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Werner Erkes Foundation

Founding Head of Training Centre – Agricultural TVET & Agribusiness

Werner Erkes Foundation

Uganda Full time Administration
Posted: Jul 28, 2026 6 days ago 39 views

Job Description

 

Founding Head of Training Centre – Agricultural TVET & Agribusiness Job at Werner Erkes Foundation (WEF)

Vacancy Title: Founding Head of Training Centre – Agricultural TVET & Agribusiness
Organisation: Werner Erkes Foundation (WEF)
Job Type: Full-Time
Industry: Non-Profit, Education, Agriculture, TVET, Agribusiness
Category: Management, Agriculture, Vocational Education, Project Management, Agribusiness
Duty Station: Elgon Region, Eastern Uganda
Reports To: WEF Project Manager (Germany)
Works Closely With: WEF Project Coordinator (Uganda)
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis (Apply as soon as possible)

About Werner Erkes Foundation (WEF)

The Werner Erkes Foundation (WEF) is a German non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting education and creating sustainable social impact across Sub-Saharan Africa. Through its local structures in Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa, the Foundation supports educational initiatives that improve livelihoods and create long-term opportunities for communities.
Following a comprehensive assessment, WEF plans to establish an Agricultural Vocational Training Centre in the Elgon Region of Eastern Uganda. The Foundation is therefore seeking an experienced and visionary Founding Head of Training Centre – Agricultural TVET & Agribusiness to lead the planning, establishment, and future operation of the centre.
This is a unique opportunity to build a vocational institution from the ground up while contributing to youth employment, agricultural innovation, and sustainable rural development.

Job Summary

The Founding Head of Training Centre – Agricultural TVET & Agribusiness will provide strategic and operational leadership for the establishment and management of WEF’s Agricultural Vocational Training Centre in Eastern Uganda.
The successful candidate will oversee the design and implementation of agricultural training programmes, establish an agribusiness model, recruit and develop staff, manage finances, build partnerships, ensure compliance, and provide overall leadership to create a sustainable, high-quality agricultural training institution.
The role requires extensive experience in agricultural vocational education, agribusiness development, project management, stakeholder engagement, and organizational leadership.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership of the Training Centre
  • Lead the establishment of the Agricultural Vocational Training Centre.
  • Conduct comprehensive needs assessments for agricultural training and agribusiness opportunities.
  • Engage stakeholders during planning and development.
  • Identify and support the selection of suitable land for the training centre.
  • Develop an integrated campus and demonstration farm concept.
  • Design sustainable agricultural vocational training programmes.
  • Develop viable agribusiness models covering crop production, livestock farming, and value addition.
  • Align training programmes with Uganda’s TVET priorities and labour market needs.
2. Operational Leadership
  • Prepare the training centre for operational launch.
  • Develop academic timetables and training schedules.
  • Prepare the initial farm operations plan.
  • Coordinate procurement of teaching materials, agricultural inputs, machinery, and equipment.
  • Ensure classrooms, workshops, and farm facilities are operational.
  • Coordinate admission and onboarding of the first cohort of trainees.
  • Supervise daily operational activities during establishment.
3. Financial Management and Staff Development
  • Develop and manage the centre's operational budget.
  • Design sustainable financing and revenue generation models.
  • Recruit qualified academic, administrative, and technical staff.
  • Develop staffing structures and job roles.
  • Mentor staff and strengthen institutional capacity.
  • Monitor staff performance and professional development.
  • Promote accountability and efficient resource utilization.
4. Quality Assurance, Compliance and Organisational Development
  • Lead day-to-day management of the training centre.
  • Develop and strengthen educational systems and institutional structures.
  • Monitor the quality of vocational training programmes.
  • Supervise farm production activities and agribusiness operations.
  • Ensure financial sustainability of the institution.
  • Ensure compliance with national TVET regulations and legal requirements.
  • Implement safeguarding, administrative, and operational policies.
  • Promote continuous improvement across all programmes.
5. Representation, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Represent WEF in engagements with government institutions and stakeholders.
  • Build partnerships with TVET authorities and educational institutions.
  • Collaborate with district local governments.
  • Engage parents, guardians, and local communities.
  • Develop partnerships with agricultural businesses and industries.
  • Establish industrial attachment and apprenticeship opportunities.
  • Strengthen agribusiness partnerships and market access.
  • Build relationships with development partners and donor organizations.

Working Relationships

The Founding Head of Training Centre will:
  • Be a member of the WEF Uganda Team.
  • Report directly to the WEF Project Manager in Germany.
  • Work closely with the WEF Project Coordinator in Uganda.
  • Coordinate major strategic decisions with WEF management.
  • Lead the daily management and long-term development of the Agricultural Vocational Training Centre.

Qualifications

Applicants should possess:
  • Degree or professional qualification in:
    • Agriculture
    • Agricultural Education
    • Agribusiness
    • Agricultural Engineering
    • Animal Science
    • Crop Science
    • Agricultural Economics
    • Related agricultural disciplines
Candidates from related backgrounds with substantial agricultural experience may also be considered.

Experience Requirements

Applicants should have:
  • Minimum of 8 years of combined professional experience in:
    • Agricultural vocational education
    • TVET programme management
    • Agribusiness development
    • Agricultural training
    • Project management
  • Demonstrated experience in both agricultural education and agribusiness.
  • Experience working within Uganda’s TVET system is highly desirable.

Knowledge Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of:
  • Agricultural vocational education in Uganda
  • TVET curriculum development
  • Agricultural value chains
  • Crop production systems
  • Livestock production systems
  • Agribusiness development
  • Value addition
  • Sustainable agriculture
  • Market-oriented production
  • Institutional management
  • Financial planning
  • Project management
  • Safeguarding requirements
  • Community engagement

Language Requirements

Applicants must have:
  • Excellent written and spoken English.
  • Ability to communicate in Luganda.
  • Knowledge of Lumasaba/Lugisu is an added advantage.

Key Skills and Competencies

Strategic Leadership
Ability to establish and grow a new vocational institution while aligning educational programmes with community and labour market needs.
Agricultural Technical Expertise
Strong understanding of modern agriculture, crop production, livestock farming, agribusiness, and agricultural value chains.
TVET Management
Ability to develop vocational education programmes that meet national standards and industry needs.
Project Management
Experience planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating complex development projects.
Financial Management
Ability to develop budgets, manage institutional finances, and ensure sustainability.
People Management
Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and staff development skills.
Communication Skills
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with diverse stakeholders.
Stakeholder Engagement
Ability to build productive relationships with government, communities, businesses, development partners, and educational institutions.
Problem Solving
Strong analytical skills with the ability to develop innovative solutions independently.

What WEF Offers

Successful candidates will enjoy:
  • Opportunity to contribute to meaningful social transformation.
  • Long-term career growth within an expanding international foundation.
  • Opportunity to establish and lead a new Agricultural Vocational Training Centre.
  • High level of ownership and decision-making responsibility.
  • Collaborative international working environment.
  • Fair compensation within a non-profit organisation.
  • Opportunity to improve youth employment and agricultural livelihoods in Eastern Uganda.

What to Include in Your CV

Professional Summary
Highlight experience in:
  • Agricultural training
  • TVET management
  • Agribusiness development
  • Institutional leadership
  • Project management
  • Farm management
  • Agricultural education
  • Capacity building
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Community development
Example:
Experienced agricultural education and agribusiness professional with over eight years of leadership experience in vocational training, agricultural value chains, institutional development, project management, and stakeholder engagement. Skilled in establishing agricultural training programmes, developing sustainable agribusiness models, managing multidisciplinary teams, and strengthening youth employment through practical skills development.

Work Experience

Include responsibilities such as:
  • Managed agricultural vocational training programmes.
  • Led TVET institutional development projects.
  • Developed agribusiness models.
  • Supervised demonstration farms.
  • Coordinated agricultural training activities.
  • Managed project budgets.
  • Built partnerships with government and private sector organizations.
  • Monitored programme implementation.
  • Developed staff capacity.
  • Prepared donor and management reports.

Technical Skills

Include:
  • Agricultural Training
  • TVET Programme Development
  • Agribusiness Development
  • Crop Production
  • Livestock Production
  • Agricultural Value Chains
  • Farm Management
  • Strategic Planning
  • Project Management
  • Budget Management
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Capacity Building
  • Team Leadership
  • Financial Management
  • Report Writing
  • Microsoft Office Suite

Career Growth Opportunities

This role can lead to careers such as:
  • Country Programme Director
  • TVET Director
  • Agricultural Education Specialist
  • Agribusiness Director
  • Programme Manager
  • Head of Agriculture Programmes
  • Development Programme Director
  • Regional Education Advisor
  • International Development Consultant

Founding Head of Training Centre Interview Questions and Answers

1. How would you establish a new Agricultural TVET Centre?
Answer:
I would begin with a comprehensive needs assessment, engage stakeholders, identify suitable land, develop curricula aligned with labour market needs, recruit qualified staff, establish operational systems, and build partnerships with government, agricultural businesses, and development partners.
2. How would you ensure sustainability of the training centre?
Answer:
By integrating practical agribusiness enterprises such as crop production, livestock farming, and value addition into training programmes while maintaining sound financial management, partnerships, and continuous quality improvement.
3. How would you develop partnerships with agricultural stakeholders?
Answer:
I would actively engage government agencies, TVET authorities, private sector agribusinesses, farmer organizations, development partners, and local communities to create internship opportunities, market access, and collaborative training initiatives.
4. Why is agricultural vocational training important?
Answer:
Agricultural vocational training equips young people with practical technical skills, enhances employability, promotes entrepreneurship, improves agricultural productivity, and contributes to food security and sustainable economic development.




About Company

Werner Erkes Foundation

Werner Erkes Foundation

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Job Overview

  • Job Type: Full time
  • Experience Level: Intermediate
  • Education Level: Bachelors
  • Vacancies: 1
  • Category: Administration
  • Location: Uganda
  • Application: via Email

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