Applications are invited from suitably qualified local candidates for the following positions that are tenable in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
MINISTRY : AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
DEPARTMENT
TITLE : DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL OFFICER
GRADE : I
RESPONSIBLE TO : DIRECTOR OF FIELD SERVICES
LOCATION : BEREA
JOB SUMMARY
UNDER THE GENERAL SUPERVISION OF THE DIRECTOR OF FIELD SERVICES THE INCUMBENTS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FORMULATION AND REVIEW OF DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL POLICY; DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW OF THE DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL
STRATEGIC PLAN; FACILITATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL POLICY, PROGRAMMES AND
PROJECTS; MANAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL BUDGET; EFFECTIVE CONTROL AND UTILIZATION OF THE DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES; COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES; STAFF RECRUITMENT DEVELOPMENT AND DISCIPLINE AND SUPERVISION AND TRAINING OF STAFF.
MAIN DUTIES
1 FORMULATION AND REVIEW OF DEPARTMENTAL POLICY
1.1 Develops in liaison with the district sectional heads and stakeholders, the strategic district policy in line with the departmental policy to guide the systematic execution of district duties.
1.2 Monitors the performance of the developed district policy to identify areas of improvement so as to enhance relevancy, efficiency and effectiveness.
1.3 Reviews and revises the district policy on a quarterly basis in order to realign it with the changing environmental and developmental needs.
2 DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW OF THE DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL STRATEGIC PLAN
2.1 Designs and develops strategic guidelines to provide a framework for the implementation of the district programmes and activities.
2.2 Designs and develops guidelines for common interpretation of the district fundamental intensions (mission, vision, goals and objectives) to facilitate their easy and common understanding to district staff and stakeholders.
2.3 Facilitates the conduction on a periodic basis, of strategic audit on the district strategic intensions and operational instruments in order to determine the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance to the changing environmental conditions.
2.4 Liaises with all the district strategic major stakeholders to develop and put in place the improved, relevant, dynamic and realigned strategic intensions and structural set up, in order to ensure the effectiveness, efficiency and adherence to the district principles, values and strategic agenda.
3 MANAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL BUDGET
3.1 Develops and issues budgeting guidelines and ceilings to the heads of section annually in order to guide and facilitate the preparation of the district budget.
3.2 Checks and approves the prepared district budget to ensure that it is within the set framework of guidelines.
3.3 Negotiates and justifies the district budget annually at the budgetary discussions in order to secure all the necessary funds to finance the district activities.
3.4 Controls and authorizes the district expenditure to ensure that the district funds are used accordingly, reasonably and accountably
3.5 Liaises with Director of Field Services to acquire necessary funds for departmental programmes, which have not and could not be budgeted for under the recurrent budget.
3.6 Authorizes the revision of the departmental budget whenever the need arises to facilitate the implementation of the critical programmes and activities within the district.
3.7 Liaises with the Department of Finance and Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture to facilitate an annual
audit on the annual utilization of public funds by the district.
4 EFFECTIVE CONTROL AND UTILIZATION OF DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
4.1 Designs and develops guidelines in line with the relevant public service rules and regulations for effective and efficient use of district resources in order to ensure their rational and optimal utilization
4.2 Authorizes the utilization of the district resources on a weekly basis to prevent their misuse by the departmental
staff.
4.3 Monitors on a monthly basis, the use of the district resources, the adherence to the utilization guidelines and the performance of the developed guidelines in order to make necessary revisions timely and accordingly.
4.4 Liaises weekly with the sectional heads to review the allocation of resources to facilitate their distribution to provide for the new projects that were not anticipated.
5 COORDINATION OF DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES
5.1 Consolidates the district annual plan and reports from the sectional heads so as to rationalize resource allocation.
5.2 Holds regular meetings with stakeholders to ensure common interpretation, understanding and synchronic implementation of programmes and effective service delivery.
5.3 Liaises with District Agricultural Officers and Heads of Department within the ministry to ensure mutual support between the implementation of their departmental policies and those of his or her district.
6 STAFF RECRUITMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND DISCIPLINE
6.1 Liaises with the district human resource office to ensure that vacant positions within the district are timely and accordingly filled in.
6.2 Recommends appointments, separations and transfers of the district staff to the management of the ministry in order to facilitate execution of and the effective utilization of district programmes and staff respectively.
6.3 Facilitates the drawing of the district staff training and development plan to ensure that it is in line with the ministerial training and development policy.
6.4 Checks and authorizes the implementation of the district staff training and development plan so as to facilitate the training and development of staff.
6.5 Intervenes in and resolves complex conflicts between and amongst the district staff to ensure harmonious and productive working relations.
6.6 Reprimands and recommends disciplinary proceedings against the district staff so as to maintain the highest possible level of discipline within the district.
7 SUPERVISION AND TRAINING OF STAFF
7.1 Holds regular meetings with the sectional heads under his or her supervision to facilitate planning and reporting of the districts’ activities
7.2 Convenes quarterly meetings with individual supervisees to review progress and accordingly approves the required and necessary revisions, in their operational work plans so as to provide the required resources for their achievement.
7.3 Conducts the annual performance appraisal on the
individual supervisees to assess their performance so as to identify their success, failures and training and development needs, in order to provide the necessary support.
7.4 Identifies the training needs of the individual supervisees and establishes the strategies to guide on their training and development, so as to promote their capacity, competence, efficiency and effectiveness.
7.5 Monitors and evaluates the post training and development performance of the supervisees in order to establish the extent and impact of the undertaken training and development programs, and determine the necessary action to maintain good skills and upgrade as necessary.
COMPENSABLE FACTORS
1. JOB SPECIFICATION
Education and Training requirements
MSc in Agricultural Extension, Crop Science, Animal Science or related field plus three (3) years working experience in any related field.
OR
B.Sc. in Agricultural Extension, Crop Science, Animal Science or related field plus five (5) years working experience in managerial position.
Other necessary knowledge and skills
– Computer literacy
– Good managerial and leadership skills
– Good interpersonal and communication skills
– Good conflict management skills
– Negotiation skills
– Persuasive skills
– Knowledge of public service rules and regulations
– Counseling skills
2 RESPONSIBILITY
2.1 For work of others
The job requires the incumbent to provide general supervision to eight supervisees.
2.2 For property
The incumbent is responsible for designing and interpreting guidelines for proper utilization and safekeeping of all district equipment as well as his/her office furniture.
2.3 For budget and finance in general
The incumbent is responsible for development of budgetary guidelines.
2.4 For safety of others
This factor is minimal in this job.
2.5 For effect of errors
The incumbent will be held responsible for work related errors that may occur as a result of negligence on the part of the supervisees.
3 COMPLEXITY
3.1 Authority for decision-making
The incumbent has authority to authorize any amount of money within the district budget as well as training, separations appointments and disciplinary proceedings in the district.
3.2 Problem solving
The job requires the incumbent to solve disputes between heads of sections and political bodies.
3.3 Supervision received
The incumbent is expected to work independently but reports monthly to his or her immediate supervisor.
3.4 Dexterity
This factor is very minimal in this job.
4 CONTACTS
The incumbent comes into contacts with the following officers/offices during the execution of duties:
| OFFICES/OFFICERS | REASON | FREQUENCY |
| Principal Chiefs | Coordination of activities | As required |
| Individual Heads Of Sections | Reporting and Planning | Monthly |
| Individual Heads Of Sections | Progress Review | Quarterly |
| Individual Heads Of Sections | Appraisal | Annually |
| Director of Field Services | Reporting and Planning | Monthly |
| Director of Field Services | Progress Review | Quarterly |
| Director of Field Services | Appraisal | Annually |
| District Secretary | Coordination of Activities | As required |
| Liaison Committees | Coordination of Activities | As required |
| Heads of Departments | Coordination of Activities | As required |
5.1 Mental effort
The job involves the following:
o Policy formulation and review o Strategic planning
o Development of guidelines o Conflict resolution
o That may result in mental fatigue.
5.2 Physical effort
The factor is not identified with this job.
5.3 Emotional effort
The job requires the incumbent to have patience, tolerance and understanding during conflict resolution, and interaction with different people of different characters.
6 WORKING CONDITIONS
6.1 Unfavorable working conditions
The job requires the incumbent to occasionally work beyond normal working hours, during weekends and on public holidays.
The incumbent may also be required to walk long distances on foot when doing spot checks where there are no car roads.
6.2 Hazards
The incumbent may be at risk of physical harm from subordinates that may be dissatisfied with his or her decisions. The incumbent may also be at risk of physical harm from snakebites when doing spot checks.
Applications on relevant forms, (obtainable from the Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security), GP 104 for serving officers and GP 103 for job seekers duly accompanied by certified copies of educational certificates, transcripts, National Identity Document and up-to-date performance appraisal forms for serving officers.
All applications must be addressed to:
The Director of Human Resources
Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security P.O. Box 24
Maseru – 100
Not later than the 20TH December, 2021 before 12:00 noon.