Germplasm Acquisition and Distribution Scientist

Germplasm Acquisition and Distribution Scientist (Ref.: 14-02/GADS/IRS/HQ)

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking an experienced manager with a PhD in Plant Sciences to join our plant genetic resources genebank team to aid in the management and distribution of ex situ clonal and seed collections. Areas of experience should include ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources, plant biology and physiology, the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, International Plant Protection Convention, and database management.

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. This position will be stationed in the Lima headquarters.

The Ex-situ Genetic Resources Program: CIP’s Ex-situ Genetic Resources Program hosts the genebank and associated activities. The goal of the program is that CIP, community conservationists and other stakeholders collaborate on dynamic in situ and ex situ conservation of potato, sweetpotato and underutilized root and tuber genetic resources to enhance their use by present and future generations and respond to climate change.

The genebank is the major component of CIP’s Strategic Objective on Conserving Diversity for the Future: the CIP Genebank.  This Strategic objective comprises genebank Distribution and Management, information and database, interaction with CIP breeding & regional programs,  National, regional and international legislation and treaty awareness, adherence and monitoring, rationalizing global potato and sweetpotato collections, providing support to the other five CIP Strategic Objectives, Interactive in-situ conservation and Crop Wild relatives.

Targets for the program include:

1. The holdings of the genebank will represent the genepool of potato, sweetpotato and their wild relatives.
2. The holdings of the CIP genebank will be completely characterized, fingerprinted and evaluated for priority traits and the information about it will be freely available and publically accessible to all users.
3. ISO-accredited quality management systems will cover all relevant aspects of genebank activities to ensure secure conservation and a safe, responsive, decentralized maintenance and distribution service for plant genetic resources.
4. A strategy, methods and tools for CIP, community conservationists and other stakeholders implemented to collaborate on dynamic in situ and ex situ conservation.

The position: The selected candidate will be responsible for work areas in the Strategic Objective and specifically in the reception and safe distribution of germplasm in compliance with the Treaty, accessing new germplasm and management of genebank database. The activities covered by the candidate will be process intensive and require careful cost and personnel management by managing and motivating a technical and administrative team. Depending on the strengths and interests of the position holder, contributions to other objectives of the program can be considered such as assuming the role of acting wild potato curator. The position reports to the Head of the Genebank and is based at CIP’s headquarters in Lima, Peru. Some international travel may be required.

Selection Criteria:

• PhD in Plant Sciences or botanically related field.
• Experience working with legal matters of intellectual property especially in relation to the Treaty, the Convention and international phytosanitary regulations
• Experience in the use of modern information and communication technology to ensure the quality of genebank database
• Be capable and competent to negotiate germplasm collection and distribution permits with responsible authorities
• Demonstrated success in attracting research funding
• Team management experience; and
• Excellent communications skills in English with Spanish proficiency are required.

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. The reference name of the position should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message. Screening of applications will begin on April 28, 2014 and will continue until the post is filled.