The Agricultural Innovations dept. conducts agricultural R&D trials nationwide at thousands of locations in every agroecological zone in Rwanda. We are seeking a technical professional who will conduct research around Plant Nutrient Management (PNM) solutions and the development of profitable and soil-improving Cropping Systems (CS). Supervision of researchers in other fields is likely (e.g. IPM or Livestock).

You will also build the Soil & Plant Lab sub-team, which will be responsible for in-house soil/plant microbiology and soil chemistry analyses. You will be supported by specialists in other fields in our department (and across the wider 1AF system) and will report to the department lead.

Success is defined as producing high-confidence analyses of products/practices in an appropriate timeframe, supporting impactful products all the way to the scaling/implementation stage, capacitating the Lab to fulfill its Service Level Agreement (SLA), and building relationships with key external partners.

The staffer’s base location in Rwanda is negotiable, but attendance during twice-monthly team weeks in our Karongi office is required (also the site of the Lab).

Responsibilities

• Conduct multidisciplinary research (lit reviews, surveys, on-station & on-farm trials, financial models) to rigorously evaluate the impact of new PNM and CS solutions (products/practices/services). Ensure solutions are accessible to smallholders through farmer-facing channels (e.g. using Decision Support Systems – DSS) – 60%
• Capacitate and oversee quality of execution of the Soil & Plant Lab team – 20%
• Establish strategic partnerships with other orgs to fill technical gaps and expedite scaling.- 10%
• Manage research specialists, including the most senior member of the Soil & Plant Lab team – 10%

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• BSc and preferably MSc in Agriculture
• At least 5 years of experience in research with specialization related to plant nutrient management and agroecological cropping systems development.
• In-depth knowledge of nutrient cycling principles/processes, holistic soil health assessment methods (physical, biological, chemical) and PGP organisms.
• Skills in experimental design and statistical analysis of experimental data
• Experience managing relationships with senior scientists.
• Familiarity with soil lab operations management, dry chemistry soil analysis procedures, and microbial activity assessments. A Lab Tech certification by the Soil Food Web School or similar is a plus.
• English speaker; Kinyarwanda is a plus.