Horticulture Specialist (AGRIPACT Project)

About the role

AVSI Foundation, implementing the AGRIPACT project on agricultural value chains across Nakuru and Kilifi counties, is looking for a Horticulture Specialist to report to the Project Manager. The role leads technical agronomy, capacity building, field trials and post-harvest technology adoption, helping smallholder farmers and producer groups move toward sustainable, high-yielding, climate-smart horticultural production while reducing post-harvest losses and meeting GlobalGAP and regional food safety standards. The position is full-time, 12 months, renewable, based at the Nakuru or Kilifi county offices.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development and rollout of climate-smart agronomic protocols, GAP and soil fertility guidelines.
• Design and deploy Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols and train farmer groups on food safety, safe chemical handling and certification standards.
• Establish demonstration plots and Farmer Field Schools, create extension guidelines and train field staff and community advisors.
• Prepare monthly performance reports, work plans and budgets, and coordinate project activities to high quality.
• Supervise field officers and support their capacity development.
• Track and report progress using the project's monitoring and evaluation system, and collect evidence of impact and success stories.
• Mobilize participants for trainings, field visits and learning tours, and support the MEAL and quarterly project committee meetings.
• Build partnerships with county governments, line ministries, the private sector and associations, and represent AVSI at project meetings.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Horticulture, Agronomy, Crop Science, Agricultural Science or a closely related field; a Master's is an added advantage.
• At least 3 years of hands-on technical experience in commercial horticultural production, greenhouse management or agricultural extension.

Required skills

• Practical knowledge of GlobalGAP standards, food safety regulations and export market quality requirements.