Agronomist and Nursery
Closing date:
The
International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a proactive and experienced Research Associate to coordinate field and nursery activities.
The Position:
The Research Associate will be expected to support in leading field activities with partners to support potato seed system development and potato production. Focus areas include apical cuttings and new varieties of potato, and technically backstopping nurseries and seed business producing and using apical cuttings, respectively.
The Research Associate is to have expertise in potato agronomy, seed production and nursery management to produce apical cuttings. Maintaining partnerships in all activities is key applying to all responsibilities.This
position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya and report to the Senior Scientist.
Key responsibilities:
- Coordinate field activities for potato seed system
development with focus on apical cuttings and new varieties
- Conduct capacity building interventions for seed
multipliers, farmers, partners, private sector enterprises;
- Coordinate and support planning and delivery of
field days and training sites managed by partners.
- Provide technical backstopping to nursery operators
producing apical cuttings and seed producers producing seed from cuttings
- Work with partner to coordinate and monitor
activities, such as extension training of trainers followed by farmer
training, and monitor collection of all event and field data.
- Produce progress report of the field activities
including maintaining database of monitoring data and managing and
analyzing technical and economic data.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum MSc degree in Agronomy, Agribusiness,
Agricultural Development, or a related field;
- At least six years’ experience in agriculture in
general of which 3 years working with potato, of which at least 2 years
with differing classes of seed potato.
- Excellent skills in managing partnerships with
senior level officials to farmers
- Excellent knowledge and experience in supporting
nurseries to produce apical cuttings of potato
- Excellent knowledge and experience in supporting
seed businesses to produce seed potato from apical cuttings
- Excellent skills in coordinating and monitoring
large scale agricultural training programs with several partners
- Collecting diverse kinds of data form all activities
- Excellent data analysis, synthesis and report
writing skills
- Advanced level of MS Office.
- Advanced written and oral communication skills in
English.
·
Fluent in Kiswahili.
Why should you consider this opportunity?
- CIP is a global and reputable international
organization that has a strong, state-of-the-art R&D background, and
is a recent World Food Price Winner and awarded with the Al-Sumait Award
for our Orange Flesh Sweet Potato work in Africa.
- CIP is dedicated to achieving food security,
improved nutrition and well-being, and gender equality for poor people in
root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world.
- CIP is a member of the CGIAR, a global research
partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty,
enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.
What are the conditions?
The
position is Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position limited
to Kenya nationals and permanent residents only. The employment
contract will be for 5 months (with
a 3-month probation period), possibility of renewal, subject to availability of
funding. Any offer made with regards to this vacancy is
conditional to the formal award of the grant.
Visit the following
link: http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/ and submit your
cover letter and a full C.V. with your references. Screening of applications
will begin on November 27, 2020 and
will continue until the post is filled. Only short-listed candidates will be
contacted.**
This position WILL NOT have contact with children or vulnerable
adults
Learn more about CIP by accessing our web site at http://www.cipotato.org**
CIP is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women are
particularly encouraged to apply
