Research Station Manager, Kiboko
Overview
The Research Station
Manager will be responsible for overseeing and managing various aspects of the
crop research operations at Kiboko, including planning, organizing, and
executing together with CIMMYT scientists and technicians an array of research
activities, ensuring the highest compliance with safety, regulatory, and ethics
standards, and innovating on the overall efficiency of station operations.
Duties and
responsibilities
Farm operations management:
Overall
site management, including allocation of land/greenhouse and other resources in
consultation with internal stakeholders.
Develop
and implement plans and protocols for effectively managing breeding nurseries,
including planting, fertilization, pest control, irrigation, harvesting, and
storage.
Supervise
and participate in day-to-day site operations, including land preparation,
planting, data collection, and maintenance of research plots.
Advance
planning and forecasting for resource use and requisitions of farm inputs,
supplies, and other consumables in a timely manner, in consultation with
internal stakeholders. · Responsible
for optimal use of inputs (labour, fertilizers, agrochemicals, pollination
supplies, fuel, etc.)
Ensures
maintenance of soil fertility at the research station by following suitable
agronomic practices, including soil testing, crop rotation, and green manuring.
Develop
standardized data collection procedures in coordination with CIMMYT scientists
and ensure accurate and reliable data acquisition.
Promote
the use of digital tools, such as mobile data collection devices, bar codes and
readers, and data recording in internal databases.
Define
and measure operational metrics and key performance indicators for each
activity.
Implement
a robust quality management system to meet customer needs in an efficient and
timely manner.
Keep
abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in crop research,
and incorporate them into farm operations, as appropriate.
Team management:
Lead,
train and supervise a team of research technicians and farm staff, providing
guidance and support to ensure efficient operations.
Responsible
for recruiting casual labor on a daily basis, maintaining, validating, and
sharing the labor records on a regular basis with the concerned.
Planning
and coordinating training activities, including occupational health and safety,
to improve the skills and knowledge of the staff.
Foster
a collaborative and inclusive work environment, encouraging teamwork,
professional development, and knowledge sharing among team members.
Compliance and Safety:
Ensure
all operations are in compliance with the relevant regulations, permits, and
certifications (local government, environmental, etc.) as well as
CIMMYT’s policies and procedures. ·
Develop, implement, and enforce occupational health and safety (OH&S)
protocols to minimize risks to personnel, equipment, and the environment.
Budgeting and Resource
Management:
Design
and implement proper costing of research operations, such as cost per row, cost
per plot, etc
Develop
and manage research farm budget, monitor expenditures, and ensure
cost-effective and judicious utilization of resources.
Ensure
judicious use of petty cash and cash advances as per established finance
policies and agreed-upon budgets, and reporting these expenses in a timely
manner.
Effectively
maintain asset registry, and proactively maintain the assets in a timely
manner, and attend to repairs, as and when needed.
Develop
long-term facility improvement plans, including identification of capital
expenditure (CAPEX) investments.
Ensure
proper maintenance of warehouse, with dynamic monitoring of the assets.
Ensure
proper maintenance and disposal of farm produce, adhering to the institutional
policies and procedures.
Ensures
proper protection of the facility assets together with the security staff, and
promptly reports on any incidents to the supervisor/s.
Education, knowledge and
experience
Master’s
degree in Agriculture or Agronomy or Plant breeding or a related field.
At
least 10 years of work experience in farm management, with demonstrated ability
to manage large-scale field, greenhouse, and laboratory activities.
Strong
knowledge of agronomy, crop physiology, and plant health management.
Good
knowledge of farm machinery, irrigation systems, electrical installations, etc.
is highly desirable.
How To Apply
The application deadline
is 10 Nov, 2023