POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - EXTERNAL
Research Assistant IV - Food Legume Improvement and Seed Systems
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
REF: A/054/14
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) seeks to hire a Research Assistant IV – Food Legume Improvement & Seed Systems based in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia who will be a member of ICARDA-Ethiopia team.
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is an international autonomous, non-profit, research organization temporarily based in Beirut, Lebanon supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA is committed to the improvement of livelihoods of the resource-poor in dry areas by enhancing food security and alleviating poverty through agricultural research, and the equitable use of natural resources. For more details: www.icarda.org
Key Responsibilities:
• Providing support for research activities of all cool-season food legumes (faba bean, chickpea, lentil and grass pea) at different Federal and Regional Research Center.
• Preparing of field plans, land preparation, sowing, harvesting, and threshing of breeding and disease nurseries and IPM experiment.
• Recording data on various aspects of breeding and IPM activities and bookkeeping of breeding programs and on-farm trials.
• Preparing seed materials for various nurseries for planting at research stations and on farmers’ field.
• Collecting, managing and summarizing data and assist in preparing progress reports.
• Support all food legumes system-based bilateral projects in Ethiopia.
• Managing of greenhouses/lath-house/ laboratory research activities and crossing program.
• Assist graduate students; supervise daily workers and manage ICARDA capital items and consumables under his/her responsibilities.
• Following up of international nurseries and field books.
• Supporting all seed system related activities in liaison and with NARS and development partners in Ethiopia.
• Plan and provide technical support in accelerated seed multiplication of early generation seed (pre-release and post-release).
• Liaise with public seed enterprise, private seed companies, and farmer unions and; provide technical support popularization and demonstration and on-farm seed production of food varieties in target areas.
• Provide technical support on seed system studies in cool season food legumes.
~~Terms of appointment: This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position, initial appointment is fixed term for two years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. The ILRI remuneration package for nationally recruited staff in Ethiopia includes very competitive salary and benefits such as life and medical insurance, offshore pension plan, etc. The ILRI campus is set in a secure, attractive campus on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. Dining and sports facilities are located on site.~~Skills and Competencies
• Ability to work in a team and willingness to travel in different part of the country,
• Good commands of spoken and written English,
• Computer skills (MS Office, Windows etc.),
• Data entry and analysis skills (SAS, Genstat, SPSS etc.
• Second grade driving license.
Education:
• Master of Science degree in Plant Science or Legume Breeding and Genetics or any relevant field of study.
Training:
• Experimental design and written analysis.
Experience:
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience preferably in food legume breeding/Genetics and laboratory research,
• Good experience in laboratory and crossing technique,
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in seed systems,
• Publication in peer reviewed journals is an advantage.
Duty Station: Debre Zeit
Grade: 2D
Minimum Base: Birr 19,078 (Negotiable, depending on experience, skill and salary history of the candidate)