Agricultural Services Officer (Dairy) at Nestle Foods

Minimum Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Higher National Diploma

Minimum Relevant Work Experience: 0 - 1 year working experience

Position Summary

Joining Nestlé means you are joining the largest Food and Beverage company in the world. At our very core, we are a human company driven by our purpose to improve the quality of life and contribute to a healthier future. 

Nestlé Nigeria is currently looking to hire an Agricultural Services Officer to support its Dairy Development Project in Nigeria. S/he would be responsible for smooth milk production and collection operations.

A day in the life of...

• Handling milk production, including chilling and transportation management.
• Procuring fresh milk, ensuring premium milk quality in respect of fat, bacteriological load, antibiotics, aflatoxins and pesticide residue.
• Maintaining good operations in chilling centers and farm cooling tanks.
• Building and maintaining good public relations with farmers, dairy development project implementation partners, milk collection agents, veterinary officers, food production coordinators/operators/technicians, etcetera.
• Ensuring accurate payments to farmers, reconciling transaction differences and over payments.
• Inventory Management - Maintaining good supply/constant availability of materials.
• Quality Management – Ensuring the observance of good quality management procedures, observing food safety and contamination protocols, carrying out surveys as required and participating in relevant internal audits.
• Monitoring field operations and complaint resolution for field workers/farmers.
• Assisting with the selection of agents and development of new villages.
• Providing veterinary aid to sick animals of farmers en route, inclusive of prophylaxis measures.
• Educating farmers on dairy husbandry and general agricultural practices including disease control measures, fodder production and silage making, using right quality of cattle feed to avoid incidences of aflatoxins, judicious use and proper handling of antibiotics, clean milk production, proper use of pesticides and fertilizers, etcetera.

What will make you successful

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in Agricultural Sciences/Agriculture Business Management, Veterinary Sciences, Animal Husbandry or Food Sciences. A Master’s degree in any of the above would be an advantage.
• 0 – 1 year similar working experience. 
• Basic knowledge of animal husbandry, animal disease management and treatment to sick animals, fodder crop production, silage making and cattle feed rationing.
• Good understanding of audit processes and the applicable Quality Management Systems (QMS).
• Good interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to relate easily with locals in the designated area.
• Ability to multitask and resolve conflicts.
• Good organizational/planning skills including book-keeping and inventory tracking/management ability.
• Attention to details and time management.
• Agility/Proactiveness and innovation.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office tools.