The Hub Coordinator is the principal point of contact between the TTF hub managers and the senior managers responsible for TTF at CIMMYT, SAGARPA, and other TTF partners and collaborators. Currently there are four hubs, representing different agro-ecological zones in Mexico. Hubs are regional parts of the Mexico-wide TTF network; hub managers are thus based in different parts of the country. Each regional hub has research platforms, modules in farmers’ fields, and extension area, for disseminating and gathering information to and from farmers, and for furthering research. The number of hubs will grow, to as many as ten, by 2015.
The Hub Coordinator reports to the Leader of TTF. The Hub Coordinator:
- Is on call to resolve problems within hubs, for which hub managers need additional resources and or advice;
- Mobilizes resources as needed for individual hubs;
- Monitors hub performance, working with hub managers to identify and eliminate bottlenecks and other problems, as well as to identify and implement opportunities to advance the TTF mission;
- Recognizes aspects of individual hubs which can be applied successfully to other hubs. Identifies and disseminates ‘best practices’ among hubs;
- Oversees the development of new hubs, and the training of new hub managers;
- Arranges general training for hub managers and their staffs, and transmits key TTF policy changes and updates to hub managers;
- Oversees the development of hub reports and analyses;
- With the hub managers, liaises with staffs of collaborators who are based within a given agro-ecological zone;
- Is responsible for being up-to-date on developments and issues at each hub,.
- Organizes and monitors effective information flows from the hubs to the support units within TTF
We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:
- Excellence in communicating with, and managing, geographically dispersed staff;
- A masters degree (PhD preferable) in an agricultural or related discipline;
- Results-oriented project management experience of seven to fifteen years in an agricultural organization, ideally agricultural extension or projects which required significant contact with farmers;
- At least five years of work experience in Mexico;
- Effectiveness leading and motivating people, many of whom do not directly report to the position, many of whom are not employees of CIMMYT. The position requires tact and diplomacy, along with a commitment to achieving results;
- Ability to communicate calmly and effectively (orally and in writing) with people of different professions and backgrounds;
- Service orientation and experience; one of the hub coordinator’s principal roles is to serve hub managers, who look to the coordinator for his/her experience and guidance, not orders. The hub coordinator is in constant contact with hub managers, through email, telephone, and face to face visits;
- Fluency in Spanish (mother tongue preferred). Working fluency in English;
- High work efficiency, including a high degree of personal organization, ability to work under pressure and with many competing demands on time, mastery of communications and computer technologies, and a strong work ethic;
- Composure, and a steadying influence on organizations with which he/she has been associated in the past;
- Commitment to MasAgro and Take It To The Farmer, and to serving farmers;
- Knowledge of, and affinity for, different agricultural regions and cultures of Mexico highly desirable.
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” -2012-17. 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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