Maize Breeder in South East Asia

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is looking for a highly motivated, experienced and results-oriented maize breeder for development and delivery of elite, stress resilient and nutritionally enriched/value-added maize varieties to the farmers in South East Asia. The scientist will work as a member of the CIMMYT Global Maize Program (CIMMYT-GMP), and will play a key role to fulfill CIMMYT’s mandate in a large multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team. The candidate will be placed in Maros (South Sulawesi, Indonesia) and will work closely with CIMMYT’s research teams in Asia, as well as partners in national research programs, advanced research institutes, and private institutions, to expand the network of partnerships.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Establishing a maize R & D hub in South East Asia.
• Strengthening maize breeding and product deployment activities in South East Asia, in close collaboration with the public and private partners.
• Identifying products that can easily be scaled-up in targeted areas of Indonesia and other SE Asian countries.
• Technical backstopping and capacity strengthening of the public and private partners on use of innovative approaches, novel tools and methodologies in developing maize cultivars for traits prioritized by South East Asian partners.
• Ensuring effective networking, collaboration and communication with seed partners in SE Asia.
• Contributing to the visibility of CIMMYT’s research, partnerships and impacts.

We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Plant Sciences with specialization in plant breeding or closely related subject. Experience in maize breeding is preferable.
• Applied knowledge of experimental design, management of field trials, field breeding operations, and data analysis.
• Strong aptitude for field-based research, especially for development and testing of maize hybrids. • Practical skills in statistics and computational software relevant for maize breeding.
• Experience in managing large databases of field trials is preferred.
• Track record in scientific refereed publications.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Strong self-motivation and innovative skills, coupled with interest in international agricultural research and development.
• Demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively in diverse, multicultural partnerships and good communications skills.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT® (www.cimmyt.org), is a not-for-profit research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries. The center works to sustainably increase the productivity of maize and wheat systems and thus ensure global food security and reduce poverty. The center's outputs and services include improved maize and wheat varieties and cropping systems, the conservation of maize and wheat genetic resources, and capacity building. CIMMYT belongs to and is funded by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) and also receives support from national governments, foundations, development banks, and other public and private agencies.

CIMMYT has had enormous impact in the developing world. It is the center of excellence for work on two of the three most important food crops in the developing world. Its most famous employee, Dr. Norman Borlaug, is credited by many with saving more lives than any other individual in the history of the world. Borlaug’s work dramatically increased yields of wheat in the Indo-Gangetic plains in the 1960s and 1970s, staving off starvation for hundreds of millions. For this work, Borlaug received the Nobel Prize in 1970. Scores of other CIMMYT efforts have saved or enriched millions of lives, from releasing disease-resistant varieties and varieties resistant to drought and heat and soil deficiencies, to dispersing techniques to reduce farmer costs and post-harvest losses. In developing countries, wheat varieties developed by CIMMYT and its partners cover 75% of the area planted to modern wheat varieties.

The position will be based in Indonesia but will involve travel to other institutions and field sites in South East Asia on a regular basis.

We will offer an initial contract for 3 years, which is renewable subject to continued need and funding for the position and performance of the staff member. Our 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.

CIMMYT is an equal-opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality.

This Advertisement will remain open for applications until the position is filled.

To apply for this position, please click the Apply to Job button or email cover letter and CV to Human Resources, CIMMYT (Email: irsrecruitment@cgiar.org / Please indicate Position Reference number: 12212 in the header of your email).

For further information on the selection process, please contact Guillermo Flores, Staffing Specialist, at g.flores@cgiar.org

For information on job responsibilities, please contact Dr BM Prasanna, Director, Global Maize Program, CIMMYT (b.m.prasanna@cgiar.org).

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted