IRSS22174 - Global Lead - Wheat Seed Systems

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. CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

For more information, visit cimmyt.org.

CIMMYT is looking for an outstanding, self-motivated, and result-oriented professional for the position of Global Lead – Wheat Seed Systems, to work in the Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS) program.

The position will be based at one of the CIMMYT’s offices in South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, India, or Pakistan) or Africa (Kenya or Ethiopia), depending on the needs of the program and the selected candidate.

Specific duties:

• Lead an innovative research-for-development (R4D) agenda focused on the development of seed systems of wheat in key regions of importance for CIMMYT:
• Increased relevance and scale of public sector engagement in wheat seed systems.
• Farmers’ requirements for wheat seed and implementations for seed product design.
• Gender aware lens.
• Public and private sector capacity to deliver quality seed at scale to growers and grower access to (uptake of) new improved varieties.
• Engage CIMMYT partners in CGIAR and NARS on the design and implementation of an innovative research-for-development agenda related to wheat seed systems and the role of wheat in agri-food systems.
• Lead discussions with CIMMYT breeding teams on how to measure performance (linked to five CGIAR impact areas) of investments in wheat breeding/seed systems across different contexts.
• Support the capacity development of CIMMYT’s partners in the region, including seed companies, extension programs, and national agricultural research centers, in themes related to wheat seed systems development.
• Engage stakeholders including NARS, seed companies, NGOs and CGIAR breeding teams on strategies, policies, and research needed to address bottlenecks in wheat seed systems.
• Mobilize resources to expand the R4D agenda on wheat breeding, wheat seed systems, and the role of wheat in global/regional/national agri-food systems.
• Engage CGIAR, NARS, donors, and others on current and future breeding investments to increase uptake of varieties across targeted countries and regions, more inclusive and effective seed systems, and agri-food systems development.

Requirements

• PhD. in agricultural economics, development economics, natural resource management, or similar field, with at least 8 years of relevant experience in a developing country context.
• Extensive track record of publications in high-level peer reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated ability to lead dispersed, multidisciplinary research teams in complex institutional settings.
• Excellent partnership building skills, including the ability to interact with funding agencies.
• A high degree of personal organization and ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to work with different nationalities and disciplines as a member of a diverse work team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Proactivity, Problem Solving and Decision-making, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution and Teamwork.

Benefits

The position is for an initial fixed-term for three (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.