Job Vacancies at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) – 3 Positions

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is recruiting to fill the following positions:

1.) Data Manager, Breeding
2.) Research Associate (Agronomy)
3.) Administrative Officer I

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

Ref. No: DDG-R4D/DM/B/12/20
Location: Ibadan
Recruitment Type: 3-year contract

Job Description

• IITA seeks a highly-motivated Data Manager with significant experience in working with crop improvement programs.
• This position will report to the Head of Breeding, IITA and will also regularly review progress with staff of the Excellence in Breeding platform.

Position Responsibilities

• Work with IITA plant breeders and the Excellence in Breeding (EiB) platform in the modernisation of breeding programmes for enhanced genetic gain, particularly with respect to the deployment and adoption of breeding data management systems and digitization tools.
• Help in the development and implementation of a strategic plan for adoption of software, digitization and standardized protocols for IITA, West Africa and key national partners.
• Coordinate curation for maize and other crop breeding data to enable adoption of EBS.
• Liaise with Biometrics and IT teams for specific user requirements and support.
• Coordinate the standardisation of phenotypic, genotypic, genealogy data, protocols and relevant metadata.
• Contribute to developing and reporting relevant performance metrics / KPIs for adoption of the breeding systems at IITA together with EiB.
• Continuously improve the adoption of software tools and processes, to identify gaps to adoption and work with breeding programs and Excellence in Breeding to resolve gaps.
• Contribute to improvement plans for individual crops and to institutional arrangements in support of plant breeding.
• Perform other job-related duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Educational Qualifications

• The candidate should have M.Sc. in Information Systems, Data Science, Plant Breeding or related quantitative area of science (PhD preferable).

Core Competencies:

• Significant experience (5 years) working as part of crop improvement teams in the public or private sector.
• Considerable experience of using and developing modern informatics tools for plant breeding.
• Considerable experience in managing data from high throughput technologies used in plant breeding (molecular and phenotyping).
• Experience of the implementation of relevant software solutions.
• Experience in Continuous Improvement projects.
• Experience with Project Management.
• Ability to influence colleagues outside of a formal management structure/in a matrixed organisation.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Some knowledge of French would be an advantage.
• Ability to work well across disciplines and in a multicultural environment.

Remuneration
IITA offers an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in US Dollars.

Application Closing Date
14th January, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Cover Letter which should address how their background / experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, Curriculum Vitae, Names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor / Superior at his / her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service.

Click here to apply online

Click here for more information (PDF)

Note: IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce. While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2020-036
Location: Jos, Plateau
Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract)

Details
International Potato Center (CIP): CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a network of 15 Research Centers and 16 Research Programs mostly located in the developing world and supported by more than 50 donor members.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture on behalf of CIP seeks suitable Nigerian for the position above at the CIP project location in Jos. NPSSP aims to support potato seed security in Nigeria by building local capacity within the public and private sector to supply adequate amounts of quality seed of in-demand and locally adapted varieties that meet the main market segment, while supporting smallholder farmers in maximizing their investments in seed through building capacity in on-farm seed quality management, good agricultural practices for improving soil health and fertility.

Duties

• Conduct capacity building interventions for ware producers, seed multipliers, farmers, partners, private sector enterprises;
• Coordinate and support planning and delivery of field days and training sites managed by partners and project;
• Provide technical backstopping to private seed and ware producers on seed and ware potato production, respectively;
• 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;
• Oversee day-to-day management and implementation of the project activities in close collaboration with Green innovation centers for the agriculture and food sector (GIAE) teams and project partners;
• Contribute to the data collection and present the activities, results, impacts and outcomes of the project at professional, donor and other stakeholders’ meetings.
• Produce progress report of the field activities including maintaining database of monitoring data and managing and analyzing technical and economic data, write briefs and project technical reports;
• Document lessons learned and best practices on the project development, implementation, and oversight activities;
• Work effectively in the project team to develop a collegial, mutually supportive, and high-performance work atmosphere;
• Proactively take responsibility to ensure safety of humans and property and implement the project activities in timely manner in keeping with the budgets allocated;
• Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Country Team Leader or other senior members of the organization.

Qualification

• Master degree in Agronomy, Pathology or related discipline with minimum of six (6) years’ hands on practical experience in training/field on agronomy, pest and pathogen, post-harvest, and related good agricultural practices of Irish potato.

Competencies
The ideal candidate must have:

• Excellent skills in managing partnerships with senior-level officials to farmers
• Excellent knowledge and experience in supporting seed and ware producers to produce seed and ware potato respectively potato
• Excellent knowledge and experience in supporting seed businesses to produce seed potato via rapid seed multiplication technologies
• Excellent skills in coordinating and monitoring large scale agricultural training programs with several partners
• Experience in collecting diverse kinds of data from all activities
• Excellent data analysis, synthesis and report writing skills
• Advanced level of MS Office.

Remuneration
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Application Closing Date
31st December, 2020.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include the applicant’s current or previous direct Supervisor, professional colleague and evidence of current remuneration package.

Click here to apply online

Click here for more information (PDF)

Note: IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce. While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2020-035
Location: Ibadan
Recruitment Type: National (2-year renewable contract)

Duties

• Assist in the monthly report of the development & delivery activities;
• Provide administrative and logistics support for monthly / annual meetings, conferences and managing visits related to Development and Delivery office under Partnerships for Delivery Directorate and BASICS-II;
• Manage calendars and activities that fall under the purview of the D&D office and BASICS-II PM;
• File Travel Authorizations (TA) and prepare expense claims for the project manager and other project staff;
• Make oracle requisitions, work order and follow up till execution stage;
• Assist in developing economics for production of cassava seeds with partners;
• Assist in conducting training with BASICS II Seed Producers on Business RecordKeeping and price intelligence;
• Provide support to the Project Administrator on BASICS-II project matters and development and delivery office of P4D;
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Qualification

• B.Sc / HND in Economics, Business Administration or related field with a minimum of four (4) years’ experience performing similar or related role in a well-structured organization.

Competencies
The ideal candidate must have:

• Proficient level of skill and knowledge in administrative process and use of relevant technology to deliver on assigned tasks.
• Ability to prepare detailed monthly report of meeting and partnership activities with follow up actionable plans.
• Ability to ensure implementation of request in a timely manner.
• Good communication and interpersonal skill.
• Excellent computer skill especially typing and attention to details.

Remuneration

• We offer a highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Application Closing Date
28th December, 2020.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include the applicant’s current or previous direct Supervisor, professional colleague and evidence of current remuneration package.

Click here to apply online

Click here for more information (PDF)

Note: IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce. While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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