Overview

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

Job Position: Senior Research Supervisor

Job Location: Abuja

Job Description

  1. Support identification of traits in yam breeding lines and germplasm that are desirable for recycling as parent and advancement, such as disease resistance, increased yield, or improved food quality.
  2. Participate in the execution of breeding trials in different growing conditions to determine how well they perform in nature.
  3. Assist in monitoring and identifying yam diseases and creating strategies to prevent them from spreading to other plants.
  4. Support the development of new yam varieties that meet specific criteria, such as increased productivity or improved taste, color, and food quality.
  5. Participate in the selection of the best yam clones to breed based on desired traits and characteristics.
  6. Participate in the development of breeding strategies to produce yam varieties with the desired characteristics, including selecting parents with desired traits that can be passed on to offspring.
  7. Participate in the multiplication of planting materials for breeding trials and delivery.
  8. Coordinate breeding testing networks with partners including preparation of SOP, trial design, distribution of germplasm for testing networks, retrieving data, and ensure data entry to the database.
  9. Coordinate on-farm testing and demand creation network with producers, marketers, development practitioners, and consumers.
  10. Ensure timely availability of germplasm inventory reports.
  11. Conduct and collect necessary data for advanced breeding lines in both greenhouses and field locations.
  12. Maintain breeder work collections in the field, analyze data and report to the Supervisor on time.
  13. Supervise daily casual laborers and other subordinate staff.
  14. Perform any other job-related duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Job Requirements
Qualifications:

  1. B.Sc / HND in Agriculture or related field with a minimum of four (4) years experience performing similar role in a well-structured environment
  2. Experience in clonal breeding program and on-farm testing will be an added advantage.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must:

  1. Be competent in farmer participatory activities/evaluation
  2. Have ability to communicate effectively with partners and farmers.
  3. Have ability to work under pressure and deliver quality job.
  4. Have excellent team work capability.
  5. Be competent in data analysis and report writing.

Benefits

  1. We offer highly competitive salaries with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Application Deadline
28th July, 2023.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

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