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Submitted by RADAAdmin on July 21, 2025

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 

1.   Provide farmers with a comprehensive and efficient extension service that fully utilises ICT technology to support, modernise and increase agricultural production, productivity and farmer income; 

2.   Promote the diversification of agriculture, and improved post harvest handling, agro-processing and livestock production to increase the value of agriculture to the national economy, thereby also improving the standard of living of farm families;

3.   Supply farmers, processors and marketers with real time market intelligence, to enhance incomes by reducing surpluses or shortages; 

4.   Maintain an up to date farmer registration database, giving full details of type of cropping patterns, type of livestock production, location and size of holdings;

5.   Promoting land husbandry practices which preserve the natural resource base and discourage farming practices which lead to environmental degradation, particularly in critical watersheds;

6.   Ensure that plant and animal, health and safety standards are maintained by educating farmers, thereby ensuring national and international confidence in Jamaican agricultural products;

7.   Encourage farming communities through group activities to improve family health and nutrition, reinforce social cohesion and supplement household income through the development and marketing of new agro processed products;

8.   Implement national policy initiatives for food security, rural and national economic development; whilst fostering linkages with international donors, NGO’s and CBO’s and other relevant agencies; 

     9.     Implement appropriate disaster mitigation measures, ensuring a high level of preparedness within farming communities, effectively carrying out damage surveys and developing appropriate strategies to restore productivity once the event has taken place;

    10.   Attract more young people into agriculture by establishing and strengthening linkages with school garden programmes and the 4 H movement;

    11.    Develop a human resource capability aligned with the overall mission of the Authority which will ensure officers have a clear career development path and are regularly trained and updated in the latest technologies; 

    12.    Maintain a high level of corporate governance accountability and transparency by ensuring that all financial management, accounting, procurement, monitoring and evaluation systems satisfy the legal and managerial requirements of a Statutory body which is moving towards an effective, performance based, executive agency.

JOB PURPOSE: 

Under the direction of the Supervisor, the Senior Secretary is responsible for providing secretarial and stenographic services to facilitate the efficient and effective operation of the Division.

KEY OUTPUTS:

Letters, memoranda, documents,  reports produced

Appointments/meetings scheduled and diary maintained

Meetings attended and minutes produced

Incoming mails recorded and distributed

Filing System maintained

Documents faxed/photocopied

Telephone calls answered and messages recorded

Visitors received and directed

E-mails downloaded and sent

Stationery supplies maintained

KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS

Records letters, memoranda, minutes of meetings in shorthand; uses a personal computer to transcribe same in a suitable typewritten form.

 Types reports, letters, memoranda and other documents from dictation or written drafts; proof reads written work before submission to Supervisor.

Maintains the Director’s diary and schedules appointments and meetings based on knowledge of the Director’s commitments.

Attends meetings hosted by the Director; records and reproduces minutes for circulation.

Receives, opens, records and distributes incoming mail.

Files correspondence and other material and maintains a record of the movement of files

Faxes/photocopies documents as is required.

Answers the telephone and transfers callers to supervisor or most appropriate officer; provides callers with routine information or records messages as is necessary.

Greets and screens visitors; refers them to supervisor, provides them with routine information about the Authority or direct them to the relevant officers or office.

Accesses and sends e-mails via internet.

Maintains stationery supplies.

 

AUTHORITY 

Determines which callers/visitors to refer to supervisor.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Letters, memoranda, documents and reports produced accurately and within agreed time frame

Appointments scheduled and diary maintained in consultation with Supervisor

Meetings attended and minutes produced accurately, in acceptable format and within agreed time frame.

Incoming mails recorded accurately and distributed promptly

Filing system maintained in accordance with established guidelines

Confidentiality and integrity exercised at all times

Documents photocopied and faxed within agreed time frame

Telephone answered promptly and politely

Visitors received courteously

E-mail downloaded and forwarded as established

Adequate supply of stationery at all times

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONTACTS

 

Internal

Contact

Purpose

 

All Divisions

Provide seek information

Follow-up on requests from supervisor

Collaboration in carrying out responsibilities

 

External

 

Contact

Purpose

Members of the public who call or visit the office

Answer queries or provide information

Schedules appointments for supervisor

Government Departments

 

Provide/seek information

 

SPECIAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB

Typical office environment

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Technical/Functional Competencies

Good secretarial skills

Proficiency in shorthand at a speed of 100-120 w.p.m.

Proficiency in typewriting at a speed of 50-55 w.p.m.

Proficient in the use of relevant Software Applications

Core Competencies

Knowledge of Government’s procedures

Team building capacity

Excellent  interpersonal skills and customer relations

Excellent  communication skills

Good time management skills

 

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Two subjects at CXC or GCE O’ Level  including English Language with proficiency in type writing at a speed of 50-55 words per minute and shorthand at a speed of 100-120 words per minute; successful completion of the prescribed   secretarial course  at the Management Institute for National Development (MIND)

OR

Graduation from an accredited Secretarial School with proficiency in typewriting at a speed of 50-55 words per minute and shorthand at a speed of 100-120 words per minute, training in word processing applications and English Language at CXC or GCE O’ Level. 

4-5 years general office experience.

Expiry Date