Banana Breeder at IRRI/IITA Tanzania

Description
The International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally
recruited position of Banana Breeder.

The International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution
that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing
challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource
degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we
improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase
employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of
CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure
future. Please visit http://www.iita.org/ for more information on IITA.

IITA
focuses on breeding of six very important crops in Sub-Saharan Africa
(SSA): cassava, yam, banana/plantain, maize, soybean, and cowpea. These
breeding programs have been reviewed using the Breeding Program
Assessment Tool (BPAT) ( https://plantbreedingassessment.org/) and have
had extensive interactions with the CGIAR Excellence in Breeding (EiB)
platform. As a result, crop specific and cross cutting (institutional)
improvement plans have been developed along with product profiles and
market segmentation analyses. Implementing these plans will be a central
part of the Accelerating Breeding Initiative of the OneCGIAR with
active involvement and close collaboration with other Initiatives within
the Genetic Innovation Science Area and bilateral projects.

The
successful candidate will design, execute, and manage the banana
breeding program, while also coordinating a breeding network targeting
East and Central African banana prioritized market segments. The
successful candidate will work closely with local partner organizations,
including CGIAR and NARES institutions, as well as other partners, to
establish a crossing and evaluation program aimed at delivering superior
varieties that support rapid adoption by farmers. This position reports
to Banana Breeding Program Lead.

Position Responsibilities

• Breeding
  Strategy: Formulating breeding strategies aimed at achieving specific
  goals, such as increasing yield, improving stress tolerance, or
  enhancing nutritional content.
• Product Design and Development:
  Implement an effective breeding strategy to develop elite breeding
  material and a product advancement process to identify new candidate
  varieties for targeted market segments and product profiles.
• Demand-led Breeding: Support and contribute to the revision of market
  segment definition and product profile development and seed system
  activities in the region.
• Germplasm Development: Working with
  NARS and selected partners, identify, obtain and develop appropriate
  germplasm to sustain the breeding program.
• Coordination:
  Coordinate the development of a stage gate multilocation product
  performance testing strategy, data analysis and advancement process,
  which is aligned with target market segments, TPEs or Agro-ecologies.
• Optimization of Breeding Processes and Operations: Ensure cost
  effective breeding operations, and standard operating procedures that
  deliver agreed quality and performance indicators.
• Collaboration and Partnerships:
• Develop
  strong partnerships with national public breeding programs to
  collaboratively identify critical germplasm, product needs and define
  complementary breeding objectives.
• Enable and actively support
  the regional crop network to collaboratively plan and implement breeding
  activities that optimize the development of individual and shared
  network germplasm products and builds capacity to share knowledge, best
  practices, training etc. 
• Capacity Building: Provide
  training and mentorship to breeding staff, partners and scholars on
  breeding techniques, methodologies, data analysis and scientific
  communication.
• Resource Mobilization: Contribute to or lead the development of research proposals and other fundraising activities.
• Publication: Lead or contribute to publication of research results in international, refereed journals. eaouPNv Dmw3z1
• Reporting: Produce monthly and annual reports.

Requirements
Educational Qualifications

• The candidate should have a PhD in plant breeding, genetics, or a related field.

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Core Competencies

• At least 5 years of experience in plant breeding.
• Experience applying quantitative genetics principles, genomics and latest breeding technologies is desired.
• Experience working in the tropics will be considered favourably.
• Experience with polyploid and perennials is an asset.
• Strong networking and facilitating skills with focus on enabling and empowering others to succeed.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multicultural and diverse environments.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills.
• Successful experience and commitment to inclusive research design and implementation.
• Evidence of experience in resource mobilization.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Benefits
Duty Station: IITA-Arusha, Tanzania

General information:
The contract will be for an initial period of three years. IITA offers
an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S.
Dollars.

Applications:
Applications must include a
cover letter which should address how the candidate’s
background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position
applied for, curriculum vitae, and 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 of People and Culture.
Please complete our online application form using this link: https://apply.workable.com/iita/#jobs

Closing Date: 23rd October 2024
IITA
is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse
workforce, particularly welcoming applications from women.
While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
How to Apply:
This is Full-time Job, To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.