Senior Specialist

• Designation: Senior Specialist Sustainable Agriculture
• Organization: SwitchON Foundation
• Location: Kolkata (with extensive travel across India)
• Work Experience: Minimum 6-8 years in sustainable agriculture, climate-resilient farming, or rural development
• Compensation: 78 Lakhs per annum(Fixed) (commensurate with experience and qualifications)
• Language Proficiency: Hindi, English, and Bengali

About SwitchON Foundation

Established in 2008, SwitchON Foundation is a pioneering non-profit organization committed to driving sustainable development through innovative solutions in climate-resilient agriculture, clean energy, green livelihoods, and industry decarbonization. With a passionate team of over 175 professionals, we operate across 10 states in India, empowering communities with climate-smart technologies and practices.

Recognized as a Great Place to Work, SwitchON Foundation takes pride in its inclusive and diverse workplace, with strong representation of women in leadership roles. Our impact is amplified through a combination of innovative programs, social enterprises, and strategic policy advocacy aimed at creating lasting change.

To learn more about our work, please visit:

Position Summary

The Senior Specialist Sustainable Agriculture will lead and manage the planning, execution, and scaling of SwitchONs sustainable agriculture programs across multiple regions in India. This role is critical in building resilient agricultural systems, promoting regenerative and climate-resilient practices, and enhancing farmer livelihoods.

Key Responsibilities

• Climate Resilient Agriculture Program Design

• Lead the design of Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) programs by incorporating industry best practices and tailoring interventions to diverse agro-ecological zones across India.

• Conduct in-depth assessments to define suitable infrastructure, cropping systems, training needs, and farm practices for each region.

• Develop training materials and frameworks to guide effective implementation of CRA programs.

• Train internal teams and field staff to independently execute and scale sustainable agriculture models.

• Guide region-specific program planning for ecological agriculture and allied rural livelihoods.

• Oversee field trials and demonstrations to validate climate-smart agricultural practices and innovations.

• Team Leadership

• Manage and mentor a team of 10–15 field and technical professionals.
• Foster a high-performance, impact-driven team culture.
• Organize training, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives for staff, farmers, and partners.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
• Build and maintain relationships with government agencies, donors, CSR partners, and grassroots organizations.
• Represent SwitchON in key national/regional forums, consortia, and development partnerships.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align CRA initiatives with government schemes and local needs.
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
• Develop and oversee robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Analyze program data to drive decision-making and adaptive management.
• Document outcomes, learnings, and best practices in CRA and regenerative agriculture.
• Ensure timely, high-quality donor reporting and compliance.
• Innovation & Knowledge Sharing
• Promote sustainable, organic, and regenerative farming models through pilots and scalable innovations.
• Encourage peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange between farmers and field teams.
• Drive knowledge dissemination for CRA through case studies, manuals, and community education tools.

Qualifications, Experience & Skills

• Education: Master's in Agriculture / Agronomy
• Experience:
• Minimum 6-8 years in agriculture, climate adaptation, or rural development project management.
• Demonstrated leadership in NGOs or the development sector.
• Hands-on experience working with farming communities, FPOs, or government programs (e.g., NRLM, PKVY).
• Skills:
• Strong program design and project management capabilities.
• Proficiency in donor engagement, proposal development, and reporting.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Fluency in Hindi, English, and preferably Bengali.
• Knowledge of climate-resilient agricultural practices and ecological farming models.

Reporting Structure

• Reports To: Executive Director
• Team Size: 10–15 technical and field professionals

Travel Requirements

• Extensive travel across Eastern India for field implementation, team supervision, and stakeholder coordination.

Compensation

• Annual CTC:7–8 Lakhs per annum(Fixed)
• Additional Benefits: Variable Pay + Commitment Bonus (Compensation will be aligned with experience, qualifications, and current salary)
• Reimbursement: Official travel, stay, and logistics as per organizational policy

Application Process

To apply, please complete the application form and upload your updated CV and cover letter via the link -