Agricultural Engineer

Description

Job Summary: Provides agricultural and livestock technical assistance to producers and organizations, focusing on agronomic management of cocoa and pineapple crops, capacity building, and sustainability. Key Highlights: 1. On-site rural technical assistance focused on cocoa and pineapple. 2. Capacity building for small rural producers. 3. Promotion of sustainability, quality, and access to specialized markets. Education: * Technician, technologist, or professional degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Agro-industrial Engineering, Agricultural and Livestock Production, Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development, or related fields. Additional training in rural technical assistance, sustainable agriculture, agricultural certifications, integrated pest and disease management, post-harvest handling, cocoa quality, primary cocoa handling and processing, pineapple production, plant nutrition, sustainable production systems, or agricultural extension will be valued. Experience: * Minimum 2 years of professional experience in rural technical assistance, productive accompaniment, agricultural extension, strengthening of productive units, or training for small rural producers. * Minimum 2 years of specific experience providing technical assistance to associations of small producers, rural organizations, or peasant productive units, preferably in the Caquetá department or in territories with similar rural characteristics. Specific experience in agronomic management, harvesting, and post-harvest handling of cocoa and pineapple is required. Experience in quality processes, traceability, sustainable certifications, and differentiated production schemes applicable to the cocoa and fruit sectors—such as organic certifications, Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade, or other mechanisms related to sustainability, quality, and access to specialized markets—will be highly valued. * Experience working with peasant populations, small producers, rural associations, victims of armed conflict, populations undergoing reintegration, or communities located in areas affected by armed conflict. Experience in itinerant technical assistance, farm-visit routes, or accompaniment of geographically dispersed producers—considering territorial conditions and travel times to productive units—will be valued. Main Responsibilities: Implement agricultural and livestock technical assistance to participating producers and organizations according to the work plan, schedule, visit routes, technical targets, and project guidelines. Conduct on-farm technical visits and group accompaniment to guide agronomic management of cocoa and pineapple crops, including plant nutrition, phytosanitary health, integrated pest and disease management, harvesting practices, post-harvest handling, and improvement of production quality. Interpret existing soil analyses and translate their results into technical recommendations and tailored fertilization plans aligned with the conditions of each productive unit or organization. Accompany cocoa and pineapple organizations in strengthening their productive processes, promoting traceability, sustainability, quality, and compliance with technical requirements demanded by specialized markets and value chains. Strengthen producers’ capacities in harvesting, classification, post-harvest handling, loss reduction, and application of good agricultural practices contributing to improved productivity, quality, and commercial utilization of products. Provide technical accompaniment to organizations for adopting sustainable production practices, natural resource conservation, climate change adaptation, and compliance with quality standards. Organize training sessions, farmer field schools, practical demonstrations, and knowledge-transfer activities targeting small producers, using participatory and context-appropriate methodologies. Support identification of productive constraints, phytosanitary risks, and improvement opportunities within productive units, proposing technical solutions aligned with territorial conditions and producers’ capacities. Record, systematize, and report technical assistance progress, including meeting minutes, attendance lists, photographic records, visit forms, technical recommendations, production alerts, and other documentation required by project coordination. Required Competencies: •     Technical knowledge of coffee and/or avocado production systems. •     Ability to provide on-site rural technical assistance. •     Skill in interpreting technical information and translating it into practical recommendations. •     Proficiency in participatory training and rural extension methodologies. •     Ability to work effectively with small producers and rural organizations. •     Planning and organization of visit routes across dispersed territories. •     Clear, pedagogical, and respectful communication with rural communities. •     Ability to identify technical alerts and propose timely solutions. •     Orderly recording of field information, supporting documents, and evidence. •     Sensitivity to contexts of armed conflict, reintegration, and peacebuilding. Work Location: Hybrid in Caquetá