Cropping Systems Agronomist / Post-Doctoral Fellow

We are seeking an outstanding, highly-motivated candidate for the position of Cropping Systems Agronomist in the Global Conservation Agriculture Program. The position will work across CSISA-Nepal objectives to couple seed sector activities with locally adapted agronomic best practices and scale-appropriate mechanization.

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 selected candidate will be based in either the mid or far-western development region of Nepal.

Specific duties of this position include:

• Work with the Project Coordinator and hub teams as well as with the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Department of Agriculture (DoA), the USAID prime contractee (KISAN), and other key partners to develop and implement agronomic trials and demonstrations across the target area.
• Contribute to rigorous trials, develop and provide feedback on experiment protocols, monitor trials, organize data according to data management guidelines and SoPs, analyze data, and graph results.
• Develop, test, and refine manual and power machinery with project staff, NARC, DoA, farmers, and public and private sector partners, according to need, scale, local conditions, and gender.
• Spearhead the demonstration of machinery adapted to local needs, and promising varieties via Baby trials, IRD, and other trials, coupled with well-organized and targeted field days and other learning opportunities for farmers and other partners.
• Build awareness for farmers, service providers and other partners on the benefits of improved seed, management, and mechanization through the development of training modules and marketing tools (particularly targeting increased access for women).
• Develop training modules to help nodal farmers, CBSPs, agro-vets, private seed companies, rice and pulse mills, and other promising actors in the seed value chain build entrepreneurship skills and linkages with public and private sector partners.
• Catalyze partnerships between farmers and diverse partners in the seed and machinery sectors, including NARC and the DoA, manufacturers, dealers, service providers and repair agents, and those in the rural finance sector.
• Assist in developing and conducting surveys, participatory appraisals, market chain analysis, and mapping institutional landscape.
• Provide feedback to the BDS, who will lead participatory market chain analyses (PMCA), and efforts to map the institutional landscape to identify various actors in the seed value chain.
• Work with DADOS, District Development Committees (DDCs), and Village Development Committees (VDCs) to identify and develop nodal farmers/champion farmers into seed entrepreneurs in the seed system.
• Provide technical support and training to improve seed processing, packaging, and marketing, and helping arrange field days, trade fairs, and annual planning sessions involving key actors within the seed sector.
• Ensure all seed sector activities are coupled with tested, locally-adapted agricultural management practices to maximize return on investments in inputs.
• Work across other objectives as appropriate and liaising with the prime to ensure that seed, machinery, and management interventions adapted to local circumstances maximize return on investments, and broaden reach and adoption.

We are seeking candidates with the following academic qualifications, skills and attitudes:

• PhD in crop production, soil science, agronomy, or other relevant agricultural-related discipline.
• Minimum 2 years experience in managing agronomic trials effectively on-station and on-farm, with broad disciplinary expertise extending to seed and machinery interventions—particularly for maize, lentil, rice, and wheat.
• Solid knowledge of agronomic concepts and measurements, process-based research approach, openness to new ideas, and ability to think critically about agricultural interventions appropriate for different scenarios.
• Practical experience with conservation agriculture and scale-appropriate machinery in Nepal (or less ideally, South Asia), and the resourcefulness to find innovative solutions to problems encountered working in farmer fields.
• Willingness and aptitude to follow project and institutional data management and communication guidelines; experience and good abilities in statistical analysis, preferably with the R statistical package.
• Demonstrated expertise with farmer mobilization, participatory research in the seed sector (incl. Baby trials, IRDs etc) and mechanization.
• Experience developing training materials and organizing and conducting trainings, field demonstrations, farmer fairs, etc.
• Hands-on expertise with agricultural machinery, and demonstrated ability to trouble-shoot will be an advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experience working and interacting effectively with a variety of stakeholders (field assistants, farmers, extension workers, public and private sector entities), and demonstrated ability to collaborate well across disciplines and with key Nepali institutions and agencies.
• Fluent English and Nepali (written and spoken).

We will offer an initial contract for two years, which may be 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. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.

To apply for this position, please email cover letter and CV no later than Friday, 15 November, 2013 to HR, CIMMYT (Email: irsrecruitment@cgiar.org / Please indicate Position Reference number: 12327 in the header of your email).

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

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.