Summary of responsibilities:

Conduct field surveys and efficient data collection.

• Lead field data teams in field data collection in large research projects involving large household surveys.
• Collect, collate, and organize survey data (household level and community level), and other information (e.g., adoption patterns, impacts etc.) as directed. Analyze such collected household survey data using advanced and most recent statistical and econometric techniques.
• Develop computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) programs, train and supervise field data collection teams for the efficient deployment of large surveys for real and near-time data capture.

Implement data management guidelines or data quality assurance.

• Under the guidance of scientific supervisor, run statistical and econometric models on large socioeconomic datasets to identify adoption and impact pathways for sustainable intensification including but not limited to conservation agriculture methods.
• Process, consolidate, and transform data sets within and between databases using advanced data management tools to ensure efficient data sharing, findability, and inter-operability.
• Maintaining high standards and ensuring impeccable quality control of data sets and maintaining such datasets in accessible and replicable format.
• Perform other relevant qualitative analyses, as directed.

Contribute to scientific and project reports for effective project results delivery.

• Conduct literature reviews and assist in preparing strategy documents, research reports and policy briefs to strengthen research and publication efforts.
• Locate, assemble, and analyze secondary data relevant for socioeconomics and policy research in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa.
• Present socioeconomic and farm production data in spatially explicit formats to facilitate visualization, synthesis, and communication with a broad range of stakeholders.

Project management and oversight.

• Establish and maintain contacts with collaborating organizations and partners.
• Assist in organizing project and stakeholder’s meetings and participate in scientific workshops and conferences.
• Effective oversight of field budgets temporary field staff.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree (or above) in economics, computer science, statistics, math, or any other field (e.g., natural sciences) with an emphasis on computational analysis and a minimum work experience of 3 years.
• Expertise with computer-based quantitative analysis (e.g., statistics, econometrics, Python and related) and a proficiency with STATA (or R) platform is required.
• Experience with household survey design, implementation, data entry, cleaning, and analysis.
• Formal training in econometrics, statistics and/or probability theory.
• Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems is desirable.
• Familiarity with agriculture and rural development is essential.

Personal attributes and competencies.

• Ability to achieve the highest standards of professionalism in research communications.
• Transparency in our methods and approaches.
• Promotes innovation, continuous learning, problem solving and independent thinking
• Supports a work environment that fosters trust, teamwork, and diversity
  Trust.
• Fairness in sharing credit with our partners, donors and stakeholders.

Deadline of this Job: 31 January 2023
Summary of responsibilities:

• Lead market intelligence research to engage with breeding programs (CGIAR, NARS, private sector) on:
  • Consumer preferences for fresh and processed foods derived from cereal crops.
  • Strategies and needs of cereal processing industry strategies (and implications for raw material sourcing).
  • Cereal seed retail markets.
  • Trends in food markets and implications for cereal processors and farmers.
• Support the capacity development of CIMMYT’s partners in the region, including seed companies, extension programs, and national agricultural research centers, in areas related to market intelligence.
• Engage local stakeholders (seed companies, breeding teams, NGOs) on strategies, policies, and research needed to inform breeding design and investments 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.

Requirements:

• MSc. degree in marketing (research), business management, food science and technology, agribusiness, or similar field with at least ten years of relevant experience in the private or public sector.
• Track record of quality technical reports.
• Experience in research looking at consumer preferences, food processing, product development, food marketing.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in complex multidisciplinary research or development projects.
• Good partnership building skills, including the ability to interact with private sector; deliver effectively; and moderate meetings with local partners.
• A high degree of personal organization and ability to work under pressure.

Personal attributes and competencies

• Proactivity, Problem Solving and Decision-making, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution and Teamwork.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to process both quantitative as well as qualitative information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including gender sensitivity and ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams as well as to develop strong and effective working relationships with partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.