SPRING is a five-year USAID-funded project focused on strengthening global and country efforts to scale up high impact nutrition practices and policies and improving maternal and child nutrition outcomes. SPRING focuses on the prevention of stunting in the first 1,000 days of life. Its interventions address structural constraints to improve nutrition and are designed to increase household knowledge on nutrition and access to resources in diverse foods, poultry and income generation while simultaneously promoting improved hygiene in 40 upazilas in Barisal and Khulna divisions.

The Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and Innovations in Nutrition Globally Project (SPRING) is managed by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., with partners Helen Keller International (HKI), Save the Children, the Manoff Group, and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

SPRING/Bangladesh is looking for highly qualified individuals for the following positions:

Position: SPRING/Bangladesh Senior Technical Officer - Agriculture – 1 Position (based in Barisal)

Required qualification:

1. B.Sc. (Honors)/Master’s degree in Agriculture or related field.
2. At least 4 years of program related experience in homestead based horticulture, food security and nutrition development programs..
3. Excellent facilitator with experience providing technical training and guidance to community members and non-governmental organizations in in homestead vegetable and fruits production.
4. Experience liaising with government agricultural offices and institutions in implementing agricultural programs.
5. Experience mobilizing non-governmental organizations, community stakeholder groups, private input provider agencies, community volunteers and beneficiaries in project activities.
6. A team player with excellent interpersonal communication skills and fluency in spoken and written English and Bengali.
7. Familiar with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and email communication are essential.
8. Experience with farmer field school development and facilitation projects will be a strong advantage.
9. Willingness to travel to project sites within upazilas, unions and villages for up to 70% of her/his time, undertake regular field visits, and interact with different stakeholders, especially primary stakeholders.
10. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply.

Function: The SPRING/Bangladesh Division Senior Technical Officer - Agriculture is part of a team of technical officers who work directly with district, upazila and union government agricultural officers, non-governmental organizations, community volunteers and beneficiaries to implement homestead food production activities particularly those centered on vegetable and fruits production. S/he will conduct training of trainers and will supervise and monitor cascade trainings to project beneficiaries. S/he will provide technical input and will contribute to the strategic establishment and direction of farmer field schools, notably in horticulture. S/he will assist to strengthen field level linkages with other government, non-governmental organizations and private agencies involved in nutrition, horticulture/agricultural production interventions.

Job Responsibilities:

• Barisal based.
• Liaise with government agriculture, fisheries and livestock authorities at the district level.
• Jointly responsible for all SPRING implementation upazilas within her/his division.
• Provide mentoring and supervision to SPRING Upazila Coordinators, NGOs and other partners.
• Develop monthly/quarterly action plan with SPRING Upazila Coordinators and NGOs.
• Conduct monthly/quarterly reviews of activities and synthesize for reporting.
• Monitor and ensure technical quality of intervention, and provide direct technical assistance to implementing staff.
• Provide technical assistance on social and behavior change communication (SBCC) and homestead food production (HFP) to SPRING Upazila Coordinators and NGOs as necessary.
• Ensure that SBCC materials and any other needed inputs are available, scientifically accurate and culturally appropriate.

Interested candidates should submit: (1) a well-thought out cover letter; and (2) a current curriculum vitae in English with contact telephone number and email address. Applications should be sent to via E-mail to: hrbdspring@gmail.com by December 18, 2014. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

“SPRING encourages applications from qualified women and minorities candidates. The project has a smoke free working environment.”