Systems Agronomist

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of Systems Agronomist.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food-secure future. Please visit  for more information on IITA.

Position Responsibilities

• Provide regional leadership and mentorship in designing, planning and testing integrated natural resource and crop management strategies that address farmer’s needs in Southern Africa.
• Establish and manage partnership arrangements that bring together research and last mile scaling partners to accelerate the deployment of innovations to help smallholder farmers especially women and youth to improve agricultural productivity while building resilience to environmental and other external shocks.
• Coordinate the establishment of trials focusing on participatory dissemination of improved crop, integrated soil fertility, integrated pest management, and crop-livestock management technologies with relevant stakeholders
• Develop and disseminate recommendations for improved crop-based production systems and climate-smart production technologies using various methods digital tools in collaboration with diverse partners.
• Work closely with IITA breeders, scientists and crop modelers to integrate data from agronomic trials, surveys, and multi-scale remote sensing outputs to model and predict crop yields, farming system performance and resilience to climate change.
• Contribute to IITA Farming Systems Agronomy and Resilience Climate Adaptation program activities.
• Strengthen NARS partners’ capacity in natural resource and crop management.
• Facilitate team building within the southern Africa Hub and focus research area.
• Publish findings from research in high impact peer-reviewed journals.
• Prepare quarterly and annual technical reports for donors.
• Contribute to resource mobilization.
• Perform any other job-related duties as may be assigned by your supervisor.

Requirements

Educational Qualifications

• The candidate should have a PhD in Agronomy, Soil Science or any related field.

Core Competencies

• At least 10 years of experience in agronomy, soil science or related field with a minimum of 5 years in team management roles including coordination of complex partnerships and management of successful field teams.
• Prior research experience in crop production, management and cropping systems.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills with evidence of good relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Knowledge in soil-plant relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multicultural and diverse environments.
• Demonstrated ability to write and publish journal articles.
• Grant writing experience and evidence of ability to attract external funding.
• Team-building skills, collaboration capacity, and project management abilities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, and Portuguese will be an advantage

Benefits

General information: The contract will be for an initial period of three years with possibility of renewal based on performance and availability of funding. IITA offers internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.

Applications: Applications must include a cover letter which should address how the candidate’s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, and names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Director, People and Culture.

IITA is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce, particularly welcoming applications from women.

While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Duty station: Nampula, Mozambique