Job Category: Global
Conservation Agriculture Program
Position Title: Farming
Systems Agronomist
Type of Contract: Internationally
Recruited Staff
Location: Zimbabwe
Desired Skills:
Description: We
are seeking a dynamic, innovative and self-motivated scientist for the position
of Farming System Agronomist. The selected candidate will have excellent skills
and previous experience in farming systems analysis and modeling to assess the
contribution of innovative cropping systems to the sustainability of farming
systems. The scientist will work as a member of CIMMYT’s Global Conservation
Agriculture Program (CIMMYT-GCAP), and will contribute to a multi-disciplinary
and multi-institutional team applying systems approaches for agricultural
research.
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known
by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT®, is a not-for-profit research and training
organization with partners in over 100 countries. Please refer to our website
for more information
The position will be based in Zimbabwe, and it is part of a
twin postdoc project between Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche
Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) and the CGIAR CRP on Climate Change,
Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) with the objective of exploring
alternative cropping and farming systems for increased productivity,
efficiency, resilience and adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers in Southern
Africa.
Specific duties of this position include:
The Faming systems analysis will, for three case studies in
Southern Africa (in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi):
- Collect and curate farm household data from existing surveys.
- Review and design surveys to better understand resource allocation strategies of farm households.
- Built a typology of farming systems in the case study regions.
- Interview selected farmers for resource allocation strategies.
- Develop a farming system model for representative farms in the study sites (components, inputs/outputs interrelationships and decision rules and thresholds) and contribute to on-going farming systems modelling efforts.
- Assess scenarios of alternative farming systems and adaptation to climate change.
- Communicate research results in the form of reports and scientific articles.
- Communicate to Programme/Project team developments/progress and results of research activities ensuring that relevant information and issues in the implementation of projects are captured in as comprehensive and timely manner as possible.
- Communicate to the scientific community in farming systems analysis and design on results produced within research activities in the form of scientific articles and communication to international conferences as well as Communicate with the development community in the form of reports and policy/research briefs to decision makers.
- Design and organize databases as well as generate data to support overall research objectives.
- Work in close collaboration with GCAP and CIRAD researchers in the region to ensure coordinated actions and data/results exchange.
We are seeking candidates with the following academic
qualifications, skills and attitudes:
- PhD in agriculture, natural resource management or related disciplines.
- Solid background in agronomy and understanding of cropping systems modeling.
- Excellent analytical/quantitative skills.
- Strong background in farm modeling.
- Good peer-review publication record.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary/multi-cultural team on trans-disciplinary issues.
This position is designed in line with the new
CGIAR Postdoc job description and harmonized compensation package.
We will offer an initial contract for one year, which may be
renewable subject to continued need and funding for the position and
performance of the staff member. The package includes a tax-free salary in USD
and benefits including 15% housing allowance, comprehensive health and life
insurance, 15% contribution to a retirement plan, and relocation support.
CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a
multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and
respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.
To apply for this position, please email cover letter and CV
no later than Monday, 6 January, 2014 to HR, CIMMYT (Email: irsrecruitment@cgiar.org /
Please indicate Position Reference number: 12333 in the header
of your email).
For further information on the selection process, please
contact Guillermo Flores, Staffing Specialist, at g.flores@cgiar.org
Please note that only
short-listed candidates will be contacted.
