Field Research Technician – Trialist at World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

Overview

• To provide support to the Scientist, by managing the AVISA regional trial network for AVISA Crops (g/nut, sorghum, millet, pigeon pea, Chickpea). This involves planning seed production for trials, packaging and distributing trials, ensuring trials are established in a timely manner, ship the germplasms to other testing site (in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and West Africa), trial data is collected and loaded onto a data management system, maintaining assets used for the work (vehicles, tablets for data collections, etc.)

Duties and responsibilities

Planning, Packing and Distribution of trials.

• Estimate demand for trial seed production and work with AVISA Nursery and Seed Production (NSP) technician at Kiboko to coordinate production.
• Maintain seed inventory and supervise short term trial seed storage at Kiboko.
• Design and pack trials under the direction of crop breeding leads.
• Coordinate shipment of trials to regional collaborators (Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda and other west African countries) for timely planting (obtain import permits, phyto permits, shipment quotes, SMTAs etc.)

Establishment Data Collection and Management of trials

• Ensure trials are established on time (timely land prep, planting, fertilizer application etc.) at partner locations and planted according to the trial design.
• Ensure trials are well managed (irrigated, weed control, pest and disease control etc.) and that there is frequent communication and backstopping support to trialing partners.
• Manage accurate and timely data collection at different stages of the trials in the field and the nurseries.
• Ensure accuracy of data entry and consolidation for analysis be the Scientist.
• Learn and operate the Breeding Management System (BMS) or the Enterprise Breeding System (EBS) in order to manage routine operations, data upload, data curation, cleaning and preliminary analysis.
• Implement timely digital data capture using the relevant tools and software as identified by AVISA management.
• Take responsibility for increasing the accuracy and consistency of trial data across the AVISA network in ESA (Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda) and other west African countries).

 Supervise casual labor.

•  Manage a team of casual labour at Kiboko to manage seed inventory, trial packaging, trial distribution.
• Ensure the team receives the necessary training to conduct their tasks.
• Maintaining safety and hygiene standards.
• Preparing muster roll and submit to supervisor and accounts for payment processing.

Other Responsibilities

• Assist / train regional trialing partners based on their needs (data collection, standardized nomenclature, use of digitization tools etc.) and in coordination with the supervisor
• Manage printing of packets, labels, tags and seed inventory
• Establish and maintain contacts with collaborating organizations and partners.
• Participate in exhibitions, demonstrations, and field days.

Education, knowledge and experience

• BSc or MSc in Plant Breeding, Agricultural Sciences or biotechnology
• Minimum two (2) years’ experience in managing agricultural field activities or research projects.
• Thorough knowledge of the field of work or specialized equipment.
• Basic knowledge of administrative and/or operating protocols and procedures of research support function.
• Basic Supervisory skills and experience.
• 1 to 3 years - Requires conceptual knowledge of theories, practices, and procedures within a discipline.
• Ability to communicate orally on daily routine matters and to prepare brief reports or complete forms without assistance.
• Sufficient competency to use the standard Windows-based software for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and email used at CIMMYT with occasional assistance.
• Ability to effectively use corporate systems and other specialized applications. (User)
• Basic skills in Windows Operating System and LAN
• Simple use of Complex systems.

The application deadline is 25 Aug, 2023