Cluster Coordinator

Job Description

Title: Cluster Coordinator

Company Name: Chemonics International Inc. Feed the Future Bangladesh Horticulture, Fruits, and Non-Food Crops Activity

Vacancy: --

Age: Na

Job Location: Barishal, Dhaka, Khulna

Salary: Negotiable

Experience:

• At least 7 years

University degree (Bachelor/Master) in a relevant field or discipline including, but not limited to, agricultural sciences, business management, economics, supply chain management, and marketing. The only exception below this level is a Diploma in Agriculture.

• At least 7 years

• At least 7 years of experience in the agricultural sector for agricultural productivity enhancement and marketing with experience in mobilizing farmers’ community, farmers groups, local market actors, and service providers.

• Experience in market promotion and marketing of agricultural inputs and outputs preferably with a specific focus on agriculture market systems development.

• Experience in rural agricultural markets, agricultural supply chain development, and agriculture technology extension.

• Good interpersonal skills, honesty, and commitment to excellence.

• Ability to effectively present and facilitate meetings with different categories of farmers groups, local market actors, and service providers.

• Experience in working with local govt. agricultural extension, research, and other stakeholders.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective, sustainable relationships with Activity staff and the general development and business community.

• Strong organizational and work prioritization skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

• Demonstrates leadership, versatility, and integrity.

USAID Feed the Future Bangladesh Horticulture, Fruits, and Non-Food Crops Activity

Report To: Regional Partnership Team Lead

Job Location: Based in the union, upazila, or district of Barisal, Khulna, and Dhaka division.

Job Context:

Chemonics International Inc., a USA-based international development consulting firm, is seeking qualified candidates for USAID Feed the Future Bangladesh Horticulture, Fruits, and Non-Food Crops Activity. The purpose of this Activity is to support the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) and its food security objective by increasing the private sector’s capacity to increase productivity and production of quality horticulture, fruits, and non-food crops that meet international standards. The Activity will also strengthen value chains, linking Bangladeshi smallholder commercial farmers and other value chain actors toward increasing the efficiency of the market system to meet domestic and international market demands. The result will be a more competent private sector and efficient market systems that will increase farmers’ income and improve the food security of Bangladesh. Implementation will effectively integrate resilience, gender equality, nutrition, climate change adaptation, youth, and digital tools.

Position Description:

The Cluster Coordinator will play a pivotal role in driving the development of farmer clusters in collaboration with the Activity’s partners. This position focuses on integrating all value chain actors with cluster farmers across targeted sectors, including vegetables, fruits, potatoes, coffee, cashew nuts, flowers, and fibers. The Cluster Coordinator will work closely with the Regional Partnership Team Lead and the Partnership Coordinator to identify opportunities and design context-specific, market-based solutions and business development services that promote broader cluster development. By employing a sector-specific approach, the Cluster Coordinator will implement Activity strategies with key market actors in selected agricultural value chains—vegetables, fruits, potatoes, coffee, cashew nuts, flowers, and fibers—using an end-market approach. This includes providing technical support to stakeholders and fostering partnerships to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Bangladesh’s Feed the Future target zones. The Cluster Coordinator is expected to oversee the cluster development process independently while ensuring coordination with internal teams and external stakeholders.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities: The Cluster Coordinator will fulfill the duties listed below-

• Act as a focal point for identifying farmers' clusters, identifying opportunities, analyzing the underlying restraints for the cluster's growth, and designing market-based interventions for addressing the restraints and unleashing the opportunities to accomplish the desired results.
• Lead the implementation of cluster approach and strategies for the Activity, focusing on creating model farmer clusters dedicated to the safe production of vegetables or fruits.
• Maintain effective communication with local market actors and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and facilitate linkages among cluster farmers, local market actors, DAE, and service providers.
• Assist cluster farmers and partners in developing actionable activities that unlock potentials, remove obstacles, or accelerate the growth of farmers, partner businesses, etc.
• Work closely with partners and partnership coordinators to develop work plans that align with the Activity’s work plans and cluster development strategies. Help partners and the MEL team to measure and track results.
• Support partners in adopting the Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) agenda to ensure interventions are strengthened to maximize results.
• Promote new technologies and plant materials at the cluster farmer level to enhance safe production and quality.
• Support the Gender focal point and Activity staff in meaningfully incorporating women and disadvantaged populations into the cluster development process.
• Represent the Activity in meetings, workshops, and seminars. Support Communications Coordinator in Activity reporting.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the CoP, DCoP, Sr. Partnership Director, or Regional Partnership Team Lead consistent with the overall nature of the project.

Negotiable based on experience, qualifications and salary history.