CIMMYT is seeking a dynamic and results-oriented researcher (Scientist or Senior Scientist) to join the Cereal Seed Systems Team in its work on market intelligence. The position will support a CIMMYT-led CGIAR effort to deliver market intelligence that informs decisions on how to design future breeding products and prioritize investments in breeding and seed systems programing by CGIAR, NARs, and seed companies. The selected candidate will engage a team of researchers for the design and implementation of agribusiness and marketing research. (S)he will also lead efforts to refine and expand the CGIAR Market Segmentation Database with breeding and social science teams in CGIAR and NARs. The ability to effectively guide the delivery and communication of market intelligence with diverse teams in the CGIAR will be critical for success in this position. The selected candidate will work as a member of CIMMYT’s Sustainable Agri-food Systems (SAS) program in close collaboration with all other relevant CIMMYT programs and units.

The position will be based in CIMMYT’s campus in Texcoco, Mexico or Nairobi, Kenya.

Specific duties:

• Convene market intelligence (MI) research teams across CGIAR and NARS for the design of work streams.
• Design strategies and processes that support decision making by breeding and seed systems teams.
• Lead market intelligence research on the bottlenecks and opportunities for seed-sector growth, product innovation and marketing.
• Design tools and processes to monitor cereal seed system performance across different contexts.
• Ensure that the market intelligence research agenda (cross regions, crops, centers) reflects critical gaps in knowledge for better design of target product profiles.
• Translate market intelligence from across CGIAR into practical R4D priorities and implications for genetic innovations.
• Engage MI teams across CGIAR and NARS for design of work plans, monitoring of progress, delivery of outputs, and engagement in discussions on breeding priorities.
• Lead efforts to mobilize resources for the expansion of market intelligence research.

Required academic qualifications, skills and attitudes:

• Master’s degree in business management, plant breeding, agribusiness, development studies, or similar field with at least ten years of relevant experience, or Ph.D. degree with at least five years of relevant experience.
• Experience in work plan development, performance tracking, and leading the elaboration of technical publications.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in complex multidisciplinary research or development projects.
• Excellent partnership building skills, including ability to interact with funding agencies; deliver effectively; and moderate meetings with local partners.
• A high degree of personal organization and ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Critical Thinking, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Problem Solving and Decision-making, and Teamwork.

CIMMYT is seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Cereal Seed Systems Researcher (Associate Scientist or Scientist) to join its Kenya-based Cereal Seed Systems Development Team. The position will contribute to an innovative regional research portfolio focused on solutions to the persistent challenges of cereal systems in eastern Africa related to the low uptake of new improved varieties. Research will address themes related to gender equality, seed preferences, seed access, and seed distribution for various crops, to include wheat, maize, millet, and ground nut. The selected candidate will work as a member of CIMMYT’s Sustainable Agri-food Systems (SAS) program in close collaboration with all other relevant CIMMYT programs and units.

The position will be based in CIMMYT’s campus in Nairobi, Kenya.

Specific duties:

• Contribute to an ambitious and innovative research-for-development (R4D) agenda focused on the challenges for cereal seed sector in Eastern Africa related to:
  • End-user preferences for foods derived from wheat, millet, ground nut and sorghum
  • Pathways for development of demand-driven cereal seed systems
  • Design of innovative methods and tools to inform strategies for seed systems development
  • Role of NGOs and agri-business in shaping formal seed systems performance (and farmers’ access to improved seed)
  • Influence of gender relations on access to and preferences for cereal varieties
• Contribute to the design and implementation of a broader social science research agenda related to seed marketing, market intelligence, agri-business, and end-user preferences in the region.
• Contribute to the positioning of CIMMYT as a thought leader in debate related to cereal seed systems development through high level publications, presentations, and fund raising.
• Support the capacity development of CIMMYT’s partners in the region, including seed companies, extension programs, and national agricultural research centers, in themes related to cereal seed systems development.
• Engage local stakeholders (NARS, seed companies, CGIAR breeding teams, NGOs) on strategies, policies, and research needed to address bottlenecks in cereal systems in East Africa and beyond through workshops, briefs, and periodic one-on-one engagements.
• Engage staff from CIMMYT, NARS, NGOs, and seed companies in the region to understand plant breeding, seed production, and seed distribution, as input for designing a stronger client orientation by social science in its seed systems agenda.
• Support regional efforts to mobilize resources to expand R4D agenda on seed systems and related areas of work.

Required academic qualifications, skills and attitudes:

• in rural development, rural sociology, agri-business, or similar field, with at least eight years of relevant experience in a developing country context.
• Track record of publications in recognized peer reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in complex multidisciplinary research or development projects.
• Good partnership building skills, including the ability to interact with funding agencies and local partners.
• A high degree of personal organization and ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to work with different nationalities and disciplines as a member of a diverse work team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Proactivity, Problem Solving and Decision-making, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution and Teamwork.