Cassava Commodity Specialists at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

IITA is an international non-profit agricultural research-for-development (R4D) organization established in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and a member of the CGIAR Consortium. Our R4D approach is anchored on the development needs of the tropics. We work with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. We have more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and 900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa.

We invites applications for the internationally recruited position of:

Job Title: Cassava Commodity Specialist

Location: Year 1: IITA Headquarters, Ibadan Nigeria; Years 2 and 3: Onne Station, Nigeria

Job Description

• This position is under the Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program-Phase I Outreach (ATASP-I Outreach) funded by African Development Bank (AfDB).
• The ATASP-I Outreach will contribute to the objectives of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government by addressing the constraints of Rice. Sorghum and Cassava value chains in four staple crop processing zones of Adani-Omor, Bida-Badeggi.
• Kano-Jigawa and Kebbi-Sokoto.
• The Programme comprises three complementary and mutually reinforcing components via; Infrastructure Development; Commodity Value Chain Development; and Programme Management.
• The specific objective of the programme is to: contribute to food and nutrition security, employment generation, and wealth creation along the priority commodity value chains.

Position/Responsibilities

• Lead the technical work on cassava and along the value chain.
• Lead the preparation of the technical reports of the cassava value chain as required by the donor and in conformity with the IITA requirements.
• Make necessary arrangements and work out logistics for project workshops, meetings, and monitoring tours related to the cassava value chain.
• Work out logistics for all training activities related to the cassava value chain planned under this project.
• Lead a series of regional trials of near-finished cassava cultivars in all participating countries.
• Provide leadership in designing, planning, and implementing on-Farm/Demonstration Trials.
• Include the youth in project implementation as a way of generating jobs in agribusiness.
• Present the activities, results, and impacts of the cassava value chain of the project at scientific meetings within and outside the region; and present scientific papers for publication in peer- reviewed journals as appropriate.
• Assist and collaborate fully with specialists involved in project areas such as Socio-Economics, Farmer Participatory Research, Agronomy, Natural Resource Management and External Advisory Committees; and
• Undertake any other project-related task assigned by the Outreach Program Coordinator or the Director General of IITA or his designated representative.

Specific Duties shall include:

• Oversee day-to-day implementation of ATASP-1 project outreach program activities.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of project work plans and budgets.
• Arrange the timely transfer of project resources to relevant implementing partners in support of eligible interventions.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of mandatory project reports, including quarterly activity reports, annual activity reports, and audit reports.
• Ensure that funding eligibility criteria are followed by the implementing partners.
• Ensure implementing units/partners account for funds accurately and at the appropriate time.
• Monitor and report on implementation progress and the use of project resources;
• Ensure project procurement is efficiently undertaken and according to the AfDB rules.
• Coordinate project activities including procurement, financial management, special studies, mid-term and project completion reviews within the outreach program of the project.
• Liaise and follow up with the three outreach program Commodity Specialists to develop annual work plans for all three value chains, monitor progress towards outputs and ensure their timely completion.
• Ensure that the youth are actively involved in project implementation as a way of reducing unemployment in Nigeria.
• Liaise among other projects with similar objectives to ensure the coordination of related activities.
• Organize ATASP-1 outreach program meetings;
• Liaise with Project Commodity Specialists for the publication of results; and
• Undertake any other project-related task assigned by the Director General of IITA or his designated representative.

Qualification and Experience

• Education: PhD in Agriculture with a major in Plant Breeding, Agronomy, or a related field.
• Working Experience: A minimum of 10 years experience in tropical agriculture, five of which will be with the development of cassava value chains in Africa.

The ideal candidate must:

• Have the capacity to work effectively in a team;
• Be competent in the use of Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Have demonstrated evidence of the ability to lead research work with clear results on this; and
• Experience in working with the youth in agribusiness would be an additional asset.
• Language: The candidate should communicate fluently (orally and in writing) in the English language.

General Information

• We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive fringe benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Remuneration

• An internationally competitive remuneration package will be offered. IITA offers excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Application Closing Date
2nd May, 2015.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should forward their applications with detailed curriculum vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include either the Head of applicant's current or previous organization or applicant's direct Supervisor/Superior officer at work and evidence of current remuneration package.

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Note: Applications must include covering letter which should address how the candidate’s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.