IRS23132 Early Career Wheat Breeder (PDF/Associate Scientist)

CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.

For more information, visit cimmyt.org.

CIMMYT’s Global Wheat Program (GWP) seeks an early career plant breeder/scientist to join our wheat breeding team in Eastern Africa, based in Nairobi. The successful candidate will be self-motivated, results-oriented, and committed to implementing CIMMYT’s Strategy 2030 (www.cimmyt.org). She/he will strengthen a culture of continuous improvement within GWP, and of partnerships that co-design, co-implement and co-own wheat improvement networks.

The position reports to the project leaders, and is based at CIMMYT’s office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Specific duties:

• With the senior CIMMYT wheat breeder in Kenya, execute CIMMYT’s wheat breeding pipeline in eastern Africa, ensuring efficient development, advancement, and dissemination of wheat germplasm and products.
• Foster collaboration with KALRO, EIAR, and other partners across areas of germplasm development, molecular breeding, rust phenotyping, and seed systems to co-implement impactful regional wheat improvement network(s).
• Contribute to experimental design, trial, and nursery data interpretation and analyses.
• Contribute to increasing genetic gains in CIMMYT’s and the eastern Africa wheat improvement network’s breeding pipelines, including the formulation, testing, and identification of impactful wheat varieties.
• Contribute to capacity-building efforts of CIMMYT, CGIAR, and the wheat improvement network(s).
• Manage the program’s regional data, implementing the Enterprise Breeding System (EBS) for streamlined data management.
• Facilitate with the senior CIMMYT wheat breeder the convening of Eastern Africa wheat product advancement meetings, with active engagement of internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with regional wheat improvement teams to optimize trial locations and align them with product pipeline testing requirements for wheat.
• Lead a team of research technicians, fostering a culture of ownership and accountability.
• Assist the KALRO-Njoro and AMBA-Njoro technical station staff in implementing best practices.
• Enhance the visibility of CIMMYT’s wheat research, partnerships, and impacts through the publication of high-quality journal articles.
• Perform additional duties assigned by the supervisor and Program Director to support program objectives.

• PhD in plant breeding or a closely related field with demonstrated expertise in plant breeding
• Expertise in one, with familiarity in the other areas of biometrics and statistics, quantitative genetics, and applied molecular breeding.
• Excellent written and spoken English; competence in a second pertinent language, e.g. Swahili, Amharic, or French, is desirable.
• Desire and ability to work respectfully and inclusively in a diverse, multicultural, multidisciplinary work environment.
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Problem-Solving, Decision making, Achievement Orientation, Communication, and Teamwork.

This position is for an initial fixed term of (3) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.

Candidates must apply online for IRS24132_ PDF, Wheat Breeder or Associate Wheat Breeder.

Screening and follow up of applications will begin on, August 2nd, 2024. Applications must include a CV with contact details (telephone and email address) of 3 work-related references along with the confirmation that Recruitment can contact them) and a cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

This position will remain open until filled.

CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.