Scientist: Systems Agronomist

ICRISAT is seeking applications from highly motivated and skilled professionals for the position of Scientist with specialisation in in Systems Agronomy to join our team to support the work on sustainable intensification in mixed farming systems and strengthening Systems Agronomy research in East and Southern Africa (ESA) within the research portfolio of the Global Research Program on Resilient Farm and Food Systems (RFFS). The position will be based at Lilongwe, Malawi.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.

ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandated crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on drylands and on protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit – www.icrisat.org

Responsibilities:

Technical/Innovation

• Develop novel scientific approaches to investigate original concepts and innovations for new and current agronomic research as applied to cropping and mixed dryland farming systems in eastern and southern Africa.

• Design, develop, lead and coordinate research strategy and execute research portfolio on sustainable intensification/diversification/climate resilient agriculture in smallholder agriculture systems.

• Using innovative tools and approaches including scale appropriate mechanization, design and implement resource use efficient and resilient cropping systems for sustainable intensification within mixed farming systems.

• Collect, collate, and analyze data across various projects for science evidence-based development paradigm in smallholder agriculture.

• Develop and publish strategies for resource use efficiency using modern digital agriculture tools and techniques.

Partnerships

• Manage research projects or significant components of projects, including responsibility for project planning, effective communication of research outcomes to a diverse audience, including scientists, change agents, policymakers, the media, and farmers to facilitate implementation of findings and delivery of impact and publication of scientific papers in leading international journals
• Work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research team to carry out tasks in support of ICRISAT’s scientific objectives.
• Work with partners to develop an efficient and dynamic understanding of nutrient efficiency and climate resilient properties of sustainable mixed farming systems.
• Cross program coordination for innovation packaging and implementation of sustainable intensification/diversification at landscape scale
• Develop, negotiate and lead new research projects that bring together skills across ICRISAT, external partners and funding organisations
• Coordinate and synthesize the research outputs (technical reports, peer reviewed journal articles, policy briefs, research manuals, etc.)

Capacity building

• Provide leadership in capacity building and technical backstopping to National Agricultural Research Systems (NARES), and public-private partnerships.

• Supervise and mentor project staff, liaising with key stakeholders, partnership networks and donors.

• Capacity development of stakeholders on conceptualize and write grant proposals and mobilize resources for research on climate resilient systems/systems agronomy.

Qualifications and requirements

• PhD in Agronomy/ Soil Science/Natural Resource Management and related disciplines with research experience in a relevant discipline area, such as farming systems agronomy, soil science, natural resource management or related discipline with more than 3 years of experience post PhD

• Excellent written & oral communication skills, evidenced by high-level reporting, presentation & negotiation abilities, scientific publication & the capacity to identify and influence critical stakeholders to gain support for innovative project ideas.

• Experience with field-based agronomic experimentation in cropping systems and application of innovative technologies for improved outcomes for the whole farm enterprise.

• Strong data management and analytical skills using innovative tools with proven record of high-quality publications.

• Experience and/or demonstrated knowledge of the application of digital agricultural principles directed at agronomic and/or farming systems research.

• Basic knowledge of use and application of simulation and decision support models applied to crops and farming systems.

• Demonstrated ability to independently manage and implement large multidisciplinary, multi-institutional projects.

• Demonstrated success in gaining support for funded research projects and proven capacity to collaborate with farmers, partners and research institutions in the leadership and management of projects.

• The ability to work effectively as a member or leader of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research team, and carry out independent research.

• Willingness to travel regularly to regional meetings with collaborating scientists and partners as required.

• High-level written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills in English and knowledge of local languages is advantageous.

General:

This is a contractual position for a period of 36 months.

How to apply:

Applicants should apply on or before 10 November 2024 with their latest Resume, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer