Job Profile

Position:
Grade:

Agri Hub Manager

E

Reports to:

Project Manager (Pathways)

Location:
Job
Summar
y

Bhubaneswar
CARE India is looking for an energetic professional with
entrepreneurial spirit to lead its Agri Extension Network. The
Network is a component of Pathways, a global project which seeks
to increase productivity and empower poor women small farmers
in more equitable agriculture systems at scale. CARE India is
implementing the project in the districts of Kalahandi and
Kandhamal in Odisha. This position offers opportunity for an
experienced professional to lead a challenging initiative working
with a team of skilled professional staff, partners, and other
stakeholders.
Pathways has identified agricultural extension and input supply as
key constraints affecting women small farmers productivity. The
Agri Extension Network aims to address this by providing them
access to quality extension services and farm inputs. Providing
strategic and operational leadership to the Network, the Agri Hub
Manager will develop, implement, and scale up this Network
across Pathways operational area in Odisha and beyond. The Agri
Hub Manager will ensure the goals and objectives of this project
component are met in a timely and effective manner. Key
responsibilities include, business planning and development;
managing operations, personnel, and finances; client service and
satisfaction; developing and nurturing business relationships;
resource planning and mobilization; public representation;
monitoring, learning and reporting. In order to achieve the
objectives, the Manager will be responsible for strategic thinking,
business development, leadership of the team, networking,
collaboration, administrative, financial and all other relevant
aspects of planning and implementation of the Network. S/he will
also support the Project Manager in integrating/aligning this with
the project and the organizational vision and priorities.

Key
Responsibili
ties

A. Developing Multi-Year Business Planning

Analysis of business environment: Understanding industry,

marketplace, target customers/impact group, competition,
market actors, potential partners/collaborators, growth
potentials and techno-economic viability of the planned
model in the project area

Strategic planning: Product and services mix, marketing,

selling and pricing mechanisms, growth plans and roadmap
to the future (including how to seize opportunities and avoid
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Job Profile

threats)

Financial planning: Costing and cash flow projections,

estimation of working capital requirements, break-even
point, financial viability, profit projection, and budget
requirement

Operational plan: Steps to be undertaken to implement the

business plan to meet the goals and objectives

B. Business Development and Management

Identify and develop Agripreneurs:

- Develop and execute appropriate tools and methods to
identify potential agripreneurs for the Network
- Assess the capacity building needs of agripreneurs
- Develop capacity development plan and build necessary
skills and capacities of each agripreneurs
- Work closely with financial partners to ensure
agripreneurs get access to credit and other financial
services

Develop business relations and partnerships:

- Identify, establish, and manage relationships with input
manufacturing companies, financial institutions, and
actors in their supply chain at various levels as
appropriate
- Lead negotiations with input manufacturers, financial
institutions
and
negotiate
beneficial
business
relationships with these companies/institutions
- Identify, establish and manage relationships with various
institutions and actors in the agricultural extension
system for sourcing effective extension services from
them
- Explore and diversify partnerships with extension
institutions and input manufacturers in line with the
business plan of the Network

Manage operations:
- Develop and execute relevant norms, systems, policies,
procedures, code of conducts and operations manual for
the management and operations of Agri Hub and Kiosks
- Develop and implement mechanisms to provide business
planning, managerial and handholding support to Agri
Kiosks by the Agri Hub
- Establish and implement mechanisms to coordinate and
provide business and a wide range of backend support to
the kiosks
- Identify and source appropriate technological solutions
that support the Network operations
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Establish effective and viable MIS and inventory

management system
Evaluate the infrastructure needs of the Network at both
Hub and Kiosk levels and implement cost effective
solutions
Review the progress made periodically and develop
necessary interventions to address the emerging needs
Establish and lead market research to continuously
evaluate the business environment to refine the business
model and plan
Identify new business opportunities in the region and
develop and adapt operations to harness these
opportunities

Personnel Management
- Assist and guide the agripreneurs in developing their
plans and timely implementation accordingly
- Observe Kiosk activities and performances and provide
feedback and guidance to agripreneurs, field teams and
senior management on their performances and next
steps
- Identify the need for additional human resource at Hub
and develop plans to expand the team as appropriate
- Identify capacity gaps and opportunities for agripreneurs,
and staff in Hub and project and ensure capacity building
on the Network and its operations
- Ensure agripreneurs and Hub staff are highly motivated
and high performing in implementing the initiative
- Coach and provide ongoing support to the agripreneurs
and Hub staff by establishing regular feedback
mechanisms
- Ensure CARE Indias Human Resource policies are well
understood across the Network and are complied with

Finance and Administrative Management

- Support Project Manager to ensure that the project
resources are used fairly and effectively, according to
plan
- Oversee the development and ongoing review of annual
work plans and budgets to ensure that annual milestones
are met within the approved budget
- Coordinate with the Program Support Manager and
ensure required project support is delivered to the project
on time
- Ensure adherence to CARE policies and procedures by the
Network and concerned staff
- Coordinate budget reviews and amendments as
necessary

Job Profile

C. Improve customer experience and satisfaction

Develop and put to use appropriate tools and protocols to
continuously evaluate the demand for extension and inputs
among women small farmers
Ensure the high quality and standards of the products and
services delivered through the Kiosks
Create and ensure gender equitable, women friendly
environment in the operations of the Kiosks and the
products and services they deliver
Develop a customer service charter/protocol
Put in place a mechanism of measuring customer feedback
to ensure high retention rate
Initiate rapid assessments and other studies to evaluate and
improve customer experience
Ensure the customer experience in Agri Kiosks meets best
practice and industry standards
Develop a master customer database for the region and
ensure it is used to improve marketing and customer service
standards
D. Resource planning and mobilization
Develop, review and revise resource mobilization plans in
accordance with the business plan and performance of the
Network
Help agripreneurs develop their individual resource
mobilization plans and support them to raise resources as
per their business plans
Mobilize resources for the Hub as per the business plan
Identify scope and opportunities for scaling up the Network
building on opportunities to leverage additional resources
E. Efficient knowledge management
Support
in
setting
up
mechanisms
for
process
documentation,
knowledge
gathering,
analysis
and
dissemination
Facilitate documentation of the innovation, case studies and
other initiatives involving the other technical staff in the
team
Develop and disseminate communication products on the
initiative to appropriate audiences for project visibility
Ensure communication content and material about the
Network are of high standard and accuracy, and aligned with
the communication strategy of the project
F.

Effective networking and representation

Network with government functionaries, key players in the
agricultural extension system, corporate, other market
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actors, and NGOs

Represent the Network at all relevant forums at state,
national, and internationally ensuring visibility, sharing of
ideas and best practices
Develop an enabling and supportive environment for the
Network among various stakeholders
Ensure high and positive reputation of the Network among a
diverse set of stakeholders

G. Monitoring/evaluation and reporting

Facilitate development of M&E plans for the Network and
ensure proper implementation of the plan
Facilitate technical inputs to develop appropriate and simple
routine monitoring systems
Plan and oversee all evaluations, as required by donors as
well as undertake special assessment as required
Timely donor reporting ensuring donor compliance
Qualificatio
n
&
Experien
ce

Masters degree in Business Administration/Agri Business or

any related discipline with relevant experience
A good conceptual understanding of key development
priorities in agricultural extension and inputs markets in
India
5-7 years of demonstrable experience in business
development with SMEs/companies/social enterprises
At least 2 years of work experience in agricultural extension
and input marketing
Experience of working in a diverse team
Understanding of issues related to social change processes,
gender equity and womens empowerment
Skills
& Professional qualities
Compete
Innovative and collaborative
ncies
Strong hands-on business development and management
skills (develop and operationalise business plans)
Good analytical (market, business, financial) and negotiation
skills
Capable of working independently with minimal supervision
Strategic, decisive and action oriented
Results-driven
Report writing skills
Fluency in English
Good computer skills and adeptness with ICT tools
Personal attributes
High level of integrity and honesty
Communicates with impact
Compassionate, and respectful of all people
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Tactful & non-judgmental attitude to others