The Agricultural Innovations Department conducts research which helps to estimate the impact of new agricultural products and methods for Rwandan farmers. Products span a range of themes from cereal/legume/root crop agronomy (varietal trials, crop protection and good agronomic practices) to cropping systems development, soil fertility, and beyond. All projects begin with a careful scoping of available information, potential impact, and identifying the research questions and continue on to trials at our stations or on farmers’ fields across Rwanda. In recent years, the Agricultural Innovations team has scaled products like row intercropping, lime for soil acidity, and diverse maize, potato, and wheat varieties. Our current goal is to expand seeds portfolio by working on a wider range of crops.

• Your primary responsibility is to guide the organization in selecting the most suitable crop varieties for farmer distribution. This involves conducting adaptability trials for several types of crops, such as cereals, legumes, roots and tubers, and vegetables.
• Success will be measured by your ability to identify specific market needs for farmers, processors, and consumers. Then recommend the crop varieties that best meet these needs from the available options.
• You will sit on a team of 6 research specialists; You will report to the Research and Phase 2 Senior Specialist and will manage up to one person.

Responsibilities

• Conduct rigorous desk research, market/client surveys and modeling to understand potential areas where we might create impact for clients through new varieties.
• Assess seed varieties’ performance through both station-based and on-farm trials.
• Take ownership of trial implementation by working with station and field teams and ensuring quality data collection
• Data analysis and presentation of results to different stakeholders and assisting other teams in roll-out of the products.
• Build impact models to analyze the economic or environmental impact of the promising products.

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:

• Have experience in research activities related to plant/climate/soil science.
• Ability to run statistical analyses for experimental or survey data
• Ability to manage projects from inception to completion.
• Have a good command of written and verbal English and Kinyarwanda
• Have a completed Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or related disciplines (agronomy, agribusiness, or agricultural economics)