About IRRI

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.

Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.

This position is based at Kathmandu, Nepal and is open for the residents of Nepal only.

Job Purpose

IRRI in association with NARES partners is engaged in developing and promoting high-yielding, climate-resilient, nutrient-rich, and other potential varieties in rice-based farming systems and exploring the implementable options for crop diversification and intensification. A timely replacement of older varieties with new ones and ensuring seed replacement rate significantly impact farm productivity and resource optimization, thus making farming more remunerative. There is a need to scale up the adoption of these varieties for better impacts. National programs in Nepal release many rice/crops cultivars each year, but relatively farmers adopt few. The farmer-to-farmer exchange is considered to be the main mechanism for the widespread dissemination of varieties. However, a lot of work needs to be done to ensure the quality of seeds distributed in farmer-managed systems through the engagement of potential community-led institutions. The formal seed chain needs to advance and scale the production, and distribution of new varieties/products through a strengthened Breeder Seed and Foundation seed linkage and timely/ production and distribution in the right volume for better access to quality seeds. Evidence-driven data need to be generated to evaluate the varietal performance of new varieties against the old popular varieties and data from on-farm trials need to be organized and fed systematically to NARES breeding and varietal improvement programs. Research for development needs to be strengthened around seed system models, varietal delivery, and adoption. Stakeholder feedback around a new product being evaluated, introduced, or developed must be captured systematically and fed into breeding programs. The seed business remains a potential enterprise opportunity for many farmers or farmer’s groups and needs to be built as a sustainable model for enhancing localized access, production, and supply of quality seeds. It is also important to compare and find the pros and cons of different delivery /extension approaches while disseminating these varieties and expecting adoption and research around this also needs to be strengthened.

Under the close supervision of the Lead Specialist- Seed System and Product Management, this position, therefore, will be responsible for the validation, dissemination, and scaling of the demonstrated technologies, especially newly developed genotypes. This position will identify constraints, needs and opportunities, research scope of rice seed systems in Nepal. Design, develop, document, and manage the execution of innovative strategies to fast track deployment of climate resilient, high yielding, healthy and nutritious rice varieties in Nepal. Align the program activities of IRRI with on-going projects and activities of NARES partners and collaborators including Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), various Directorate of Agriculture, Agricultural Knowledge Centers, provincial and and local government units, Agriculture and Forestry University, Far West University, private companies and cooperatives, material transfer and data exchange to ensure scalability and efficiency of the research operations.

This position is based at Nepal and is open for the permanent residents of Nepal only.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Identify, design, develop, document, and manage the execution of new product testing and innovative product positioning and management strategies to support the fast tracking scaling up of elite and proven climate resilient rice varieties as well as the other cross-cutting services within the Institute.
• Develop and undertake seed inventory maintenance and management. Ensure timely collection and sharing of phenotypic data, seed production and sales data and other related data and information.
• Assist in developing research proposals including review of related literature, selection of adequate research tools and equipment, verification of suggested methodologies and establishment of parameters for the monitoring and evaluation of project milestones.
• Assist in fund raising
• Align the program activities of IRRI with on-going projects and activities of NARES partners and collaborators including Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), various Directorate of Agriculture, Agricultural Knowledge Centers, provincial and local government units, Agriculture and Forestry University, Far West University, private companies, and cooperatives etc
• Strong engagement with farmers’ collectives, especially women-led, for varietal selection and seed scaling initiatives.
• Identify constraints, needs and opportunities, research scope to ensure efficiency of product testing, positioning, product marketing and product management.
• Work closely with Rice Breeding Innovations Platform, regional programs, other IRRI Platform, OneCG initiatives and other IRRI service units as appropriate to identifying common ground, ensure proper communication to incorporate research needs, priorities and maintain the quality of research outputs to foster maximum synergy and complementarities across IRRI.
• Supervise, coordinate, monitor and provide feedback and performance appraisals to contract workers and research staff to ensure that SOPs and guidelines are followed, and research objectives are met.
• In close collaboration and consultation with the Lead Specialist: Seed System & Product Management, develop research strategy and seasonal plans that would serve as a guide to support the day-to-day operations of the research program.
• Ensure timely seed sourcing and distribution for planned trial and demonstrations.
• Train and handhold implementing organizations to establish and manage the trials as per extant protocols.
• Identify potential alternate seed networks in the community and plan for a seed amplification mandate.
• Time bound data gathering of trials using CAPI tools, reporting seed scaling interventions and recordable outputs.
• Summarize research findings and write reports, scientific papers, articles, posters for presentations in local and international conferences, workshops, trainings etc.
• Support in fund raising activities in Nepal and other regions as the need be
• Assist in the coordination of events as requested by supervisor

Qualifications

MS degree in Plant Breeding, Genetics, extension education, rural management or other related fields and 1-year relevant work experience in an applied plant breeding program.

Bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics related discipline and or/ 5-7 years of relevant work experience

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Has proven technical proficiency in conducting on-farm research, seed production
• Has experience contributing to research publications, presentations, or reports
• Has excellent critical thinking skills
• Is objective and results-oriented, assessing scientific research for both quality and content
• Is familiar with the seed delivery system
• Has experience with Research management
• Experience in managing field trials
• Phenotyping experience

Preferred

• Experience managing and interpreting OFT data
• Data analysis using advanced statistical tools