Research Technician- CIMMYT (Readvertisement) At World Agroforestry Centre

CIMMYT is looking for a:

Research Technician

The Research Technician supports the implementation of breeding activities of dryland crops in Kiboko and other locations that may be identified (e.g. disease screening locations). The Research Technician leads and supervises casual workers, plans and organizes activities (short- and long-term) guided by the breeding strategy/schemes discussed with the scientist/s. He/she coordinates with the other project staff supporting different aspects of the breeding pipeline.

Activities may include coordinating trial kit preparation and shipment for regional trials across Eastern and Southern Africa partners, planning the nurseries (segregating populations, seed production, etc.), allocating field workers to various operations that may occur simultaneously ( planting, preparing seed packs/kits, land preparation, irrigation, etc.), collection of accurate data and maintaining integrity of data, and ensuring that all data are uploaded into enterprise database systems.

Summary of responsibilities

Innovation

• Propose and implement agreed improvements in breeding nurseries and seed production and/or multiplication (e.g. speed breeding).

Coordinate experiment creation, trial kit preparation, shipment to various partners, data return

• Ensure entry lists provided by the scientist are created in enterprise database systems, packed, sent to partners, and planted on time.
• Collaborate with trialists and technicians in partner centers and ensure standard trial protocols are followed.
• Coordinate the compilation of trial data from partners and uploading them into enterprise database systems.

Management of hybrid breeding nurseries and hybrid seed production

• Understand and gain experience in hybrid breeding, hybrid seed production, heterotic pools in sorghum and pearl millet.
• Manage hybrid breeding nurseries including restorer pool population improvement, maintainer pool population improvement, AxB seed production, AxR seed production and BxR testcrossing as needed.
• Ensure nurseries are established on time (timely land prep, planting, fertilizer application etc) planted according to the plot layout.
• Ensure nurseries are well managed (irrigated, weed control, pest and disease control etc) and that there is frequent communication or updates with scientists.
• Manage accurate and timely data collection as specified by the scientists, and ensure accuracy of data entry and consolidation.
• Implement timely digital data capture using the relevant tools (e.g. FieldBook app) and software as identified by the program.
• Ensure protocols (e.g. seed retention, seed amount harvested from nurseries) are followed.

Supervise casual labor

• Manage a team of casual labor at Kiboko to perform activities in the field, screenhouse and seed laboratories.
• Ensure labor team receive the necessary training to perform their tasks.
• Maintain and practice occupational health and safety in the workplace.

Other Responsibilities

• Assist in tissue sample collection for genetic and/or biochemical analysis
• Manage printing of packets, labels, tags and seed inventory
• Establish and maintain contacts with collaborating organizations and partners.

Requirements

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in plant breeding, agricultural science or related fields.
• Minimum two (2) years’ experience in managing agricultural field activities or research projects in a private or public research company/institute.
• NGO experience is NOT a requirement

Personal attributes and competencies

• Familiarity with cereal crops and legumes and related research operations (pollination, data collection from trials and nurseries, running breeding and operational software, experience with genotyping sampling etc.) will be an advantage.
• Ability to work in a team of researchers, collaborate with field operations staff, manage breeding operations ensuring timeliness and quality of delivery of activities and results,
• Manage field labor, estimate labor demand, provide supervision and training to field staff to manage breeding research activities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal day-to-day supervision and proactively solve problems
• Excellent communication and reporting skills to line manager and colleagues on station, including report writing and attention to detail.
• Ability to drive (manual gear) and travel independently in the region to monitor multi-location trials; should have a valid driver’s license

Terms and conditions

• This is a Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) position and on competitive remuneration in local currency, commensurate with skills and experience.
• The appointment will be for a period of two (2) years, inclusive of a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
• The duty station will be in Kiboko, Makueni County, Kenya.