Data and Information Systems Management
About the role
The International Potato Center (CIP)
through the SweetGAINS project has been working at modernizing sweetpotato
breeding programs, by improving excellence in the management of breeding data.
The position will support these efforts for Root and Tuber Crops (RTB) in
Sub-Saharan African (SSA), Latin America and Asia.
Key Responsibilities:
The data and IT specialist will be
part of the data management team overseeing RTB breeding and seed data
management systems.
Understand existing tools used for
data capture and assist in the developing modules that extend the scope for the
current tools.
Respond to ICT support requests from
CIP breeders and partners in a timely manner through
WhatsApp/telegram/telephone/field visits.
Contribute to writing standard operating procedures for RTB breeding data management.
Lead capacity building efforts among
project collaborators and partners in data collection, storage and management.
Act as lecturer in these trainings.
Implement and monitor Quality
Assurance (QA) protocols and routines, including safe and remote back-up of
database systems and tools.
Contribute to development and
management of germplasm data management systems for RTB invitro and invivo
germplasm collections at KEPHIS, Mugaga, Kenya.
Designing (in collaboration with
subject area specialists) and implementing comprehensive, gender-aware,
monitoring and evaluation systems to assure that quality data (both
quantitative and qualitative) are collected, entered, and stored for project
use and documented for eventual public use.
Contribute to development of
additional dashboards to enable routine monitoring of social science data
coming from the field.
Support other information management
activities at CIP.
Keep up to date with the latest tools
and resources, including open-source software, for the collection, management,
storage and sharing of data and information.
Maintain the confidentiality of all
information collected.
Perform any other activity as assigned
to by the supervisor.
Supervise a junior data management
staff member.
Be committed to using research for
development in a complex cooperative environment of research and development
partners. The work will require travel within Sub Saharan Africa.
Requirements
What are we looking for?
MA/MSc degree in Information Systems,
Database Management, Computer Science, or related discipline.
At least six years research experience
in the design and implementation of data management systems.
Experience working with integrated
database systems preferably for research projects, including large-scale
socioeconomic and/or biological surveys e.g., MySQL or MS SQL Server.
Knowledge and experience of mobile
data collection systems.
Knowledge and experience of Linux
operating systems.
Knowledge and experience in cloud
services administration (like AWS or Linode).
Experience with database design,
database management and computer programming, and with the application of
quality assurance standards and procedures.
Understanding and experience of
working in applied agricultural research preferred.
Experience in software and web
application programming. Knowledge of PHP scripting language and development in
WordPress preferred.
Good judgement, adaptability, and
willingness to take initiative when appropriate.
Demonstrated success in working with
multi-disciplinary teams and partnerships in research or project
implementation.
Excellent interpersonal communication
and good personal organization skills.
Advanced written and oral
communication skills in English.
How To Apply