Project Manager Solapur Horticulture & FPO

The vacancy announcement is being advertised with reference to the implementation of a large-scale income enhancement program, reaching out to 25,000 smallholder farming households (SHFs) in the state of Maharashtra through existing farmer producer organizations (FPOs). The program aims to strengthen the institutional and market access capacity of 15-20 FPOs from these two states and transform them into viable business entities leading to the integration of SHFs with agricultural markets, thereby improving their economic potential.

In this regard, the program will adopt a multi-pronged approach through Institutional strengthening and Market facilitation for these selected FPOs to enable them to become dominant market players in agri-value chains.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing the FPC business operations within the timeline, and scope. They will also effectively monitor and present project updates to relevant stakeholders, clients, and project team members. 

Responsibilities

The Project Manager (Grapes / Pomegranate / Horticulture Produce) will be responsible to manage the project operations and market linkage vertical of the program in Solapur / Pandharpur / Sangola region .

Specific tasks include:

- Build and maintain commercially viable partnerships between producers, exporters, processors, and buyers

- Develop and maintain business relationships with organized retail, institutional buyers, traders, and farmer groups to create sustainable marketing

- Facilitate long-term contractual relationships between FPOs, input service providers, and end-market buyers

- Design marketing, promotion, and branding activities

- Provide implementation-level support to the FPO on all marketing-related activities such as setting up aggregation systems, quality control, farmer training, processing, etc.

- Help establish business linkages bringing marketing connections as well as signed marketing contracts for products produced by the FPO members.

- Support and monitor compliance to all trade-related documentation such as APMC cess, VAT, entry taxes, waybills

- Manage relationships with multiple stake holders including buyers, processing units, local APMCs, agriculture departments, NCDEX, etc.

- Help the FPCs with on-ground problem solving, including negotiating with vendors and service providers, liaison with the local government department etc.

- Support the Project Team, where required, on other thematic areas within the program.

- Support the project leadership in all reporting and compliance matters

- Any other project activity as the need arises or advised by project leadership team

Qualifications

• Masters or Post Graduate Degree with 12-15 years of experience in Agriculture programs
• Strong business acumen in project planning, FPC management, market linkages
• Familiarity with other business disciplines such as finance, market research, sales, and planning
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) and an ability to build a convincing argument.
• Ability to manage the project teams and function independently
• Strong verbal, written, and organizational skills

Qualified and interested applicants should submit a word-formatted/pdf single document that includes a cover letter, resume and salary history to [email protected]