Vacancy title:
Postharvest Technology Specialist

Jobs at:
Iowa State University-Uganda Program (ISU-UP)

Deadline of this Job:
29th September 2017

Duty Station:
Kamuli, Uganda

Job details:
Iowa State University-Uganda Program (ISU-UP) is a foreign NGO based in Kamuli District. ISU-UP is rooted in the land grant mission of Iowa State University and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL). The ISU-UP envisions higher quality of life of the rural Ugandans in which rural people have access to sufficient food, sustainable income, good health and wellbeing. Every program is envisioned with an eye towards the future vitality of rural Uganda.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Managing the grains, oilseeds, and other ingredients used by ISU-UP and collaborating schools as ingredients for infant feeding, school feeding and livestock programs in order to maintain quality and food/feed safety.
•  Implementing appropriate postharvest techniques and technologies (e.g., drying and storage) for such ingredients to maintain quality and food/feed safety and to reduce postharvest losses.
• Monitoring the presence of and mitigating the effects of mycotoxins in such ingredients.
• Managing a micro-finance program for the distribution of hermetic storage containers to smallholder farmers.
• Developing and implementing outreach education programs on postharvest technology to smallholder farmers.
•  Assist in monitoring school garden activities so as to increase food security in schools with the respective school children and teachers in schools supported by ISU-UP in accordance to the approved work-plan and budget framework.
• Provide additional support to Agricultural Club pupils in schools supported by ISU-UP who perform gardening and poultry activities during holidays on planned days.
• Undertake all activities for effective borehole drilling, maintenance, repair and water quality
• Identifying water issues in the community and developing plans to address them.
•  Collaborating with community water committees to ensure the functionality and safety of the boreholes, and in the implementation of sanitation and health activities.
• Planning, coordinating and participating in the data collection by the University students undertaking data collection for research.
•  Writing regular weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for submission to the
•  National Director, ISU-UP, with copies to the Associate Director and may be required from time to time.
• Perform any other activities as may be directed by the ISU-UP management.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant must hold a Bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering, food science or closely related field.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in postharvest drying and storage of grains, oilseeds and other food/feed ingredients
• Knowledge and experience in reducing postharvest losses.
•  Knowledge and experience in measuring and understanding quality characteristics of food/feed ingredients.
• Knowledge and experience with borehole technology and management.
• Experience in developing and delivering outreach education programs to smallholder farmers.

Compensation: A competitive package of salary and health benefits will be offered to the successful applicant.

Job application procedure
If you are interested in joining ISU-UP should email their application letters with updated resume/CV (maximum 3 pages) to bjelland@iastate.edu  and tbrumm@iastate.edu  with copies to gnadiope@iastate.edu  with REF: PTS in the subject line.