Senior Research Associate at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

DUTIES: 

• Plan and implement feed and forage production trials, including crop-residue processing and the evaluation of improved feed ingredients in priority states.
• Assist with the preparation, processing, and laboratory analysis of feed, forage and fermentation-derived protein (FDP) samples (nutrient profiling, digestibility testing, and safety assessments).
• Contribute to the setup, management, and monitoring of animal, poultry, and fish feeding trials on-station and on-farm, ensuring accurate performance measurements and adherence to protocols.
• Conduct field data collection, sampling, and initial sample preparation for quality assessment, including forage variety trials and on-farm validations.
• Compile, clean, and manage field, laboratory, survey, and trial datasets; perform basic analysis and contribute to scientific reports, dashboards, and communication materials.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagements with farmers, private-sector actors (e.g., feed mills, integrators), universities/research institutes, and relevant regulatory authorities; support experience-sharing visits, technology demonstrations, and platform meetings.
• Support activities and deliverables across specific project components in Nigeria.

a)   Drought-tolerant forage trials in Sahel states;

b)   Scaling biotech solutions to convert crop residues to high-quality feed;

c)    Economic and performance testing of FDP in poultry and fish;

d)   Assessment of mycotoxin contamination and livestock exposure in feeds.

• Provide logistical, operational, and supervisory support; ensure proper use/maintenance of field, farm, and lab equipment; supervise technicians and casual workers as assigned.
• Prepare weekly/monthly summaries and quarterly progress reports; contribute to market studies, policy roundtables, and knowledge products.
• Perform any other job-related tasks as may be assigned by the Head of School. 

Requirements

QUALIFICATION:

• MSc in Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Feed Science and Technology, Agricultural Biotechnology or any other related courses.
• The ideal candidate must have a minimum of six (6) years’ cognate experience performing a similar role in a well-structured environment.

COMPETENCIES:

The ideal candidate must:

• Demonstrate strong hands‑on expertise in field experimentation, sample collection, and laboratory techniques.
• Be capable of managing multiple tasks across farm operations, laboratory workflows, and varied field environments, with a readiness for frequent travel across Nigeria.
• Show proficiency in data entry, data cleaning, and the use of spreadsheet and statistical analysis tools.
• Exhibit excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with the capacity to engage diverse stakeholders and support trainings, field demonstrations, and workshops.
• Maintain exceptional organizational skills, a high level of accuracy, and a commitment to robust recordkeeping and data quality.
• Bring sound strategic thinking and leadership capabilities to drive project goals.
• Have a solid understanding of national feed quality and safety standards as well as related procedures.
• Be able to work effectively both independently and within a multidisciplinary team environment.