The Coordinator will work with existing agricultural extension institutions and initiatives in Mexico, including government programs and extension services organized by NGO’s and other private entities. Take It To The Farmer’s long term success will depend to a major extent on these agencies. This task will require a deep understanding of, and commitment to, both TTF and MasAgro. It will also require a strong understanding of, and respect and empathy for, agricultural extension agencies in Mexico.
The Coordinator reports to the Leader of TTF. He/she will work out of the Texcoco headquarters of CIMMYT, but will have frequent meetings with SAGARPA and with agricultural agencies, in Mexico City and elsewhere in Mexico.
The UTEA Coordinator:
- Establishes good working relations at all levels of key agricultural extension agencies -- including the top executives -- understanding and anticipating problems and issues related to TTF, and helping to resolve them within the agencies;
- Communicates among TTF management, SAGARPA, and agricultural extension agencies, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation;
- Effectively and compellingly presents the precepts and processes of TTF, including leading training seminars within various agencies on TTF;
- Recommends adjustments to TTF approaches, based on the requirements of extension agencies;
- Recommends adjustments to the approaches of agricultural extension agencies, to be more in line with TTF;
- Keeps abreast of developments and issues within each of the major agricultural extension agencies in Mexico, at any moment in time.
- Connects and integrates the extension agencies and their personnel with the hub and support structure of TTF.
We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:
- Commitment to MasAgro and Take It To The Farmer, and to serving farmers;
- Strong knowledge of agricultural extension and agricultural technology dissemination in Mexico;
- Masters degree (PhD preferable) in an agricultural discipline;
- Excellent social skills - effectiveness in communicating and collaborating calmly and empathetically (orally and in writing) with people of different professions and backgrounds;
- Change management - demonstrated tact and diplomacy and a clear sense of direction, in helping change organizational processes and mentalities.
- At least five years of work experience in Mexico;
- Fluency in Spanish (mother tongue preferred). Ability to communicate acceptably in English in a work setting;
- Results orientation and an organized manner of working;
- Composure, and a steadying influence on organizations with which he/she has been associated in the past. Accumulated experience in the workplace leading to a reputation for integrity, trustworthiness, and sound judgment;
- Knowledge of, and affinity for, different agricultural regions and cultures of Mexico highly desirable;
- Some comparative experience with agricultural extension in other countries would be very useful.
MasAgro is the Mexican government initiative to revitalize agriculture in Mexico, to make agriculture more productive, profitable, and sustainable. We believe it is one of the most important and exciting initiatives in agriculture worldwide. Take It To The Farmer (TTF) is the component of MasAgro which is responsible for working with farmers -- particularly smallholder farmers -- to increase their productivity and incomes. This is done through the application of better and more sustainable technologies, including conversation agriculture and precision agriculture. Take It To The Farmer is having immediate impact. This impact will broaden and deepen as other components of MasAgro develop new technologies, for delivery in future years. MasAgro is a collaborative effort among existing private and public institutions. It currently has signed collaboration agreements with 10 Mexican states, and formal and informal partnerships with over fifty institutions serving agriculture in Mexico.
CIMMYT, an international agricultural research institute based in Mexico, is a catalyst and organizer of MasAgro and of TTF. CIMMYT has almost fifty years of organizational existence, and is a leader in bringing improved maize and wheat varieties and agronomic practices to developing countries. CIMMYT, particularly its most famous alumnus Dr. Norman Borlaug, was at the forefront of the last Green Revolution, and is now spearheading another. There are 35 employees of CIMMYT dedicated to TTF.
Candidates are invited to visit websites www.cimmyt.org, and http://conservacion.cimmyt.org for more information; website http://masagro.cimmyt.org will be enabled only after July 1st.
CIMMYT is an equal-opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality.
Please apply online no later than May 27th, 2012.
At www.cimmyt.org, click on “About us – Job Opportunities- Position” -2012-18. All nationalities are encouraged to apply. Please send your CV as well as a cover letter in Spanish. The cover letter should be no more than one page in length, and should address why you are interested in the position, and why you think you are a suitable candidate for the position
For further information, contact the Human Resources Office, jobs-cimmyt@cgiar.org. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
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