International Potato Center Vacancy for a Commercial Cassava Seed System Project Coordinator
The International Potato Center, known by its Spanish acronym CIP, was
founded in 1971 as a root and tuber research-for-development institution
delivering sustainable solutions to the pressing world problems of
hunger, poverty, and the degradation of natural resources.
CIP is truly a
global center, with headquarters in Lima, Peru and offices in 20
developing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Working
closely with our partners, CIP seeks to achieve food security, increased
well-being, and gender equity for poor people in the developing world.
CIP furthers its mission through rigorous research, innovation in
science and technology, and capacity strengthening regarding root and
tuber farming and food systems.
CIP is part of the CGIAR Consortium, a global partnership that unites
organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. CGIAR
research is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food
security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring more
sustainable management of natural resources. Donors include individual
countries, major foundations, and international entities.
The CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) seeks a
talented project leader for a new project to be implemented in Nigeria:
Job Title: Commercial Cassava Seed System Project Coordinator
Ref.: 15- 36 PL/IRS/SSA
Location: Ibadan
Resource Type: Global Recruited Staff (GRS)
The Program
- The CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) is
led by the International Potato Center (CIP) with Bioversity
International, the International Center for tropical Agriculture (CIAT),
the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the
French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development
(CIRAD) and includes a wide spectrum of research-for-development
stakeholders.
- This collaboration, with its combined scale and capacity, will
increase the ability to advance research, share knowledge, and enhance
uptake to increase research and development impacts. The purpose of RTB
is to tap the underutilized potential of root, tuber, and banana crops
to improve nutrition and food security and foster greater gender equity
especially among some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable
populations.
The Position
- The project leader will be based at IITA headquarters in Ibadan,
Nigeria and report to both the Director of RTB and the IITA Director
for West Africa.
- The project leader will facilitate project team building and
serve as a dynamic leader for commercial sale of high quality cassava
stems.
- The leader will organize and facilitate regular coordination
meetings with project component leads, serve as the principal point of
contact between the donor and sub-grantees, supervise financial and
M&E staff, over-see financial and narrative reporting, and provide
direct oversight and management support to grant activities related to
promotion and cassava stem sales coordination.
Duties and Accountabilities
The principal tasks and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
Program Coordination & Grant Management:
- Provide necessary leadership to achieve the project’s primary
goal: the development of an integrated and economically sustainable seed
system for cassava capable of serving farmer’s needs for high quality
planting material.
- Facilitate joint planning and operational integration through twice annual meetings.
- Ensure compliance with donor policies and procedures and the terms of the overall grant.
Communication & Reporting:
- Facilitate communication among grant partners and with the wider Nigeria cassava community.
- Develop a communications strategy with full collaboration of program partners and lead its implementation.
- Coordinate the mid-term and annual grant reporting process to
the donor and liaise between RTB/BMGF and partners for all communication
and reporting issues.
- Supervise Financial and M&E Staff.
- Ensure timely and accurate financial and narrative reporting and compliance.
- Cassava Stem Sales Coordination and management of promotion activities
- Develop a promotion strategy with full collaboration of project
partners to increase general awareness of the project and to promote
brand identify of cassava seed producers.
- Coordinate with cassava stem buyers including from other cassava
projects, to ensure strong linkages among seed producers (breeder,
foundation, village level nurseries and commercial processors), seed
buyers, the Nigerian government, and industry.
- Support the development and application of an integrated
cross-component M&E system to inform program implementation and
management decisions.
- Facilitate implementation of systems to account for costs and income at all levels of the cassava seed value chain.
- Provide regular mentoring and monitoring so that sub-grantee expenses are liquidated on schedule.
Selection Criteria
- Candidates should have an advanced degree in agriculture,
agriculture economics or a related area (with an MBA or PhD preferred)
with specialized knowledge of commercial seed systems and the cassava
value chain preferred.
- Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
- Proactive approach, with ability to find creative ways to solve problems or exploit potentials.
- Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English.
- Experience with international agricultural research for development, CGIAR, and CGIAR Research Programs a plus.
- At least 8 years of experience in project management (direct
staff management, financial management) and partner coordination
(overseeing sub-grants, promoting strong collaboration among diverse
group of partners).
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Conditions
The employment contract will be for a three-year term (with a three
month probation period) with the possibility of renewal, subject to
availability of funding. The salary will be internationally competitive,
paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience. The CGIAR prides
itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows
space for personal and professional growth.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply
Note
- Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job
Opportunities website, including a letter of motivation, a full CV with
names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable
of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.
- Screening of applications will begin on 14 December 2015 and continue until the post is filled.
- All applications will be acknowledged, however only short listed candidates will be contacted
Application Deadline 11th January, 2016