International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Job Vacancies in Kaduna, Lagos and Ibadan

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The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a non-profit agricultural research-for-development (R4D) organization, and a member of the CGIAR Consortium.
We thank you for your interest in IITA and invite you to explore many exciting and diverse career opportunities in a work environment that enables you to be the best you can, advancing your professional and personal growth in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment.
Join a vibrant team that is committed to facilitating agricultural solutions for hunger, poverty, and natural resource degradation throughout the tropics.IITA is an equal opportunity employer and consideration for employment is given to qualified applicants regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, national/ethnic origin or social status.

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is recruiting to fill the positions below:


Job Title: Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist
Ref. IITA-HR-NRS2016-011
Location: Abuja
Recruitment Type: National (2-year renewable contract)

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 of Nigeria 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 Program 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.

Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will work in direct liaison with the other centers (IITA and ICRISAT) M & E officers, AfDB contract staff, and will report to the AfricaRice Regional Representative through the rice commodity specialist.
• The M & E Specialist will be responsible for the development and application of appropriate M & E methods and tools for all activities of the ATASP-1 project.
• He/she shall coordinate the process of data collection, analyses, report writing and gathering of information necessary for ascertaining the attainment of the project objectives.
• He/she will coordinate M&E activities closely with the AfricaRice M&E expert based at AfricaRice HQ in terms of methodology to ensure coherence of approaches across AfricaRice and across the project.

Job Responsibilities
Information Collection and Analyses

• Explore and gather information from various sources including participatory field exercises, field surveys and interviews, project documents, Reports of National Bureau of statistics (NBS), National Planning Commission (NPC), AfDB official reports, FAO and World Bank reports on Nigeria Economic and Agricultural sectors.
• Develop and manage project database in a manner that will be easily retrievable by staff and partners. These shall include the baseline and all subsequent data or information generated through project implementation, economic and statistical analysis of the rice commodity value chain.
• In collaboration with other project staff, establish relevant indicators including local criteria and indicators for the monitoring and evaluation of Rice Value Chain Development and Socio-Organizational improvements in project areas.
• Generate relevant data in close collaboration with other project staff like the Agronomist, Seed Systems Specialist and Rice Commodity Specialist on the agronomic, socio-economic, cultural and institutional aspects of rice value chain development in the target Rice Hubs.
• Collate and analyze data/ information for annual and periodic assessment of AfricaRice-ATASP’s project outputs.

Monitoring and Training:

• Plan and implement activities related to the monitoring of project activities based on pre-established indicators at household, groups and field levels in all project areas.
• Plan and organize meetings and fora for dialogue that results in information gathering and monitoring with farmers and other rice sector stakeholders.
• Prepare monitoring schedules, action plans to track and follow-up all input data/ information as well as ensure the integration of all data.
• Build capacity for project staff involved in M & E data collection.

Project Evaluation and Training:

• Supervise as may be required, in conjunction with engaged consultants and the AfDB project task officer, field surveys on aspects of project outcomes.
• Draw important lessons from project implementation and organize annual M & E review meetings with leaders of farmer groups, district and other project implementation team.

Report and Narratives Writing:

• Undertake periodic reporting on M&E of the project in accordance with established reporting format, schedules and periodicity for project management and donors’ interest.
• Write monitoring reports for use of project implementation team and donors.
• Review recommendations of the Annual Program Review (APR), identify needs and define actions to address bottlenecks and problems in project implementation.

Feedback and Accountability:

• Make periodic reports to the project managers as may be required for program documentation and reporting to partners.
• Contribute to AfricaRice periodic and annual planning process by furnishing timely information on the M & E aspects of the ATASP-1 project.
• Coordinate activities closely with the AfricaRice M&E expert in terms of methodology to ensure coherence of approaches across AfricaRice and across the project.

Qualification and Experience

• At least M.Sc. in any of the Social Sciences, Agricultural Economics, Statistics, or related discipline. Specialized post graduate training in project management/M&E.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years working experience in bilateral or multilateral donor-funded programs with at least 3 years of specific responsibility as M&E specialist.

Key Competencies
Abilities:

• Demonstrable ability to establish priorities and to plan, co-ordinate, and monitor his or her own work and to collaborate with colleagues across operating units
• Demonstrable ability to work under pressure and achieve results under tight deadlines
• Self-motivated team player

Skills:

• Computer literacy with proficiency in Microsoft Excel, MS Access, and MS Project is essential
• Ability to develop, install and manage databases
• Proficiency in English language with excellent writing and presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

Knowledge:

• Familiarity with, and working knowledge of, project logical framework to track inputs process, output and impacts are essential.

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





Job Title: Field Assistant/Driver
Reference: IITA-HR-NRS2016-012
Location: Kaduna
Recruitment Type: National (18 months contract)

Responsibilities
Successful candidate will among other things perform the following duties:

• Assist in packaging and processing maize trials;
• Participate in the conduct of research experiments at different sites;
• Assist in data collection, planting and harvesting of maize trials;
• Assist in seed production,
• Drive SARD-SC (Maize) Country Coordinator and convey research materials to all research and development locations;
• Perform other duties assigned by the supervisor.
  

Requirements/Qualifications

• O’Level certificate with 3 years experience performing similar role.
• A valid driver’s licence is essential

Skills:

• Have basic knowledge of crop management operations.
• Be able to work with little or no supervision.

Remuneration

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

Job Title: Maize Seed Systems Specialist
Reference: IITA-HR-NRS2016-010
Location: Ibadan
Contract: 2-year renewable contract
Recruitment Type: National (2-year renewable contract)

Main Responsibilities

• The Maize Seed Systems Specialist will play a key role in planning, organizing and implementing the seed production and seed commercialization plans for HarvestPlus Nigeria.
• This requires working closely with relevant public and private sector partners in R&D and deployment at the country level.
• In supporting HarvestPlus in-country product development and delivery plans, the Maize Seed Systems Specialist will assure that hybrid/OPV release and seed production targets are met in forming operational or strategic partnerships under commercial, social and mixed marketing situations.
• Additional responsibilities will include training of private and public partners in all activities related to maize hybrid/OPV evaluation, lead identification and seed production.

Specific Responsibilities

• With relevant public/private sector partners: plan, organize, and implement seed production and commercialization plans, including inbred line maintenance, production of breeders, pre-basic and basic seed of parental lines for increased commercial seed production.
• Engage with private sector and community-based seed producers in developing a sustainable market for seed and monitor the production of high quality seeds for marketing.
• With partners, improve the capacity of public/private sector partners in the seed systems (including small/medium-sized seed companies, CBOs and NGOs) through development of training modules on seed production, seed business management, seed multiplication, seed marketing, quality assurance, etc.); technical backstopping.
• Ensure effective networking, collaboration and communication with partners in Nigeria.
• Closely collaborate and coordinate maize seed activities with HarvestPlus-Nigeria Country Manager to improve overall project performance.
• Liaise with IITA in the licensing of released biofortified maize varieties facilitated by HarvestPlus.
• Collaborate with the Regional Seed Systems Specialist in the bulking of parent seed/ lines of leads entered for National Variety Trials so as to shorten time to Market of released varieties.
• Technically backstop the production of seed by licensed seed companies especially the pre-basic and basic seed.
• Facilitate the commercial production of biofortified seed by licensed seed companies.
• Inspect seed fields under production by licensed seed companies for compliance with the seed certification standards.
• Work with Demand Creation Specialist and technically support the laying out of demonstrations and conducting of field days to promote biofortified maize by HarvestPlus-Nigeria.
• Facilitate field days conducted by seed companies for the promotion of biofortified crops.
• Facilitate seed promotions including point of sale materials and activations to support increased purchase and production of biofortified crops.
• Monitor seeds produced by seed companies from production through processing.
• Establish outreach of biofortified seeds in terms of beneficiaries sold to by seed companies on the basis of seed sales.
• Liaise between seed companies licensed to produce and sell biofortified seed and HarvestPlus country program.
• Inform HarvestPlus of any factors that may hinder economic production of seeds of biofortified maize.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Country Manager

Competencies and Experience
The candidate shall have the following competencies, skills and experience and/or shall have successfully demonstrated these attributes in actual work situations:

• Maize seed production, management of demonstration and validation trials, variety release procedures, seed regulations, seed quality, experimental design, field trial management, data analyses using different statistical programs, and field experimental operations.
• Seed value chain, seed sector development, seed business management, and seed deployment/commercialization.
• Commercial maize seed production management and seed commercialization.
• Ability to work both persuasively and diplomatically in a team-based environment.
• Demonstrated competency in developing and implementing effective seed strategies.
• Ability to evaluate, and improve the efficiency of business processes and procedures to enhance speed, quality, efficiency, and output.
• Ability to build effective partnerships across the various parts of the seed supply chain.
• Exceptional drive and entrepreneurship and ability to motivate others.
• Strong negotiation and consensus building skills
• Hands-on problem-solver with strong analytical abilities and end-product focus.
• Agree to intensive travel.
• Speak and write English fluently.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Master’s degree with specialization in Plant breeding, Agronomy, Seed technology or related fields with five years relevant experience in seed systems management

Remuneration

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

How to Apply
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.

Click here to apply



Application Deadline  1st March, 2016.

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