Sweetpotato Breeder Senior Scientist (2024-41)

The International
Potato Center (CIP) is seeking to recruit an energetic and results-oriented Senior
Scientist to establish a sweetpotato breeding program and oversee the breeding
activities in West Africa.

About CIP: CIP is part of the
CGIAR global research partnership committed to transforming food, land, and
water systems in a climate crisis. CIP’s mission is to develop and share
science-based innovations in potato, sweetpotato, and other root and tuber
crops. CIP partners with organizations in over 20 countries in Africa, Asia,
and Latin America to strengthen agri-food systems and provide economic, social,
and nutritional benefits, especially for women and youth. We integrate social
and biophysical sciences to address complex challenges in food and agriculture.
For more information, please visit https://cipotato.org/about/.

The
position: The selected candidate will
develop and implement a sweetpotato breeding program and
coordinating a breeding network aimed at catering the west Africa sweetpotato
market segments. The selected 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 aiming at the delivery of
superior varieties able to support rapid adoption rates by farmers. The
Sweetpotato Breeder Senior Scientist will be based in Nigeria where she/he will
establish the program and the breeding network. The incumbent will function as
a member of the CIP global breeding team and report to the Leader of Crop
Improvement and co-report to the Africa breeding lead.

Key
Responsibilities:

Science leadership

• Lead
  and manage sweetpotato breeding programs, focusing on developing high-yielding,
  disease-resistant, and climate-resilient varieties.
  
• Collaborate
  with local and international research institutions, farmers, and stakeholders
  to ensure the adoption of new varieties.
  
• Conduct
  genetic analysis and utilize modern breeding techniques, including
  marker-assisted selection and genomic tools.
  
• Collect,
  analyze, and interpret data to inform breeding decisions and strategies.
  
• Publish
  research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at scientific
  conferences.
  
• Mentor
  and train junior scientists, technicians, and students in sweetpotato breeding
  techniques and methodologies.
  
• Collaborate
  closely with CIP social scientists, economists and gender specialists’ teams to
  ensure the update and refinement of Product Profiles and Market Segments
  served.
  
• Maintain
  updated estimates of genetic gains.
  
• Represent
  the sweetpotato breeding program in both internal and external meetings, and
  promote the visibility of progress and success through active engagement with
  the communications team
  

Strategic Planning & Management

• Establish
  and coordinate West Africa sweetpotato breeding network.
  
• Coordinate
  the yearly planning process and revision of the breeding pipelines.
  
• Organize
  product advancement meetings.
  
• Identify
  and guide the development of concept notes and research ideas for resource
  mobilization purposes.
  
• Support
  and contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of
  the partners annual workplans and budgets of the funded activities.
  
• Facilitate
  collaborative research among/within NARS in SSA.
  
• Building
  linkages among multiple partners including NARS, NGOs, seed
  companies/associations and policy makers to ensure a vibrant and responsive
  breeding program.
  
• Manages
  the sweetpotato breeding budget and the budget allocation process.

Requirements

• PhD degree in Plant Breeding or other Crop
  Sciences with minimum of 10-year experience of active crop breeding with an
  excellent understanding of the role of breeding in sustainable agricultural
  development, food and nutrition security and inclusive economic development.
  
• International experience of 8 years’
  experience of active work in breeding programs. Previous experience in clonal
  crop breeding in Africa would be considered a plus.
  
• Ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary
  teams, communicate a common vision among diverse partners and effectively work
  with diverse stakeholders including senior government officials.
  
• Extensive
  knowledge in variety release processes.
  

Skills:

• Strong and effective leadership skills.
  
• Demonstrated success in managing
  multi-disciplinary teams and partnerships and attracting funding.
  
• Able to communicate effectively, both orally
  and in writing. Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of other local
  language is an asset.
  

Benefits

• Exciting career opportunity in an
  international, well renowned organization with a track record of success and
  accomplishments.
  
• 3-year contract with possibility of
  renewal. 
  
• Internationally competitive salary, paid in US
  dollars, and commensurate with experience. Internationally competitive pension
  and health plans.