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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: www.cimmyt.org
The Excellence in Breeding Platform (EiB) is a new CGIAR cross-commodity platform that supports the modernization of breeding programs targeting Africa, Asia, and Latin America for greater impact on food and nutrition security, climate change adaptation and development. By providing important outcomes to under-resourced peoples, the CGIAR centers help realize the founding mission of the CGIAR system – they target low-and-middle-income countries for greater impact on food and nutrition security, climate change adaptation and development.
EiB is headquartered at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), with access to state-of-the art facilities at one of the largest CGIAR centers and well-connected with the 15 other sister centers, all known for their high impact on agriculture in developing countries. EiB draws from innovations in CGIAR centers, advanced research institutes and the private sector, providing access to cutting-edge tools, services and best practices, application-oriented training and practical advice.
The EiB is recruiting a Breeding Specialist for East Africa. The holder of the position will support the Excellence in Breeding organization and provide support to CGIAR breeding teams to modernize and make improvements to their breeding operations. Each CGIAR breeding program has developed a modernization plan. It is the successful candidate’s role to support the breeding teams to successfully execute against this plan and to keep the plan updated, including incorporation of new ambitions. He or she will be working with breeders and the Excellence in Breeding team to ensure that higher rates of genetic gain are delivered to farmers in a partnership capacity without formal control over the breeders. Key to this will be to extract the maximum value of these new and proven technologies that are being deployed.
We are seeking a hands-on breeder who have experience broadly in the methodologies of classical plant breeding with an open attitude and interest in learning more about the advanced methods brought to world centers by the EiB team. The Breeding Specialist will drive improvement and modernization of breeding programs across Africa and possibly beyond. While EiB is focused on advanced technologies, much of the daily activities of the Breeding Specialist will be to ensure that breeding fundamentals are being executed properly as opposed to a strict focus on cutting-edge technologies. However, technology will remain critical – for example, the use of predictive tools (molecular markers and various predictive phenotyping tools/methods) or the application of complex applications such as integrating whole genome data, or genomic selection, into the breeding pipeline and forward marker-assisted selection.
It is not necessary for our Breeding Specialists to come into the job with this expertise, as she or he will be learning from and engaging with the team of EiB specialists. The Breeding Specialist will create the bridge between the CGIAR breeders/scientists and the EiB team, as well as specialists from the private sector and advanced research institutes who are participating for knowledge transfer purposes.
The location of this position will be Kenya or Zimbabwe. Significant international travel will be required.
Specific duties:
Required academic qualifications, skills and attitudes:
The position is for an initial fixed-term of three (3) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.
To expand the evidence base for addressing these challenges and strengthen the integration of gender and social inclusion in our agricultural research-for-development (R4D) portfolio for sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, CIMMYT is seeking an experienced, dynamic, pro-active, resourceful and results-oriented gender and agriculture researcher to join its Socio-Economics Program in the region.
The selected candidate will form part of CIMMYT’s Socio-Economics Program and will work in close collaboration with CIMMYT’s other programs, and local and international partners. In alignment with CIMMYT’s strategy for gender and social inclusion in maize R4D, the selected candidate will work with colleagues and partners to expand the current evidence base on gender and social inclusion, particularly in gender-intentional seed delivery, value chain development, and agricultural livelihood improvements in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, develop relevant policy recommendations and promote gender-transformative R4D practice.
The position will preferably be based in Nairobi and will involve regional travel, including to other CIMMYT offices and field operations.
Specific duties:
Required academic qualifications, skills and attitudes:
The position is for an initial fixed-term for three (3) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.
Use the link(s) below to apply on company website.
Screening and follow up will begin on Friday August 28th, 2020. Applications must include a CV and a cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration. For further information on the selection process, please contact Yessica Castillo (y.castillo@cgiar.org)
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.
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.
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