Research Associate (Agronomy) at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Description

• The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture on behalf of CIP seeks suitable Nigerian for the position below 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

• Design, plan and manage multi-location on-farm experimental trials.
• Provide technical backstopping to farmers, extension workers and researchers on implementing on multi-location on-farm trials.
• Build capacity of partners, extension agents and/or enumerators in the use of digital data collection tools to collect data in multi-location field trials.
• Monitor progress with digital data collection by different enumerators and follow up on overall progress with data submission.
• Conduct capacity building interventions for ware potato producers, farmers, partners, private sector enterprises on soil fertility management and other good agricultural practices.
• Coordinate and support planning and implementation of field days and training events.
• Work with partners to coordinate and monitor activities, such as extension training of trainers followed by farmer training, and monitor collection of field data.
• Oversee day-to-day management and implementation of the project activities in close collaboration with project partners.
• Present the activities, results, impacts and outcomes of the project at professional, donor and other stakeholders’ meetings.
• Produce progress reports of the field activities including maintaining database, managing and analyzing technical and economic data, write briefs, journal article 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 job-related duties as may be assigned by the Country Team Leader or other senior members of the organization.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Agriculture or related discipline with minimum of five (5) years’ hands on training and field experience in agronomy and soil fertility management of vegetative propagated crops.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must:

• Be an excellent team player.
• Be entrepreneurial and proactive performer
• Have knowledge of local language (Plateau State will be helpful).
• Have advanced written and oral communication skills in English.

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