Vacancies at World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

Duties and responsibilities

System Administration: Administration of the software system being used by CIMMYT Global Maize Program (GMP) for management of intellectual assets and technology transfer.

• Provide / coordinate technical support for internal and external users of the system 
• Data entry and data management, including implementation of a robust data quality control scheme.
• Support development and implementation of automated workflows, dashboards, and analytical reports
• Proactively utilize the data in the system to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for process improvement and business development

Contract & partnership management.

• Provide administrative support for an assigned portfolio of agreements and the corresponding partners, primarily being users of CIMMYT maize products and services in Eastern Africa.
• Implement contract lifecycle management for assigned portfolio of agreements, including following up on leads, contract execution, monitoring/reporting, amendment, and close-out. 
• Support communications & marketing campaigns, especially product announcements for Eastern Africa maize breeding pipelines.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in business administration or related field
• Additional relevant work experience highly desirable (e.g., systems administration; data management; data analysis; business intelligence; business development / marketing; customer / partnership relationship management; monitoring, evaluation and learning; seed industry; contract management; etc.)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Impeccable attention to detail.

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Duties and responsibilities

Field Operations.

• Assist in planning, establishment, and management of nurseries and field trials
• Assist in optimizing the agromnomic management and developing efficient protocols
• Support in monitoring plant health and implementation of pest and disease management practices
• Assist in phenotyping, trait scoring, and accurate field data collection
• Assist in harvesting and post-harvest activities, including seed handling and processing
• Support optimal management of field facilities and equipment (e.g., irrigation systems, sprayers).

Greenhouse Operations.

• Support operation and maintenance of greenhouses, screenhouses, and growth chambers
• Assist in planting, crop management, and routine greenhouse activities
• Assist in seedling handling and preparation for specialized activities (e.g., chromosome doubling)
• Ensure proper labeling, tracking, and maintenance of plant materials.

Laboratory Operations.

• Assist in seed/plant sampling, preparation, and processing
• Support seed sorting activities (e.g., haploid vs. diploid classification)
• Assist in sample preparation for laboratory analyses (e.g., genotyping, seed health testing)
• Support routine laboratory procedures and experimental activities.

General operations.

• Assist in research facility management, including keeping the facilities clean and neat and maintaining inventory of capital (CAPEX) and non-capital items
• Support procurement and inventory management of consumables and supplies
• Assist in equipment maintenance and ensure operational readiness
• Support recruitment and coordination of casual labor in consultation with the station manager
• Ensure timely availability of required materials, supplies, and labor.

Data Management and Reporting.

• Assist in maintaining accurate and well-organized records across field, greenhouse, and laboratory activities
• Assist in ensuring proper labeling, documentation, storage and traceability of plant and seed materials while ensuring quality control at each stage
• Assist in supporting timely data entry, validation, and reporting
• Use germplasm and data management systems (e.g., EBS) for generating seed stock names, codes and lables etc. and tracking the materials.

Compliance and Safety.

• Follow safety protocols in field, greenhouse, and laboratory environments
• Assist in ensuring proper handling, storage, and disposal of chemical and biological materials
• Comply with institutional, biosafety, and regulatory guidelines.

Requirements

• Diploma/Bachelors degree in Agriculture, Plant Science, or related field.
• Experience in field crop management.
• Experience in lab and greenhouse operations.