Seed Systems Specialist-Scientist

Scientist-Seed Systems Specialist

ICRISAT seeks applications from highly motivated and qualified professionals for the position of Scientist-Seed Systems Specialist to support the cluster of Seeds Systems under the Global Research Program Accelerated Crop Improvement. develop inclusive strategies for scaling the adoption of new nutrient-rich, climate-resilient, farmer-and market-preferred varieties of the mandated crops in Asia. The position is based at ICRISAT HQ, Patancheru, Hyderabad, India.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.

ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandated crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on drylands and on protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit - www.icrisat.org

• Responsibilities:
  
  Assist in the ICRISAT s development activities in partnership with NARES Asia, to develop strategic alliances and interface with partners for the sustainable production and sustained dissemination of new varieties of the mandated crops.

• Assist in building on existing and forging new partnerships to accelerate the adoption of new varieties of the mandated crops

• Build strategic alliances related to strengthening seed and delivery systems for improved adoption.

• Carry out research to identify varietal adoption constraints and institutional and policy options required to overcome them and to promote strategies for rapid uptake and diffusion of new crop varieties and knowledge

• Facilitate the creation of strategic and effective partnerships with agribusinesses, financial institutes, development organizations, knowledge institutes, and NGOs to promote sustainable seed systems

• Plan and organize seed systems research and provide scientific and technical advice on the development of protocols for seed systems processes in Asia.

• Carry out relevant research to optimize processes that facilitate fast-tracking of delivery and adoption of ICRISAT mandate crops and knowledge

• Develop and promote of innovative and transformative models for accessing, multiplying, and disseminating public-bred varieties of mandated nutri-cereal, oilseed, and legume crops by capacitating seed enterprises to scale up production.

• Develop and test innovative models for scaling the adoption of mandate crops through demand-led public and private partnerships and to enhance commercialization and profitability of seed entrepreneurs.

• Develop capacities of stakeholders along seed systems value chain on efficient and effective quality seed production and delivery with upstream and downstream linkages

• Develop and implement plans for empowering women and youth involved in dryland farming by providing access to seeds of new varieties, associated management technologies and training on seed production technology

• Leading and contributing to development of research project proposals with collective efforts for resource mobilization

• Perform other duties as required by supervisors and management

Requirements

• Ph.D in Agriculture/Development Studies or any other relevant field

• Demonstrated skills in seed sector development and facilitation of public private partnerships

• Ability to work in multi-stakeholder, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams, and processes

• Fluency in spoken and written English and excellent publication record in international peer-reviewed journals

Experience

• 5 years of experience in seed and information dissemination

• Proven knowledge and experience on seed systems and managing donor funded projects related to seed sector in developing countries.

• Experience with applied research related to innovations in seed sector would be an added advantage

Desired skills

• Aptitude and skills to formulate projects, strong track record of resource mobilization

• Ability to work with different nationalities and disciplines in a diverse and multi-cultural environment.

• Experience in leading and supervising teams of scientists and development workers

• Track records in building and leading effective partnerships

• Demonstrate high level of initiatives and be innovative

General:

This is a contractual position for a period of 36 months.

How to apply:

Applicants should apply on or before 13 February 2025 with their latest Resume, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer