Job Summary:
The Technical Advisor I – Market-Oriented Extension Expert will provide technical advice and support across a range of program design and implementation issues within their area of expertise. In line with established program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices, the Advisor will play a pivotal role in strengthening producer organizations by promoting inclusive, sustainable, and market-driven approaches. The successful candidate will support country program teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to poor and vulnerable farming communities, ensuring interventions enhance organizational capacity, improve market linkages, and contribute to resilient livelihoods.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- Support the development and implementation of strategies, standards, tools, and best practices for market-oriented extension systems, ensuring integration of value chain approaches, climate-smart agriculture, gender, youth inclusion, and resilience.
- Provide technical assistance to country program teams and partners, both remotely and in the field, on demand-driven extension models, farmer advisory services, and integration of production with market requirements.
- Contribute to the technical design and development of proposals, including concept notes and full proposals, integrating market-oriented extension, commercialization pathways, and private sector engagement.
- Support capacity strengthening of extension staff, partners, and producer organizations through development of training curricula, facilitation of workshops, and coaching on good agricultural practices (GAP), business skills, and market systems.
- Provide technical solutions to improve farmer productivity and commercialization, including adoption of improved technologies, climate-smart practices, and strengthening of extension-delivery mechanisms (e.g., lead farmer models, digital extension).
- Collect, analyze, and utilize agricultural and market data to inform extension services, track performance, and document lessons learned and best practices for adaptive management and learning.
- Contribute to building and maintaining strategic partnerships with government extension systems, private sector actors, research institutions, and development partners to strengthen coordinated service delivery.
- Ensure quality assurance and technical excellence in program implementation and reporting, including integration of MEAL frameworks, compliance with standards, and timely delivery of technical outputs and consultancy deliverables.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Proficiency in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), web conferencing applications, and information and budget management systems.
- Experience in project design and proposal development, including writing content for proposals.
- Knowledge of capacity-strengthening best practices and experience with program monitoring, evaluation and analysis.
- Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and secure buy-in from individuals across diverse geographical and cultural settings.
- Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills, with sound judgement and the ability to see the big picture.
- Good technical writing, presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring and coaching skills.
- Proactive, resourceful and results oriented.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in Agricultural Extension and Development, Agribusiness, Rural Development, or Applied Agricultural Sciences from an accredited institution.
Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none)
No
Key Working Relationships:
Internal
External
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Extension and Development, Agribusiness, Rural Development, or Applied Agricultural Sciences from an accredited institution.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in implementing market-driven extension strategies, including participatory approaches that enhance farmers’ access to demand-driven advisory services.
- Strong expertise in agricultural technology adoption, digital extension tools, and linking smallholder farmers to high-value markets.
- Experience designing and executing farmer field schools, business incubation programs, and tailored extension packages for diversified agricultural enterprises.
Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
- Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
- Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
- Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
- Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
- Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies:
- Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
- Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
- Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
What we offer
CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role. CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
Organization context
General Requirements
CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements. All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.
