The Participatory Machine Development Expert will have to
1. Evaluate existing machinery and technologies, considering their suitability for the local context and potential for improvement.

2. Design feedback survey forms for participatory machine development for machineries under projects such as OMM, SPPIF, NF, AEPS etc and any other projects to be undertaken by WASSAN in coming years.

3. Coordinate with district teams and facilitate participatory workshops and meetings to involve local farmers and stakeholders in the development process, ensuring their input is considered.

4. Collaborate with engineers and designers to work on the iterations, create prototypes and designs for agricultural equipment based on community feedback whenever necessary with technical support from machine expert in WASSAN.

5. Oversee field trials and testing of prototypes, making necessary adjustments based on feedback and performance data.

6. Properly document the participatory machine development process. Data analysis and report preparation of the participatory feedback surveys.

7. Draft recommendation reports based on the participatory machine development surveys, iterations, field trials and community feedback to Govt. Coordinate and liaison for issuing necessary instructions to the machine suppliers for necessary modifications before dispatching next batches.

8. Prepare project budgets, explore funding, and managing financial resources for machinery development.

9. Work closely with agricultural research institutions, universities, and other experts to access technical knowledge and resources.

10. Provide training and support to local communities on the operation and maintenance of developed machinery.

11. Maintain detailed records of project progress, research findings, and machinery specifications.

12. Ensure that the developed machinery meets safety and quality standards.

13. Promote sustainable, ensure integration of gender perspectives and eco-friendly design principles in machinery development.

14. Coordinate with the district team to periodically assess the performance of the existing machineries and take corrective measures.

15. Developing and maintaining a standard procedure and relevant IEC materials for general maintenance, troubleshooting of machineries under different project for WASSAN in Odisha.

1. Diploma with 5 years of experiences / Bachelors with 3 years of experiences in agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.

2. Demonstrable experience in agricultural machinery development, post-harvest processing techniques, farm machinery design and testing/ designing renewable energy technologies/ design of irrigation systems ideally in a participatory or community-focused context.

3. Demonstrable experience/knowledge in designing new processes, systems and equipment for agricultural products and operations.

4. Experience in liaisoning and networking with other engineering institutes and Govt. departments.

5. Proficiency in CAD software, technical drawings, and knowledge of machinery design principles, MS Office software skills.

6. Should have strong verbal and written communication skills in English and Odia to engage with diverse stakeholders effectively.

7. Experience in conducting participatory workshops, engaging and mobilising local communities such as WSHGs/FPOs/Farmer collectives will be preferred.

8. Ability to work in different environments and adapt to changing project requirements.

9. Strong analytical and research abilities to evaluate and improve existing machines and technologies.

10. A commitment to ensuring the safety of machinery users.

11. Should be willing to travel extensively on field in all seasons. Should have two-wheeler along with valid driving license for mobility.

12. Ability to identify challenges and find innovative solutions in machinery development.

13. Skills in project planning, budgeting, monitoring and resource management.

14. Candidates with proven experience on working and learning on their own will be preferred.