ICRISAT Pearl Millet Breeding Scientist Vacancy

Senior Scientist/Scientist – Pearl Millet Breeding

ICRISAT invites applications for a dynamic and motivated Cereal Breeder to lead pearl millet improvement in West and Central Africa (WCA) within a multi-disciplinary team comprising both biological and social scientists. The position is based at the ICRISAT Niamey, Niger, within the West & Central Africa Research Program, and reports to the Regional Director for WCA.

ICRISAT is headquartered in Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and five country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT, established in 1972, is a member 6 of the CGIAR Consortium. For more details, see www.icrisat.org.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead ICRISAT pearl millet improvement in West and Central Africa
• Design and implement an efficient breeding program to develop pearl millet varieties, hybrid parents and hybrids with adaptability to the growing conditions in West and Central Africa, and that respond to the needs of main stakeholders.
• Plan and conduct the program in partnership with National Programs and other major stakeholders in the Region
• Interact with ICRISAT scientists at other locations, particularly colleagues in the Global Research Program on Genetic Gains, in order to accelerate genetic gain and breeding efficiency and to develop and implement improved breeding methods and processes.
• Provide scientific leadership and creativity in designing and executing projects within the Region and across ICRISAT
• Use the appropriate data, pedigree, and computer software to manage the breeding program, design trials and analyze results
• Summarize and interpret the data of the experiments conducted
• Develop a close collaboration with the public and private (where they exist) national breeding and research programs in West and Central Africa
• Contribute to the pearl millet R4D agenda and to the development of strategic partnership
• Lead project development and resource mobilization for ICRISAT and partners involved in pearl millet improvement in West and Central Africa
• Produce scientific publications, reports, and presentations as required
• Organize and supervise the work of research support staff
• Contribute to enhancing capacity building of partners in the region through degree and non-degree training

• Represent ICRISAT in different fora as appropriate and required
• Performs other duties

Eligibility and Qualification:

• PhD in genetics and/or plant breeding  with 3-5 years post-Graduate breeding experience, with an interest in both basic research and development-oriented on-farm research
• Demonstrated interest and experience in international agricultural research, in particular to conduct research to benefit smallholder farmers in West Africa
• Experience or familiarity with quantitative/population genetics, genomics tools for enhancing efficiency applied to breeding program
• Experience in running a field-based research program to gain precise and reliable phenotypic data
• Demonstrated capacity in implementing participatory research methods
• Experience with variety development and release as well as effective seed dissemination
• Statistical skills, knowledge of computer applications and software for data collection, management and analysis
• Demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively in diverse, multicultural partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders, and interest to work in interdisciplinary teams
• Project management experience delivering project reports and managing budgets
• Good track record in project reporting, proposal development, and publication in internationally peer reviewed journals;
• Willingness to travel extensively in the region and globally
• Fluency in English with excellent written/oral communication and presentation skills; working knowledge of French is highly desirable

The Reward:

This is an internationally recruited staff position with an attractive compensation and benefits package. The position is initially for three years, and extendable depending on performance of the incumbent, requirement for the position and availability of funds

Last date to submit application: 15 –Aug -2016

Please CLICK HERE to submit your application.