Postharvest Specialist 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 invite applications for the internationally recruited position of:

Job Title: Postharvest Specialist

Ref No: DDG-R4D/PHS/SARD-SC/06/15
Location: Ibadan
Report to: The SARD-SC Project Coordinator

Background and Job Description

• The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of Postharvest Specialist. This position is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC).
• The overall objective of SARD-SC is to enhance food and nutrition security and contribute to poverty reduction in Bank’s low income Regional Member Countries (RMCs).
• Its specific objective is to enhance the productivity and income of four CAADP’s priority value chains (cassava, maize, rice, and wheat) on a sustainable basis.
• The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the Executing Agency for the SARD-SC project, wishes to use a portion of the grant to engage the services of a Postharvest Specialist.

Position/Responsibilities
The Postharvest Specialist will undertake the following activities:

• Oversee the general operations and effective functioning of the various cassava processing and equipment fabrication centers or units established in the various project target countries.
• Develop and implement a strategy for cassava post-harvest management. This will include, technical training in appropriate processes and logistics and food safety and technical assistance for the establishment and management of processing facilities.
• Advise pertinent parties concerning processes and precautions to be followed in the field at postharvest and financially viable facilities for transportation, collection centers, pack houses, food drying and processing facilities that will enable cassava products to meet specifications and requirements including food safety, of specific buyers.
• Work with the M&E and communications staff to analyze baseline information and report findings and results of activities including success stories.
• Coordinate with the value chain and other technical personnel including the market development, environmental compliance, and agribusiness finance staff to design, develop, and teach appropriate procedures and processes for postharvest handling.
• Increase the quantity and quality of cassava new products available to specific buyers, by improving post-harvest techniques and facilities for grading, sorting, and packing.
• Improve food safety and quality in order to expand access to more demanding but higher paying and larger markets and to mitigate the incidence of food poisoning and food borne disease.
• Investigate the establishment and management of appropriately scaled product collection centers and pack houses in order to facilitate sales and efficiencies, and decrease post-harvest losses between the farms and the markets.
• Demonstrate appropriate post-harvest handling technologies and equipment and evaluate the results to promote utilization where proven to be effective.
• Work to identify local fabricators, assemblers and traders/buyers with existing handling and or storage facilities that are in need of upgrading and sharing their technologies.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Qualification and Experience

• The candidate should have a Post graduate degree (MSc or PhD) in Agricultural Engineering or a closely related field from a recognized university and more than five years of post-graduate experience.

Core Competencies:

• Experience with project activity implementation and monitoring.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent spoken and written English; knowledge of French would be an asset.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, and multi-cultural environment.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the various African hubs where the Cassava value chain of the project is being implemented.
• Experience working with national partners in sub-Saharan Africa is an asset.

General Information

• We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive fringe benefits and excellent working conditions
• in a pleasant campus environment.
• The contract will be for an initial period of two years with possibility of renewal based on performance and continued availability of funding.
• IITA offers internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.

Application Closing Date
26th June, 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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