Project Background
Forest Flavors India is an initiative in Kerala that seeks to strengthen sustainable and climate-resilient spice value chains for smallholder and remote farming communities in districts such as Wayanad, Idukki, and Kottayam. The initiative focuses on promoting responsible spice production, strengthening farmer support systems, and identifying practical approaches for organic and lower-residue sourcing. It will also generate learning about production challenges, market requirements, and opportunities to improve farmers' access to reliable and higher-value markets.
As lead for the project, you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on project activities, supporting assessments and learning initiatives, and providing technical and operational support to project partners and stakeholders. You will contribute to strengthening sustainable and climate-resilient spice value chains by supporting responsible production, farmer support systems, market-linked opportunities, and evidence generation. Working closely with key stakeholders, you will help ensure activities are implemented in line with CRS program quality standards, market requirements, and community needs, while promoting practical solutions that improve farmer resilience, productivity, and access to higher-value markets.
Roles and Key Responsibilities
Organize and lead implementation of assigned project activities in line with approved workplans, CRS program quality standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
Ensure learning, monitoring, and accountability are integrated throughout the project cycle. Support assessments, document lessons learned, analyze implementation challenges, and recommend adjustments to improve project effectiveness.
Support field assessments and evidence generation to identify feasible solutions, strengthen market-linked approaches, and inform project learning, adaptive management, implementation planning, and future interventions.
Coordinate and maintain effective working relationships with project stakeholders, including farmer groups, technical experts, buyers, private sector actors, certifying agencies, research institutions, and relevant government departments, to support implementation, learning, and collaboration opportunities.
Contribute to translating feasibility findings and field learning into practical implementation plans, technical support priorities, pilot design recommendations, and adaptive management actions.
Coordinate partner capacity strengthening and technical support activities to promote sustainable spice production, improved farm practices, quality systems, traceability, compliance, and market readiness.
Support engagement with prospective donors, private sector actors, and strategic partners by preparing briefs, field evidence, case studies, concept notes, proposals, donor communications, and project reports.
Coordinate logistical and administrative support for project activities, meetings, field visits, and partner engagement processes.
Required Languages
Strong oral and written communication skills in English and Malayalam are required. Knowledge of Hindi is desirable.
Travel
Must be willing and able to travel up to 40% to field locations in Kerala, as required.
Key Working Relationships
Internal: CRS program, technical, MEAL, finance, operations, partnership and senior management teams.
External: Partners, technical service providers, buyers/exporters, public programs and prospective donors or private sector partners.
Supervisory Responsibilities
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required in agriculture, rural development, natural resource management, agribusiness, social sciences, development studies or a related field.
Minimum 2 to 5 years of relevant experience in project implementation, agriculture/livelihoods programming, value chain development, climate-resilient agriculture, organic farming, farmer institution strengthening or NGO project support.
Experience working with implementing partners, farmer groups, community-based institutions, government stakeholders or private sector value chain actors.
Preferred Qualifications
Understanding of climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, soil and water management, pest and disease management, bio-inputs, post-harvest practices and market-linked farmer incentives.
Experience in spice value chains, organic certification, Internal Control Systems, traceability, residue compliance or sustainable sourcing will be an advantage.
Experience working in Kerala, especially with smallholders, tribal, remote or mixed farming communities in high rainfall or hilly agroecological contexts.
Experience supporting feasibility studies, assessments, pilot design, partner capacity strengthening, learning documentation or donor proposal development.
Strong skills in coordination, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, field planning, documentation, use of MS Office applications and preparation of concise written updates.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Strong relationship management skills and ability to work respectfully with local partners, farmer institutions, technical experts, government stakeholders, private sector actors and CRS colleagues.
Good analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to identify practical implementation barriers and propose realistic next steps.
Ability to synthesize field information into clear, evidence-based recommendations for project design and decision-making.
Strong attention to detail, accuracy, timeliness and accountability in executing assigned responsibilities.
Proactive, service-oriented, results-focused, sensitivity to local context, farmer realities, partner priorities and CRS values.
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.
CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. We alleviate suffering and provide assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, belief or nationality.
CRS maintains strict standards of efficiency, accountability and transparency. Last year, more than 92 percent of revenues spent went directly to programs that benefit the poor overseas.
