Commercial Cassava Seed System Project Coordinator at International Potato Center

The CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) seeks a talented project leader for a new project to be implemented in Nigeria. 

The Program:The CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) is led by the International Potato Center (CIP) with Bioversity International, the International Center for tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and includes a wide spectrum of research-for-development stakeholders. This collaboration, with its combined scale and capacity, will increase the ability to advance research, share knowledge, and enhance uptake to increase research and development impacts. The purpose of RTB is to tap the underutilized potential of root, tuber, and banana crops to improve nutrition and food security and foster greater gender equity especially among some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations.

The position: The project leader will be based at IITA headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria and report to both the Director of RTB and the IITA Director for West Africa. The project leader will organize and facilitate regular coordination meetings with project component leads, serve as the principal point of contact between the donor and sub-grantees, supervise financial and M&E staff, over-see financial and narrative reporting, and provide direct oversight and management support to grant activities related to promotion and stem sales coordination.  The principal tasks and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following: 

Duties and Accountabilities:

• Maintain regular communication and coordination among program partners.
• Facilitate joint planning and operational integration through twice annual meetings.
• Ensure compliance with donor policies and procedures and the terms of the overall grant.

• Oversee communication among grant partners and with wider Nigeria cassava community.
• Develop a communications strategy - with full collaboration of program partners - and lead its implementation.
• Coordinate mid-term and annual grant reporting process to donor and liaise between RTB / BMGF and partners for all communication and reporting issues.

Supervise Financial and M&E Staff

• Support the development and application of an integrated cross-component M&E system to inform program implementation and management decisions.
• Provide regular mentoring and monitoring so that sub-grant expenses are liquidated on schedule and project deliverables and oversee timely financial reporting of expenditures.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial and narrative reporting and compliance.

Manage Promotion Activities and Cassava Stem Sales Coordination 

• Responsible for development and implementation of project M&E plan with project partners.
• Develop a promotion strategy - with full collaboration of program partners – to increase general awareness of program and to promote brand identify of seed producers.
• Coordinate with cassava stem buyers including from other cassava projects, the Nigerian government, and industry – to ensure strong linkages among seed producers (breeder, foundation, village level nurseries and commercial processors) and seed buyers.

Selection Criteria: 

• Candidates should have an advanced degree in agriculture, agriculture economics or related area (PhD preferred) with specialized knowledge of seed systems and the cassava value chain preferred.
• At least 8 years of demonstrated program management (direct staff management, financial management) and partner coordination (overseeing sub-grants, promoting strong collaboration among diverse group of partners).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Proactive approach, with ability to find creative ways to solve problems or exploit potentials.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English.
• Experience with international agricultural research for development, CGIAR, and CGIAR Research Programs a plus.

Conditions:The employment contract will be for a three-year term (with a three month probation period) with the possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. The salary will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience. The CGIAR prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth. The project position subject to approval of funding would begin on January 1st 2016.