send your CV to [email protected]. For CV to be considered, the subject line in email must be completed as follows:

Job Title – Candidate: Last Name First Name. Highest Degree, years of work experience in the highest degree. In 3 words why you apply.

Example: Bioenergy Manager – Candidate: John Phiri. MSc Environmental Science, 10.0 years. I live bioenergy.

Deadline for Applications: 31st of January 2020

Non-Discrimination Claim: We do not and shall not discriminate based on race, colour, faith, gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.