Deputy Director/Assistant Director – Food and Agriculture

Job Title: Deputy Director/Assistant Director – Food and Agriculture

Location: Delhi

Experience: 10-14 years

Qualifications: Master’s degree or MBA in Marketing, Agri-Business, or related field.

Job Purpose

The officer will be responsible for engaging with government bodies and policymakers to represent and advocate the interests of the agriculture and food industry, address key sectoral challenges, and support sustainable growth and competitiveness across the value chain.

Key Responsibilities

Policy Advocacy and Engagement

• Engage with government ministries and agencies (such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, FSSAI, APEDA, and State Agriculture Departments) to provide industry inputs on policy formulation and regulatory decisions.
• Facilitate government–industry interactions to address challenges in agriculture productivity, food processing, supply chain efficiency, and export competitiveness.
• Contribute to position papers, consultation responses, and policy recommendations to advocate for a conducive business environment for the agri-food sector.

Project Coordination and Management

• Coordinate agriculture and food-related projects funded by government bodies, multilateral agencies, or industry members.
• Liaise with industry stakeholders, knowledge partners, and research institutions to develop sectoral reports and studies promoting sustainable agriculture, food safety, and innovation in agri-value chains.

Event Management and Networking

• Plan, coordinate, and participate in seminars, conferences, trade fairs, and stakeholder consultations to foster networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange across the agriculture and food ecosystem.
• Identify and approach potential non-member companies and organizations within the agri and food processing sectors to expand membership.

Revenue Generation

• Manage and drive revenue generation activities to support council programs and initiatives.

Membership Acquisition & Retention (Deliverables)

• Drive membership acquisition by identifying, engaging, and onboarding potential members from the agriculture, agri-inputs, food processing, FMCG, logistics, and allied sectors.
• Ensure membership retention through regular engagement, value delivery, issue resolution, and proactive communication with existing members.
• Act as a key point of contact for members, ensuring their concerns, policy issues, and business priorities are appropriately represented.
• Contribute to achieving annual membership growth and retention targets as defined by the Council / Secretariat.

Education and Experience

• Full-Time Master’s degree in agriculture / food technology / Agricultural Economics / Engineering, or an MBA in Marketing, Agri-Business, or related field.
• 10-14 years of experience in policy, consulting, or research-oriented roles.
• Proven track record of working with government bodies, regulatory agencies, and policymakers in agriculture, food processing, agri-inputs or supply chain management.
• Strong understanding of agriculture sector, food value chains, food processing, food safety standards, trade regulations, and sustainability issues.

Skills (Soft and Functional)

Technical Skills

• Policy Analysis skills in reviewing government policy drafts, regulations, and industry submissions related to agriculture and food sectors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for drafting policy briefs, reports, and advocacy material.

Communication & Advocacy

• Public Speaking skills to represent industry issues at government meetings, business forums, and stakeholder consultations.
• Networking skills to build and maintain relationships with policymakers, industry leaders, and development partners.

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated, proactive, and ethically driven professional committed to sectoral growth and sustainability.
• Analytical and Strategic thinking, strong problem-solving and project management abilities with attention to detail.

Teamwork & Collaboration Orientation

• Strong teamwork and collaboration mindset , with the ability to work effectively across internal teams, councils, clusters, and leadership.
• Proven ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders including government officials, industry members, consultants, and internal support functions.
• Willingness to contribute beyond individual responsibilities for collective outcomes and organizational goals.

IT Skills

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) for document preparation, data analysis, and presentations.
• Email and Calendar Management using MS Outlook or similar tools for scheduling and coordination.
• Virtual Meeting Platforms (Zoom, MS Teams, Google Meet) for webinars, meetings, and online events.
• Online Research Skills to gather industry data, track policy updates, and prepare briefing notes.
• Familiar with the use of Artificial Intelligence tools, including ChatGPT and similar platforms, for enhancing efficiency and communication. Comfortable working in ERP environments and leveraging digital systems for process optimization and data-driven decision-making.