Position: Background and Responsibilities
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of Cassava Commodity Specialist. This position is under the Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program-Phase I Outreach (ATASP-I Outreach) funded by African Development Bank (AfDB). The ATASP-I Outreach will contribute to the objectives of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government by addressing the constraints of Rice. Sorghum and Cassava value chains in four staple crop processing zones of Adani-Omor, Bida-Badeggi. Kano-Jigawa and Kebbi-Sokoto. The Programme comprises three complementary and mutually reinforcing components via; Infrastructure Development; Commodity Value Chain Development; and Programme Management. The specific objective of the programme is to: contribute to food and nutrition security, employment generation, and wealth creation along the priority commodity value chains. Position Responsibilities: • Lead the technical work on cassava and along the value chain. • Lead the preparation of the technical reports of the cassava value chain as required by the donor and in conformity with the IITA requirements. • Make necessary arrangements and work out logistics for project workshops, meetings, and monitoring tours related to the cassava value chain. • Work out logistics for all training activities related to the cassava value chain planned under this project. • Lead a series of regional trials of near-finished cassava cultivars in all participating countries. • Provide leadership in designing, planning, and implementing on-Farm/Demonstration Trials. • Include the youth in project implementation as a way of generating jobs in agribusiness. • Present the activities, results, and impacts of the cassava value chain of the project at scientific meetings within and outside the region; and present scientific papers for publication in peer- reviewed journals as appropriate. • Assist and collaborate fully with specialists involved in project areas such as Socio-Economics, Farmer Participatory Research, Agronomy, Natural Resource Management and External Advisory Committees; and • Undertake any other project-related task assigned by the Outreach Program Coordinator or the Director General of IITA or his designated representative.
Qualification and Experience
Education: PhD in agriculture with a major in plant breeding, agronomy, or a related field. Working Experience: A minimum of 10 years experience in tropical agriculture, five of which will be with the development of cassava value chains in Africa. The ideal candidate must: i) have the capacity to work effectively in a team; ii) be competent in the use of Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; iii) have demonstrated evidence of the ability to lead research work with clear results on this; and iv) experience in working with the youth in agribusiness would be an additional asset. Language: The candidate should communicate fluently (orally and in writing) in the English language.
General Information
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive fringe benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.
Remuneration: An internationally competitive remuneration package will be offered. IITA offers excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment. Location: Year 1: IITA Headquarters, Ibadan Nigeria; Years 2 and 3: Onne Station, Nigeria Applications: Applications must include covering letter which should address how the candidate’s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service. Please complete our online application form using this link: http://www.iita.org/careers Closing Date: 2nd May 2015 IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from women candidates. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Method of Application:
Interested applicants should forward their applications with detailed curriculum vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include either the Head of applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior officer at work and evidence of current remuneration package to IITA website.
IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from female candidates.
Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted