Screening starts: Oct 09, 2013
Unit: SSA
Location: MOZAMBIQUE
Type: IRS
The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a
Sweetpotato Specialist with skills in seed system management to support CIP’s
orange-fleshed sweetpotato work in Mozambique.
The Center: 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 of 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. CGIAR is a global agriculture
research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by
the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in
collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. The CIP Sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA) main regional office is in Nairobi, Kenya. CIP also has an
existing office in 7 other SSA countries.
The Position: The Sweetpotato Specialist will be
based in Maputo, Mozambique with extensive travel at other provinces in the
country. The specialist will report to the Senior Breeder in Mozambique and to
the Project Manager for the going-to-scale project within Mozambique. The
principal tasks and responsibilities will include, but not limited to the
following:
Duties and responsibilities:
- Assist in the coordination and implementation of the sweetpotato population breeding activities for Southern Africa.
- Coordinate the organization and implementation of stakeholder meetings and planning sessions with partner organizations.
- Ensure the production of high quality foundation planting material, in collaboration with the national program and coordinate the seed system management of a going-to-scale project in two provinces of Mozambique.
- Backstop as a trainer in an annual learning-by-doing trainer of trainers course.
- Work with development partners to engage in widespread dissemination of improved sweetpotato varieties in two provinces.
- Provide technical assistance to the national program, when requested and within the limits of available resources, in seed systems, variety development, and integrated sweetpotato management.
Selection Criteria:
- PhD degree in Plant Breeding or Genetics or Molecular breeding with at least two years of experience in field research.
- Expertise in experimental design related to breeding trials, data collection, analysis, interpretation and report writing.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Working knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish required.
- Familiarity with producing vegetatively propagated crops; knowledge of sweetpotato or cassava will be an advantage.
- Aptitude for teamwork, leadership, training, and communications.
- Willingness to travel extensively within the country.
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. CIP prides
itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space
for personal and professional growth.
Applications: Applicants should apply by email,
sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full
C.V. and the names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable
about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to cip-recruitment@cgiar.org, copied
to Jan Low (j.low@cgiar.org). The reference name of the position should be
clearly marked on the subject line of the email message. Screening of
applications will begin on October 09, 2013 and will continue until the
post is filled.
