Program Officer

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of specially-abled.

Function

The Program Officer will serve in accordance with Heifer Bangladesh vision, mission, goal, objectives, policies, and procedures. S/he will Coordinate with thematic lead to provide oversight in social capital, supply chain, market system development and cooperative development aspects of the project and provide strategic guidance and support to Project, Partners, SHGs, Cooperatives, and Local Governments for effective implementation of the Project. The Program Officer will collaborate with local government in project design, implementation, monitoring and provide support for the effective implementation. S/he will build the capacity of local partner and provide continuous backstopping for optimum project result.

Responsibilities and Deliverables:

1. Ensure professional standards of work are implemented, maintained, and completed on time (50%)

Program Planning, Implementation & Compliance

Support the development and execution of project strategies and action plans to achieve agreed goals and targets

Assist in developing standard implementation guidelines to ensure effective and consistent delivery in target communities

Support preparation and execution of Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs) and regularly monitor progress against plans

Support project start-up and implementation by ensuring partners have a clear understanding of project agreements and requirements

Provide ongoing program management backstopping to implementing partners, private sector actors, and cooperatives

Coordinate with administration and finance teams to support smooth project operations and ensure legal, financial, and audit compliance

Uphold transparency, organizational values, and donor compliance throughout project implementation

Cooperative & Partner Strengthening

Support the transformation of cooperatives into sustainable business hubs, including aggregation, transport facilitation, and quality input and output market linkages

Collaborate closely with thematic leads to ensure quality and consistency in service delivery

Support effective mobilization and coordination of project staff to ensure high-quality implementation

Farmer Group & Cooperative Development

Provide field-level support to strengthen farmer group and cooperative organization, leadership, and participation

Support cooperative meetings, governance structures, and collective action initiatives

Promote inclusive engagement of women, youth, and marginalized groups

Document changes in group capacity, cohesion, and resilience

Sustainable Food Systems & Environmental Stewardship

Assist partners and cooperatives in adopting sustainable agriculture and livestock practices promoted by the project

Support field demonstrations, trainings, and follow-up visits to encourage adoption

Promote climate-smart, environmentally sustainable practices aligned with principles that care for the earth

Identify and report adoption challenges to inform adaptive project management

2. Coordination, Monitoring, and Reporting (30%)

Visit and supervision of the project sites, collaborate with farmers, SHGs, SHG networks, cooperatives with the purpose of understanding the context, monitor progress, and a follow up on recommendations.

Reporting of the progress and discuss next steps as appropriate.

Collaborate and develop strong working relationship with local government for smooth project implementation.

Coordinate with related private sector (market actors, BFIs, insurance companies etc.) and ensure required services are delivered.

Good Governance established in cooperative businesses with transparency and accountability.

Ensure the project milestones, objectives and requirements are fulfilled.

3. Networking and Technical support and Backstopping (15%)

Develop and maintain a sound network of government, other stakeholder, project partners and counterparts.

Develop and maintain links with relevant professional bodies.

Ensure the capacity building of project partners, including training and backstopping.

Create enabling environment to tap and disburse resources.

Cooperative formation and capacity building.

Linkage stablishes between Value chain actors/Buyers.

Support Small Holder farmers, Lead farmers, entrepreneurs, and cooperatives to leverage resources from local government, provincial government, and other opportunities. May perform other job-related duties as assigned (5%)

Qualifications and Skills:

A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent from a recognized university in Business Administration, Rural Development Studies, Business Studies, Agriculture, Veterinary science, or related field plus minimum three (3) years’ experience in a similar context is required. Other job-related education and/or experience may be substituted for all or part of these basic requirements

Time management and ability to prioritize multiple tasks.

Self-motivated person able to work without close supervision

Excellent computer knowledge with command on MS Excel

Good leadership qualities and communication skills

Ability to work under pressure to meet the deadlines

Essential Competencies:

Ability to prepare and present documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail

Good team player with the ability to train and work cooperatively with a diverse staff, including field staff in several locations

Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality

Ability to perform multiple tasks with minimal supervision

Willingness to work with a flexible schedule

Willingness to extensively travel to rural areas

Able to effectively promote Heifer’s mission values, and objectives

Sensitivity in working with multiple cultures and beliefs, and to gender equity Location: Heifer International Bangladesh working areas — Satkhira, Rajbari, and Pabna