Field Officer (PNG)

Field Officer

(Effective as of 04/01/2022)

Do you want to help us save the world, one farmer at a time?

Who are we?

AgUnity is an award-winning tech start-up with a super app and blockchain platform that enables trust and cooperation for smallholder farming communities. By using AgUnity, farmers can create secure, immutable transactions, enabling them to trade on a fairer basis and increase their incomes

What do we do?

We deploy low-cost smartphones programmed with our app all around the world, from East Africa, to SE Asia, to the Pacific. We work alongside the farmers to find out their issues, training them to use the app and help them develop their businesses.

Where are we located?

Although our head office is on the Gold Coast, our people and projects are spread over 16 different countries. We are predominantly a remote based company, working over several time zones.

The role of Field Officer will be located in Sepik, Papua New Guinea In line with a new project commencing there.

What Is the job?

For this role, the scope of work includes assessment of the value chain, business process, adapting AgUnity technology with local business process and deployment of technology (phone and T-cards) to Vanilla value chain actors – which scope will be determined in the project. Overseeing the media capture of all registered farmers for eventual Agriwards on-boarding counts as another major outcome. The activities will be accompanied by weekly reporting, inception, deployment and monitoring report as prescribed by the department and the donor.

• Conduct value chain analysis, and baseline to capture financial and technological behaviour
• Analyse technological and service gap required to improve daily business process and general livelihood of the value chain actors (farmers, middlemen, buyers involved)
• Upon configuration of the apk (software), conduct quality assurance on the technology, planning, budget and scheduling of deployment.
• Finalize deployment and adjust phone distribution as needed (users who are unwilling to cooperate need to be replaced and phones collected).
• Check on active users regarding problems / issues / feedback of phone and app usage
• Observation + insights & evaluation report
• Oversee media taking for AgUnity and potentially Agriwards
• Fostering good relationship as main liaison officer with project partner and assist program coordinator in communicating with the donor.

The role directly reports to the AgUnity Program Director and Asia Pacific Program Coordinator.

Who are we looking for?

A structured, tenacious and values-focused person who has the ability to juggle a few balls at once. Culturally sensitive and an excellent communicator with a high EQ Is highly desirable.

• Self-driven in terms of program managing on the ground, budgeting, donor relations and in-house coordination.
• Reflective, clear, and communicative in terms of progress and challenges with in-house team
• Good storytelling and documentation ability (visuals and narrative)
• Ability to work in Agile team environment (persistent iterative innovations and retrospective)
• Resourceful in terms of innovating in stakeholder relations, projects scoping and programming, with the ability (how limited it is) of technology provided.
• Ability to bring oneself in with varying stakeholders and especially in rural settings (e.g. talking with government, local private sector, farmers, rural stakeholders in respectful and engaging way)
• Enterprising and having business acumen to think independently how each project can scale itself and build roadmap/concepts towards that realisation.
• Patience and empathy, especially critical to listen to and communicate ideas to people from varying socio-cultural-economic backgrounds.
• Resilient to cope with rough terrain work in the last mile.

Required experience/skills:

Education or professional experience on Agribusiness / value chain development in rural settings (at the last mile)

Experience in qualitative research methodology is bonus

Innovation mindset (creative and open to testing, failing, and learning from mistakes).

Affinity and experience towards technology, fintech, agtech and SaaS in general

Originating from and living in Sepik region in Papua New Guinea

What are we offering?

A 6-month contract role (with the possibility of extension) in a values-driven, remote based tech startup with flexible hours in a fun and dynamic team. We offer a great work environment and the chance to empower people and change lives.

Remuneration

500-700 USD per month, based on skills, experience and current salary. In addition, the following provisions will be made:

Accommodation required for site visits

Public transport fees reimbursed upon provision of receipt (self-receipt is sufficient)

• Data and communication allowance.

Diversity and Inclusion

At AgUnity we believe that ‘the strength of the team is in each other’. In recruiting our team, we believe in giving equal opportunities and in doing so look to learn from each other’s life experiences, knowledge, perspective, talent and achievements. Our values unite us irrespective of education, race and cultural background, nationality, social class, gender identity and expression, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, or age.

Interview Process

Interviews will be conducted via Zoom, therefore a stable internet connection is required for the duration of the interview.

1. Culture fit - an Interview with our H.R manager

2. Line Manager

3. Senior Colleague

4. [Optional] Senior Colleague #2

5. CEO

We also ask for references from 3 people you previously or currently work with (preferably a supervisor) , and confirmation of previous salary.