Job Rationale:

A fast growing livestock company is seeking to employ Three (03) Veterinary Field Coordinators (VFC) that will lead and facilitate veterinary extension activities among smallholder livestock farmers including the adoption of improved animal management, production practices and standards in all operating areas to ensure that animal health, animal husbandry and product quality assurance is achieved.

The VFC will also ensure that all participant farmers have the knowledge and skills to humanely maximize their animals’ productivity and reduce the cost of production to the lowest level possible and will work in close collaboration and coordination with field staff.

He/she shall also support the Project Manager on implementing day-to-day activities and Lead Farmers in diagnosing and treatment of diseases and dysfunctions of animals including the adoption of pastures and forage practices.

Key performance areas:

1. Promote adoption, and sharing of improved fodder and pasture production best practices
2. Establish pasture and fodder demonstration fields as well as continuous adoption of improved fodder and pasture production amongst target farmers
3. Capacity build and Train farmers on improved animal husbandry, disease prevention and control
4. Conduct field demonstrations, visits and document changes in management practices
5. Encourage the adoption of AI practices and adoption of high hybrid breeds
6. Strengthened entrepreneurial capacities among smallholder  farmers
7. Facilitate and develop strategies that will ensure improved livestock welfare and environmental safety (protection/preservation and conservation)
8. Promote and Implement integrated Climate Smart Agriculture
9. Measures adoption of pasture and sustainable pasture availability (year-round, quality and quantity) and management
10. Collect data and maintain a good recording system on the performance of livestock value chains for inclusion in reports and databases for Monitoring and Evaluation
11. Document lessons learned, best practices and success stories
12. Promoted community-led ME&L systems

Position Requirements:     

Education:    A Minimum of  Diploma in Animal Science or a related field.

Experience: Experience in rural farmer centric participatory approaches and community mobilization activities. Minimum of 3 years’ experience with a valid practicing license from the Veterinary Association of Zambia (VAZ).

Qualities:

• Ability to travel away from home at short notice and for long periods. Must have a driver’s license and/ or ability to ride motor bike
• Commitment to organizational goals and vision
• Ability to resolve group conflicts and sensitive to social issues such as gender and social norms

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to establish priorities and work with minimal supervision to meet deadlines
• Enjoy assisting people