Project Manager

DR. PRAVEEN SINGH

Ethiopia: **, Bole Subcity, Kebele-17/20 • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

India: C-3, Pocket-VI, Kendriya Vihar • Sector-82, Noida, India 201304

Ethiopia: +251********* • India: +919********* • *******.*****.****@*****.***

NATIONAL HEAD • COUNTRY PROGRAMME MANAGER • BUSINESS HEAD

Dynamic professional with proven track record of producing profound and quantifiable contributions for organisations, customers, and communities spanning from rural villages to leading multinational corporations.

• Create and transform innovative concepts into sustainable realities, building, inspiring, and directing high-performance “think-tank” teams.

• Facilitate seamless project implementations, spearheading strategic and technical analysis and planning.

• Provide 360 perspective of issues vital to success, communicating from technical to executive levels.

• Generate support on local and global basis, forging alliances with key decision makers and influencers.

• Increase business and project volumes, creating quantifiable deliverables that achieve maximum returns.

Concept Development • Idea Synthesis • Strategic & Technical Planning • International Business Development

Proposals • Local & Multinational Project Management • Natural Resource Management • Capacity Building

Supplier Selection • Government & Agency Alliances • Team & Relationship Building • Commercialisation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SABER FARMS PLC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia • Feb 2011 – Present

1 of fastest growing Indian multinational groups operating in India, Switzerland, Italy, and Ethiopia; core business is manufacturing of paper from recycled pulp from Europe, marketed to India and European countries.

General Manager

Lead all aspects of establishment of brand new business for company in agricultural sector for 1st time outside of core business area and present operating continents, Asia and Europe; includes, but is not limited to, business planning, administration, monitoring, reporting, and development, as well as onsite asset creation, production planning, budgeting, resource procurement, and market linkage. Forge collaborations with R&D organisations. Serve as primary liaison with key stakeholders. Oversee 6 direct reports and +35 contract employees within operation; forecasted to expand to 60 company employees and 600 contractual employees.

Achievements:

• Established SABER Farms PLC in Africa for company’s 1st time including creating and launching robust head office and site office.

• Acquired 25,000 ha of agricultural land from Ethiopian Government; 800 ha of land are currently ready for crop cultivation.

• Prepared and positioned company to thrive in new sector, country, and continent, developing detailed business plan for commercial farming, and forging collaborations with top ranked University of Ethiopia.

• Generated global awareness and impending future international support, authoring and submitting concept note on “Inclusive Growth of Society” to United Nations agencies.

• Earned reputation as expert in resource management, fostering culture of collaborative responsiveness among human resources of company, and strategically maximising resource utilisation.

TATA CHEMICALS LTD., Noida, India • March 2006 – Feb 2011

1 of largest Tata Group companies in India, with significant operations in Asia, Europe and Africa; interests focus on Living, Industry, and Farm Essentials (LIFE).

Manager – Organic Fertiliser Business Development • May 2010 – Feb 2011

Formulated and led execution of strategic plans to grow business within Organic Fertilisers sector. Identified, evaluated, and recommended optimal suppliers. Served as key liaison with government agencies and other business stakeholders. Supervised 3 company employees and ~35 contract personnel.

Achievements:

• Drove successful business increases, mobilising product development and high-impact promotions.

• Strengthened sales force’s production and effectiveness, devising powerful capacity building strategies.

• Promoted 3 times in 4 years of service in India’s most reputable business house due to extraordinary contributions and leadership.

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Assistant Manager – New Business Development • April 2007 – May 2010

Galvanised and led leading-edge idea synthesis, conceptualisation, experimentation, pilot testing, and commercialisation of new products and services. Researched and ensured high-return business with suppliers and markets. Organised and directed geo-reference soil, crop, and water sampling in 3 districts. Managed annual departmental activity and budget planning. Coordinated 28 agronomists. Served as key member of company Corporate Innovation Team as Technical Expert for agricultural matters.

Achievements:

• Differentiated company’s positioning in global market, driving development out-of-the-box concepts and commercialisation strategies, as well as field staff capacity building programmes.

• Designed and successfully pilot tested Agribusiness Innovative Model (AGRIM).

• Conceived of, tested, and commercialised 4 new cutting-edge products in 3 categories: “Bhusudha” as product under organic fertiliser, “Customised Fertiliser” as product under crop nutrition, and “Foliar Nutrition Service” and “Smart Krishi” as service products to farmers.

• Played key role in seamless incorporation of 6 producer companies at Punjab; involved partnering with key company to establish market linkage for agri-produce.

• Amplified visibility and business volumes for Producer Company and buyers, creating and launching online platform: www.agrimkrishi.com.

Resource Centre “In-Charge” – TATA Agriculture Development Centre • March 2006 – April 2007

Coordinated and led all aspects of company and 13-member TATA Kisan Sansar retail network chain in 8 districts. Provided annual business planning, implementation management, monitoring, and reporting. Managed 13 agronomists.

Achievements:

• Introduced new concept of “Outsourced Farm Operation-Harvesting Service” including all phases of testing and commercialisation; honoured with TATA Innovation Award in North Region.

• Generated 1.25 Cr in new business.

• Enrolled highest number of farmers as TATA Kisan Parivar Members (a.k.a. Farmer Family Members).

• Handpicked for and completed elite company programme, “Employee Growth Scheme.”

GLOBAL IDEAS PVT. LTD., Lucknow, India • Feb 2005 – March 2006

Company dedicated to social development; affiliated with various national and international development-related organisations such as DFID, UNICEF, British High Commission, and Ministry of Rural Development.

Consultant – Natural Resource Management, British High Commission Project

Provided strategic and tactical guidance on development of proposals, capacity building, and implementation of variety of projects for British High Commission. Advised and aided various business stakeholders with technical aspects. Liaised with wide array of business partners. Monitored and reported on projects.

Achievements:

• Developed multiple successful project proposals for civil society organisations focused on agriculture and natural resource management.

• Orchestrated robust capacity building programmes for civil society organisations and government staff.

• Devised effective natural resource conversation micro-plan for 25 villages; built strong relationships with initially apprehensive local farmers in dangerous territory, building consensus on participatory approach.

DAS INDIA PVT. LTD. / GFA HAMBURG, GERMANY, Lucknow, India • Aug 2003 – Dec 2004

Consultancy firm for various national and international agencies.

Consultant – Agronomy, European Commission Project

Served as key member of Project Technical Assistance Team for Ravine Stabilisation Project, Utter Pradesh. Planned, monitored, reported on, and liaised with various stakeholders on Agricultural Extension component of project. Researched and developed models and solutions to remediate ravine affected areas. Performed ground truthing of satellite images from IKONOSE and Lispan for targeted project villages. Interfaced regularly with government officials such as Agriculture Production Commissioner, Director of Agriculture, and Deputy Director of Agriculture of 6 project districts, as well as various cross-departmental staff.

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(Consultant – Agriculture Extension, European Commission Project, cont.)

Achievements:

• Earned special recognition for expertise and contributions to highly respected team.

• Mitigated negative impact, and improved agricultural production of 6 ravine affected districts, developing ravine stabilisation model, Yield Maximisation agronomic model, and 3 seeders.

• Proposed and obtained new ravine classification based on soil requirement.

• Expanded capabilities of project implementation staff including CSOs and government personnel.

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

ALLAHABAD AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE, Allahabad, India • July 2002 – Aug 2003

Teaching & Research Assistant – Department of Agronomy

• Designed, coordinated, and evaluated experiments for students.

• Delivered lectures to graduate students of Agronomy.

• Participated actively in variety of research projects.

EDUCATION

PhD in Agronomy

Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Uttar Pradesh, India

Master of Science in Agronomy (Merit Scholarship)

Agriculture University, Madhya Pradesh, India

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Ranked #1 on University Merit List, S.J. Jindal Trust Scholarship)

Allahabad University, Uttar Pradesh, India

CERTIFICATIONS & DISTINCTIONS

Certified Crop Advisor (India) – American Society of Agronomy

Executive Management Programme – S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (in progress)

National Eligibility Test (NET) Certificate (x2) – Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board (ASRB), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

“Successful Organic Production & Export” Certificate – United National Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR) Online Programme

Registered Consultant for Rain Harvesting Programmes – Uttar Pradesh

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

TATA GeMS Management Programme – TATA Communication Ltd.

Tea Cultivation & Processing Training – UPASI

Communications Skills Training – TATA Chemicals

Training for Trainers on TATA Business Excellency Model – TATA Chemicals Ltd.

Rain Water Harvesting Training – Government of Uttar Pradesh

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Society of Agronomy

Indian Society of Agronomy

Indian Society of Agriculture Sciences

Allahabad Farmers

PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS & CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES

(full details available on request)

2 Published Programmes

10 Conference Presentations (6 National & 4 International)

+50 Programmes on Capacity Development for Staff & Farmers

Contact this candidate