The Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) recruitment 2014

Company Profile:

The Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) was established by Decree No. 48 of 2 November, 1992 as a centre of excellence for agricultural learning, research and professional development. 

The vision of FUNAAB is to be a centre of excellence in knowledge generation for global development and the sustenance of an environmentally friendly society. The university’s mission is to build future leaders and generate knowledge through research and an intellectually stimulating environment for leaching, learning and community outreach towards sustainable development. FUNAAB has an international research profile working with partners from academia, private sector and civil society throughout the world. FUNAAB has considerable experience in managing and participating in large, multi-country research and development projects.

FUNAAB has just kicked off the second phase of the Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (CAVA II) project. The project is aimed at increasing the incomes of smallholders cassava farmers (SHFs) and community cassava processors through participation in profitable and sustainable value- added cassava chains in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.

We are seeking to recruit the position of:

Postion: Country Technical Expert - Cassava Production

Job Reference: NGX1

Job Description
We are seeking to recruit a country technical expert (cassava production) to join our team. The post-holder will contribute in the following areas

•     Develop intervention that will help increase yield of cassava farmers by identifying and working closely with the farmers around the selected SMEs/large scale industries and along the value chain plus understanding their issues and constraints and helping to minimize them,
•     Work closely with cassava farmers to improve their efficiency and competitiveness in cassava cultivation to avoid glut.
•     Link farmers with reliable inputs suppliers and ensure proper usage for desired results.
•     Organize regular training of farmers and farmer groups on modern technologies for improved yields and record keeping.
•     Develop an understanding of Caasavs. root price trends and the main factors that impact on it Record the prices at the main points (farm gate, aggregation points, local markets, village processing centres and factories) in the value chain and, if appropriate, develop a “Market Information System”.
•     Undertake any other activities relevant to the achievement of the project objectives as may be assigned by thc Country Manager
•     This specific post will focus on CAVA II project spanning a period of 5 years (April 2014 to 2019). The
•     post will be based in Abeokuta Nigeria. The position will involve frequent travel within Nigeria and occasional travel to other project countries.

Qualifications and experience:

•     University Degree in Agronomy, Crop Production, Crop Protection or Plant breeding or related fields is required.
•     Minimum of five years cognate experience in cassava cultivation and building of groups is essential.
•     Demonstrated knowledge of the constraints of working with smallholders farmers who provide raw materials for industrial processing is important.
•     fluency in English language is required. Good drafting and communication skills.

Position: Business Development Expert

Job Reference: NGX2 

Job Description
We are seeking to recruit a Business Development Expert (BDE) to join nor team, to expand our capacity to develop considerable expertise and knowledge on investment promotion, business administration and related issues.The post-holder will contribute in the following work areas;

•     Develop intervention that will help increase the market size of cassava based dried products in Nigeria by identifying and working closely with the main players in the market and understanding their issues and constraints and helping to minimize them.
•     Work closely with processors (SMEs and Large Factories) of cassava based dried products, farmers and other market intermediaries to improve the efficiency and competitiveness within the value chain.
•     Facilitate the coordination of inputs by various actors in the cassava value chain as well as improving communications and understanding within the value chain.
•     Develop an understanding of Cassava Based Dried Products price trends and the main factors that impact on it. Record the prices at the main points in the value chain and, if appropriate, develop a “Market Information System” to advertise prices to enable all actors to negotiate more equitably. Assist market intermediaries produce business plans to access short and medium-term. Finance to facilitate the increased output and improve quality of Cassava Based Dried Products.
•     This specific post will focus on CAVA II project spanning a period of 5 years (April 2014 to 2019). The post will be based in North Central or South-East Nigeria. The position will involve frequent travel within Nigeria and occasional travel to other project countries.

Qualifications and experience:

•     University Degree in economics, marketing, business administration or related fields is required.
•     Minimum of five years cognate experience particularly in the areas of investment promotion and business development is essential.
•     Demonstrated knowledge of the constraints of working with smallholders Farmers who provide raw materials for industrial processing is important.
•     Fluency in English language is required.
•     Good drafting and communication.

Position: Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation Expert

Job Reference: NGX3

Job Description
We are seeking to recruit a monitoring, learning & evaluation expert to join our team, to develop and implement modalities for tracking the project activities and ensuring that milestones are achieved as at when due in Nigeria. The post-holder will contribute in the following work areas:

•     Device and monitor cassava roots and product flow by working closely with all value chain actors (farmers, processors, end-users, and consumers) other market intermediaries to improve the efficiency and competitiveness within the value chain.
•     Promote the establishment of monitoring mechanisms to help coordinate project activities along the value chain as well as improving communications sod understanding within the value chain. Identify and document successes, risks, challenges, and opportunities, in the course of project implementation.
•     Document regularly price, volume, and beneficiaries that supplied cassava roots to any market. Communicate identified risks or threats to the CM, BDEs, CTE(P) so as to make and implement recommendations for guidance to the actualization of the overall project objectives. Facilitate regular meetings of project beneficiary and groups for information dissemination, shared learning experience and project monitoring & Evaluation purposes.
•     Undertake any other activities relevant for the achievement of the project objectives as may be assigned by the Country Manager.
•     This specific post will focus on CAVA II project spanning a period of 5 years (April 2014 to 2019). The post will be based in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
•     The position will involve frequent travel within Nigeria and occasional travel to other project countries.

Qualification & Requirements

•     University Degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Sociology, Statistics, Project Management or related fields is required. Minimum of five years cognate experience in Project Monitoring & Evaluation is essential.
•     Demonstrated knowledge of the constraints of working with smallholders farmers who provide raw materials for industrial processing is important.
•     Fluency in English language is required.
•     Good drafting and communication skills.

Position: Project Drivers/Mechanics

Job Reference: PDOX5

Qualification & Requirements
The requirement for this position are:

•     Valid Drivers License.
•     Basic literacy and numeric skills.
•     Minimum of 2 years’ experience as Driver/Mechanic.
•     Evidence of medical fitness from a medical practitioner.
•     Letters of references from three (3) persons: one of whom must be the appellant's last employer.

Job Title: Promotion Expert 

Job Reference: PDOXI

Job Description

• We are seeking to recruit an Investment Promotion Expert to join our team, to expand our capacity to develop considerable expertise and knowledge on investment promotion. business administration and related issues. The post-holder will contribute in the following work areas:
• Developing and executing a strategy to encourage private sector investment in cassava processing across the five CAVA II countries particularly but not limited to investments in flash dryers
• Work closely with CAVA II Country Managers to identify, shortlist and pitch potential investors,
• helping ensure their business plans are sound and their operational plans are focused on inclusion of
• smallholders farmers
• Provide guidance and mentorship to Country-based Business Development Experts.
• This specific post will focus on CAVA II project spanning a period of 5 years (April 2014 to March 2019). The position will be based in Abeokuta, Nigeria. The position will involve frequent travel within these countries.

Qualifications and experience:

•     An advanced University degree in economics, business administration or related field is required.
•     Minimum of five years cognate experience particularly in the area of investment promotion and business development is essential.
•     Demonstrated knowledge of the constraints of working with smallholders farmers who provide raw materials for industrial processing is important.
•     Fluency in English language Is required. Good drafting and communication skills.

Position: Communication Assistant

Job Reference: PDOX2

Job Description

• We are seeking to recruit a Communication Assistant to join our team to enhance effective communication among all parties involved in the implementation of the Project’s objectives. ‘The post-holder will contribute the development of a communication strategy for sharing lessons learned to inform and engage project and non project actors to support the wide spread uptake of profitable and sustainable cassava farming and processing;
• This specific post will focus on a large cassava project - Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Phasa II (CAVA II) working in five African countries namely: Nigeria Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi. Spanning a period of 2 years (April 2014 to March 2016), the post will be based in Abeokuta, Nigeria. The position will involve frequent travel within these countries.

Qualification and experience:

•     University Degree in Mass Communication, Communication Arts or related fields is required.
•     Experience with technical cooperation projects, particularly in the area of communications would be an advantage.
•     Some professional experience at an international level is desirable.
•     English is the working language.
•     For the post advertised, fluency in English, Good drafting and communication skills is required.

Position: Assets Maintenance Assistant

Job Reference: PDOX3 

Job Description
We are seeking to recruit an Assets Maintenance Assistant in the Project Director’s Office, CAVA II Project Office based in FUNAAB to ensure adequate maintenance of all assets in the Project Director’s Office to enhance the efficiency and administration of the Office. The post holder will be charged with the following duties:

•     Keeping and maintaining an accurate and detailed inventory of all assets within the Project Director’s Office.
•     Coordinating the timely repair and maintenance of all assets within the Project Director’s Office.
•     Supervising all Drivers attached to the Project Director’s Office and drawing up their work schedule.
•     Undertake any other duties as are required.

Qualifications sad experience

•     A minimum of SSCE.
•     Good drafting and communication skills.
•     Fluency in English Language is required.

APPLICATIONS

Remuneration
Salary and allowances are competitive.

Conditions
The position will be for a one year period renewable annually subject to performance evaluation and Project lifetime. The normal working hours will be from 5am to 6pm. Mondays to Fridays. The job will involve regular travel out of Abeokuta which may stream out of normal working hours or Sometimes overnight. Remuneration shall not be less than that of equivalent positions in the Civil Service.

Typed applications letter accompanied with current curriculum vitae (CV) and scanned copies of educational certificates should be sent to: cava2@funaab.edu.ng