Agriculture Officer (AO)

Job by Compassionate and Development Services (CODES)

Posted: 5 August 2026

Category

Agriculture, Food Security, Conservation Agriculture, Climate Change Adaptation and Rural Development

Location

Blantyre, with 70% travel to T.A. Maseya, Chikwawa District

Employment Type

Full-time (Project-based Contract)

Contract Duration

Until April 2027 (with possibility of extension subject to project funding and performance)

Salary

As per the salary scale of the organization

Job Description

Compassionate and Development Services (CODES), the relief and development arm of the Brethren in Christ Church (BICC), is implementing a three-year food security and climate resilience project in Traditional Authority Maseya, Chikwawa District. The project promotes Conservation Agriculture (CA) while addressing climate change, household income improvement, gender equality, environmental conservation, market access, and resilient seed systems to strengthen the livelihoods of vulnerable farming households.

CODES invites applications from suitably qualified, experienced, and motivated candidates for the following position:

Position: Agriculture Officer (AO)

Duty Station: Blantyre, with 70% travel to Chikwawa District

Reports to: Technical Team Lead (TTL)

Contract: Full-time, project-based (ending April 2027)

Salary: As per the organization’s salary scale

Closing Date: 21 August 2026

Job Summary

The Agriculture Officer will coordinate and oversee the implementation of Conservation Agriculture activities within the project area. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership to project volunteers, lead farmers, and participating households to promote sustainable agricultural practices that improve productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and enhance household food security and incomes.

Working closely with the Technical Team Lead, the Agriculture Officer will support project planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building to ensure successful project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and supervise the implementation of Conservation Agriculture and climate-smart agriculture activities.
• Provide technical support and mentoring to volunteers, lead farmers, and community structures.
• Conduct farmer trainings, demonstrations, facilitate field days and exchange visits to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
• Establish and monitor demonstration plots and promote technologies such as minimum tillage, crop rotation/association, mulching, cover cropping, integrated soil fertility management, agroforestry, and sustainable water management.
• Conduct regular field monitoring, collect and analyze project data, and prepare quality technical reports.
• Document best practices, lessons learned, project success stories and challenges.
• Collaborate with government extension services, community leaders, farmer groups, and development partners.
• Integrate gender equality, environmental conservation, safeguarding, and climate resilience into project implementation.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, donor requirements, and government regulations.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Agricultural Extension, Crop Science, or a related field.
• A Master’s Degree will be an added advantage.

Experience

• At least three (3) years’ experience in agricultural development, preferably within an NGO.
• Demonstrated experience in Conservation Agriculture or Climate-Smart Agriculture programmes.
• Experience working with rural farming communities.
• Experience supervising field staff or volunteers is an added advantage.

Knowledge and Skills

Applicants should possess:

• Strong knowledge of Conservation Agriculture and sustainable farming practices.
• Good understanding of climate change adaptation and resilience-building approaches.
• Strong facilitation, training, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Good analytical, report writing, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collect and analyze project data.
• Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent spoken and written English and fluency in Chichewa.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate should demonstrate integrity, professionalism, accountability, initiative, teamwork, and commitment to serving rural communities and upholding the mission, vision, and values of CODES.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit:

• A cover letter.
• An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV) with at least three traceable referees.
• Copies of academic and professional certificates.

Applications should be sent by email to:

The Executive Director

Email: codesrecruitments@gmail.com

Closing Date: 21 August 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

CODES is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.