DIRECTOR GENERAL
The Director General is the person in charge of conducting the day-to-day internal operations of the Foundation in accordance with the policies established by the Board of Directors. He is the legal representative of the Foundation and represents it inside and outside the country. He is the main official, responsible for its management before the Board of Directors.
SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS
1. Plan, direct, supervise and evaluate the operational performance of the Foundation.
2. Propose the Operational Plan and Annual Budget in the determined time before the Board of Directors for analysis and subsequent approval at the General Assembly.
3. Ensure the financial sustainability of the Foundation, which requires capacities for fund management and income generation.
4. Possess technical/scientific research and management skills.
5. Ensure the efficient execution of the Operational and Financial Plans approved by the Board of Directors and the General Assembly.
6. Supervise the investment operations of the Endowment Fund in the trusts.
7. Ensure the assets and resources of the Institution ensuring their maintenance and proper functioning for the purposes of the case.
8. Execute the planning and periodic updating of the fundraising strategy for the Foundation.
9. Make available to the Internal Audit, the Board of the Dotal Fund and the Committees of the Board of Directors the means they require for the full fulfillment of their functions.
10. Propose to the Board of Directors the candidates for the appointment and promotion of Director of Research.
11. Prepare and present the Annual Report of Activities and the Financial Report to the Board of Directors and after its approval to the General Assembly for its knowledge.
12. Appoint and remove the staff of the Foundation.
13. Legally represent the Foundation in judicial and extrajudicial acts and before bodies with which the Foundation must deal as such, inside and outside the country.
14. To provide direct contact with the Government of Honduras, especially with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and with international cooperation.
REQUIRED EDUCATION
Have a Ph.D. degree or equivalent in any field of agricultural sciences.
Bilingual: Spanish – English.
EXPERIENCE NEEDED
10 years of professional service in similar positions with recognized professional ability and prestige. Demonstrated administrative and scientific capacity. Have been responsible for the design, planning and execution of agricultural research and development activities, preferably in tropical countries. Knowledge about tropical crops especially bananas, bananas, cocoa, tropical fruit trees and warm climate vegetables. Have carried out research and development work for the benefit of low-income producers.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Competitive salary and international benefits, including tax free status, housing allowance, education allowance for children, transportation, medical and life insurance, 24 days vacation annually.
The need to develop an effective capacity for the generation and transfer of agricultural technology in Honduras gave rise to the creation of the FHIA. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and USAID jointly designed a project to create the FHIA. Taking into account the decision of the United Fruit Company (now Chiquita) to end its banana research activities in La Lima, Cortés and donate the Honduran government infrastructure (GDH), it was decided to create the FHIA, which was created on May 15, 1984 and entered into operation on January 1, 1985. The United Fruit Company contributed office and laboratory buildings and a 100-hectare experimental farm in Guarumas, dedicated to the genetic improvement of bananas and plantains. USAID decided to fund FHIA activities over a 10-year period with $20 million and the government with $6.5 million. Subsequently, USAID provided additional funding for infrastructure development.
Currently (2021) FHIA currently has 230 employees, main offices in La Lima and operates 4 experimental and demonstration centers in: La Lima, La Masica, El Recreo and Comayagua. The FHIA was created as a private, civil and non-profit institution. Its maximum entity is the General Assembly, currently composed of 82 members. The Assembly elects the Board of Directors consists of 9 members, of which 8 are representatives of the private sector. It is chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, who represents the Government of Honduras (GOH)
FHIA has 4 main research programs: genetic improvement of musaceae, cocoa production in agroforestry systems, vegetable production and diversification program (fruit and root production). In addition, it has laboratories and nurseries for public service and income generation.
