Post-doctoral Sweetpotato Specialist for Mozambique

Post-doctoral Sweetpotato Specialist for Mozambique (Ref:13-49 SSPD/IRS/SSA)

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a Sweetpotato Specialist with skills in seed system management to support CIP’s orange-fleshed sweetpotato work in Mozambique.

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, 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. The CIP Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) main regional office is in Nairobi, Kenya. CIP also has an existing office in 7 other SSA countries.

The Position: The Sweetpotato Specialist will be based in Maputo, Mozambique with extensive travel at other provinces in the country. The specialist will report to the Senior Breeder in Mozambique and to the Project Manager for the going-to-scale project within Mozambique. The principal tasks and responsibilities will include, but not limited to the following:

Duties and responsibilities:

• Assist in the coordination and implementation of the sweetpotato population breeding activities for Southern Africa.
• Coordinate the organization and implementation of stakeholder meetings and planning sessions with partner organizations.
• Ensure the production of high quality foundation planting material, in collaboration with the national program and coordinate the seed system management of a going-to-scale project in two provinces of Mozambique.
• Backstop as a trainer in an annual learning-by-doing trainer of trainers course.
• Work with development partners to engage in widespread dissemination of improved sweetpotato varieties in two provinces.
• Provide technical assistance to the national program, when requested and within the limits of available resources, in seed systems, variety development, and integrated sweetpotato management.

Selection Criteria:

• PhD degree in Plant Breeding or Genetics or Molecular breeding with at least two years of experience in field research.
• Expertise in experimental design related to breeding trials, data collection, analysis, interpretation and report writing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Working knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish required.
• Familiarity with producing vegetatively propagated crops; knowledge of sweetpotato or cassava will be an advantage.
• Aptitude for teamwork, leadership, training, and communications.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the country.

Conditions: The employment contract will be for a three-year term (with a three month probation period) with the possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. The salary will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience. 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 cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, 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 to Jan Low (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 October 09, 2013 and will continue until the post is filled.

CIP seeks diversity and gender balance in its staff.

Women and citizens of developing countries are particularly urged to apply.

To learn more about CIP please visit http://www.cipotato.org/