Seed Systems Specialist-Scientist

Key skills

delivery research

seed systems development

varietal dissemination

Additional/Preferred Skills

policy advocacy

breeding

Preferred Qualifications

Ph.D

Scientist-Seed Systems Specialist

ICRISAT seeks applications from highly motivated and qualified professionals for the position of Scientist-Seed Systems Specialist to support the cluster of Seeds Systems under the Global Research Program Accelerated Crop Improvement. The incumbent will oversee the seed production and delivery projects and ensure quality outputs and data management.  The position is based in the Headquarters at Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.

ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandated crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on drylands and on protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit – www.icrisat.org

Responsibilities:

• Lead ICRISAT’s development activities in partnership with NARES, to develop strategic alliances and interface with partners for production and dissemination of seeds of new varieties of mandated crops.

• Represent ICRISAT in the seed sector community in Asia, building on existing and forging new partnerships to speed progress of out-scaling of new varieties of the mandated crops

• Build strong international and regional strategic alliances related to strengthening seed and delivery systems for improved adoption.

• Lead and pursue engagement of international, regional, and national stakeholders in seed systems for adaptation to climate change and healthy food systems and leverage seed systems outcomes to the broader work of the institute and linking it to contribute to other initiatives.

• Lead research to identify varietal adoption constraints and institutional and policy options required to overcome them and to promote strategies for rapid uptake and diffusion of new crop varieties and knowledge

• Facilitate the creation of strategic and effective partnerships with agribusinesses, financial institutes, development organizations, knowledge institutes, and NGOs to create sustainable seed and delivery systems

• Plan and organize seed systems research and provide scientific and technical advice on the development of protocols for seed systems processes in Asia.

• Carry out relevant research to optimize processes that facilitate fast-tracking of delivery and adoption of ICRISAT mandate crops and knowledge

• Develop and explore linkages between the seed systems in Asia and the prevailing cropping systems, existing research, and extension systems

• Develop and promote of innovative and transformative models for accessing, multiplying, and disseminating public-bred varieties of mandated Nutri-cereal, oilseed, and legume crops by capacitating seed enterprises to scale up production.

• Develop and test innovative models for scaling the adoption of mandate crops through demand-led public and private partnerships and to enhance commercialization and profitability of seed entrepreneurs.

• Leading and contributing to development of research project proposals with collective efforts for resource mobilization

• Develop capacities of stakeholders along seed systems value chain on efficient and effective quality seed production and delivery with upstream and downstream linkages

• Provide effective liaison with Research and Development (R&D) statutory bodies and government institutions and provide strategic directions for rapid dissemination and scaling of new crop varieties and related knowledge.

• Develop and implement plans for empowering women and youth involved in dryland farming by providing access to seeds of new varieties, associated management technologies and training on seed production technology

• Perform other duties as required by supervisors and management

Essential Qualification:

• A PhD in Seed technology or any related field and relevant experience of at least 2 – 5 years

• Strong quantitative project management skills and experience

• A high degree of personal organization and ability to work under pressure

• Experience in an international and multi-disciplinary/cultural environment will be an asset A self-starter and ability to plan and work independently with minimal supervision

• Possess demonstrated strategic thinking and time management skills.     

• Proficiency in written and spoken English is a must

General:

This is a contractual position for a period of 36 months.

How to apply:

Applicants should apply on or before 12 February 2025 with their latest Resume, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer