Overview
Job Title: Banana Breeder
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Summary:
Applications are being accepted for the globally recruited post of banana breeder at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
In order to address the most serious issues facing Africa—hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and the depletion of natural resources—the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a non-profit organization that develops agricultural innovations. In sub-Saharan Africa, we collaborate with several partners to promote livelihood enhancement, augment food and nutrition security, augment employment opportunities, and maintain the integrity of natural resources. As part of the global agriculture research cooperation for a food secure future, CGIAR counts IITA among its members. To learn more about IITA, kindly visit http://www.iita.org/
Six crucial crops for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are the focus of IITA’s breeding efforts: cassava, yam, banana/plantain, maize, soybean, and cowpea. These breeding projects have engaged extensively with the CGIAR Excellence in Breeding (EiB) platform and have been evaluated using the Breeding Program Assessment Tool (BPAT) (https://plantbreedingassessment.org/). Consequently, product profiles and market segmentation assessments have been created together with crop-specific and cross-cutting (institutional) improvement plans. With active participation and close coordination with other Initiatives within the Genetic Innovation Science Area and bilateral initiatives, putting these goals into action will be a key component of the OneCGIAR’s Accelerating Breeding Initiative.
The chosen applicant will organize a breeding network aimed at prioritizing market sectors for bananas in East and Central Africa, in addition to designing, implementing, and overseeing the breeding program. The chosen applicant will collaborate closely with regional partners, such as CGIAR and NARES institutions, in addition to other organizations, to set up a crossing and assessment program with the goal of providing farmers with improved varieties that will enable their quick adoption. Reporting to the Banana Breeding Program Lead is this role.
Role Accountabilities:
- Breeding Strategy: Developing breeding plans with the intention of reaching particular objectives, such raising yield, strengthening stress tolerance, or improving nutritional value.
- Product Design and Development: Use a procedure for product development to find new candidate varieties for specific market segments and product profiles, as well as an efficient breeding plan to produce elite breeding material.
- Demand-led Breeding: Assist in updating the definition of market segments, build product profiles, and coordinate regional efforts related to seed systems.
- Germplasm Development: Find, acquire, and create the right germplasm to support the breeding program in collaboration with NARS and chosen partners.
- Coordination: Assist in the establishment of a data analysis, advancement, and stage-gate multilocation product performance testing strategy that is in line with target market segments, TPEs, or agro-ecologies.
- Optimizing Breeding Procedures and Operations: Make sure that standard operating procedures and breeding operations are economical and produce the desired results in terms of quality and performance metrics.
Cooperation & Joint Ventures / Collaboration and Partnerships:
- Form reliable alliances with national public breeding programs to jointly determine essential germplasm, product requirements, and complementary breeding goals.
- Facilitate and actively assist the regional agricultural network in organizing and carrying out breeding initiatives that optimize the growth of both individual and shared network germplasm products. This will also increase the network’s capacity to exchange information, best practices, training, and other resources.
- Building Capacity: Educate and guide scholars, partners, and breeding staff in data analysis, scientific communication, methodology, and breeding practices.
- Resource Mobilization: Take the lead in developing research ideas and other fundraising initiatives, or assist in their creation.
- Publication: Take the lead in publishing research findings in worldwide, peer-reviewed journals, or assist in doing so.
- Reporting: Generate annual and monthly reports.
Conditions:
Qualifications for Education:
- A doctorate (PHD) in genetics, plant breeding, or a similar discipline is required of the candidate.
Fundamental Skills / Core Competencies:
- At least five years of plant breeding experience.
- It is preferred to have experience using the most recent breeding technology, genomics, and quantitative genetics concepts.
- Work experience in tropical climates will be given preference.
- Perennial and polyploid plant experience is advantageous.
- Strong networking and facilitating skills with focus on enabling and empowering others to succeed.
- Demonstrated capacity to function in a variety of multicultural settings.
- Outstanding analytical, organizational, and interpersonal abilities.
- Demonstration of proficiency and dedication to the design and execution of inclusive research.
- Proof of prior resource mobilization experience.
- Outstanding communication skills both in writing and speaking.
Benefits:
Assignment Location: IITA-Arusha, Tanzania
General information: A three-year initial term will apply to the contract. IITA provides a compensation package that is competitive worldwide and is paid in US dollars.
Applications: Applications must include a curriculum vitae, a cover letter outlining how the applicant’s experience and background relate to the particular duties of the position being applied for, and the names and addresses of three professional referees (who must be either the applicant’s direct supervisor/superior at their current or previous place of employment or the head of their current or previous organization). The Head of People and Culture should receive the application. Please use this link to complete our online application: https://apply.workable.eom/iita/#jobs.
Date of Closure: August 10, 2024.
IITA is dedicated to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunity employer. We especially encourage applications from women.
Please be aware that only those who have been shortlisted will be contacted, even though all applications will be acknowledged.
