Sweetpotato Specialist : Lichinga, Mozambique

(Ref.: 12-84/IRS/SSA)

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking an accomplished seed system specialist knowledgeable in vegetatively propagated crops and interested in working with nutritionists and education specialists to implement an integrated intervention to combat vitamin A deficiency using pro-vitamin A rich orange-fleshed sweetpotato the major entry point in Niassa Province, Mozambique.

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research organization with a global mandate to conduct research on potatoes and sweet potatoes, sustainable management of natural resources and urban agriculture. CIP’s vision is to contribute from its areas of expertise to the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular those goals that relate to poverty, hunger and child and maternal mortality. CIP and its partners contribute high-quality science and capacity building to the global effort to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition and make sustainable development possible for poor potato and sweetpotato farmers, their families and communities. CIP has its headquarters in Lima, Peru and staff and activities in other locations in Africa, Asia 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.CIP Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) main regional office is in Nairobi, Kenya and it has a country office in Maputo, Mozambique.

The position: A full-time project coordinator in planning and managing the day-to-day implementation aspects of the dissemination effort of new drought-tolerant, orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in selected districts in Niassa Province, Mozambique. This person will be expected to work in partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations and represent CIP in provincial fora on food security and nutrition. The position is based in Lichinga, the provincial capital of Niassa Province, Mozambique.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Specific responsibilities are as follows:

• Establish and manage the multiplication and dissemination of improved sweetpotato materials in collaboration with partners as well as the marketing of processed products in specified areas.
• Conduct agronomic and organoleptic trials to maximize the performance of the clones under different input conditions and agro-ecologies.
• Identify and train key partner organizations on the project.
• Develop a framework for M&E and impact assessment for the project in collaboration with the partners and other CIP scientists.
• Coordinate the formative research on behavioral change and other emerging topics of interest with partners on the project.
• Setup and manage the CIP office and staff in Niassa Province.
• Execute and report on quarterly and annual work plans consistent with project objectives.
• Engage in resource mobilization efforts to expand dissemination coverage.
  

Selection Criteria:

• Ph.D. with a minimum of 3 years relevant work experience or Master’s Degree with at least 7 years of experience in agronomy, seed technology, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Knowledge of management and multiplication systems for vegetatively propagated
• Experience in managing sweetpotato multiplication systems, including tissue culture management, highly preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required. Good working knowledge of Portuguese preferred. Evidence of abilities to speak a romance language (Portuguese, French, or Spanish) requisite.
• Ability to work in an international agricultural research center, interacting with its staff and managing research programs in a variety of institutional and ecological settings.
• Demonstrated expertise planning research, analyzing data and writing timely reports.
• Experience working under difficult field conditions in a developing country setting
• Good record of publications and citations.
• Aptitude for teamwork, leadership, and communications.
• Willingness to travel frequently and work under field conditions within Mozambique.

Conditions: The position will be based in Lichinga, Mozambique. Employment contract will be for 3.5 years, with a 4 month probation period. Salary will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience. CIP provides additional benefits including employer-paid medical, life and disability insurance and retirement benefits. 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 letter of motivation, 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 Jan Low at 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 20 September 2012 and will continue until the post is filled.

All applications will be acknowledged, only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Learn more about CIP by accessing our web site at http://www.cipotato.org