Heading is recruiting for its client, a Agriculture Operation Specialist - Coconut Production (M/F) to be based in Cabo Delgado
Main responsibilities:
- Develop and implement strategic operational plans for coconut cultivation, focusing on maximizing biofuel production while ensuring sustainability, food production (food security) and environmental stewardship.
- Manage all stages of coconut farming, including land preparation, planting, irrigation, pest, and disease control, and harvesting, focusing on small scale farmers.
- Conduct research and stay updated on innovative techniques and technologies in coconut farming and biofuel production to improve yields and efficiency.
- Collaborate with agricultural researchers, agronomists, and other stakeholders to optimize crop performance and mitigate environmental impact.
- Establish and maintain relationships with coconut farmers, suppliers, and partners to ensure a consistent and high-quality supply of raw materials for biofuel production.
- Monitor and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the progress of coconut production and biofuel extraction operations.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and standards related to agricultural practices, biofuel production, food production and environmental protection.
- Provide training and support to local farmers, farm workers and technicians to enhance their skills and knowledge in coconut farming.
- Troubleshoot issues related to crop health, quality, or production efficiency and implement corrective measures as needed.
Accountabilities
- Able to work with the complexity of the time and cost management accuracy.
- Able to work in the Mozambican agriculture landscape.
- Contribute to the conceptualization of local market development and integration under assigned projects, by using available data, relevant analyses, and documents.
- Contribute to the implementation of feasible and sustainable local value chain development projects.
- Integrate and its contractors demands with the local market.
Qualifications/Experience required
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in agriculture, agronomy, or a related field
- Proven experience in coconut farming, preferably with a focus on biofuel production
- Proven experience on agroforestry for parallel food and energy production
- Strong knowledge of agricultural best practices, crop management techniques, and sustainable farming methods.
- Familiarity with biofuel production processes, including extraction, refining, and conversion.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data, report and make data-driven decisions.
- Project management experience with a focus on the implementation of management systems, planning skills, and workload management.
- Management skills and developing collaborative relationships with co-workers’ workforce, stakeholders, and community partners.
- Detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
- Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work in a dynamic agricultural environment.
- Knowledge of relevant regulations and compliance standards related to agriculture and biofuel production.
- Passion for sustainability and environmental conservation.
- Ability to plan, implement and track project results and performance measures with the creation and monitoring of robust indicators.
- Fluent English and Portuguese, oral and written. French is a plus.
