International Potato Center Field Coordinator Job in Eldoret, Kenya

International Potato Center

Field Coordinator

Ref: 2015/005/NRS/SSA
 

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a Field Coordinator for an upcoming seed potato value chain project to be based in Eldoret, Kenya.
 

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. 

 

CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. 

CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. 

CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. 

Its science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. 

The CIP Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) main regional office is in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Position: The Field Coordinator will be responsible to coordinate and manage all field work and partners for an upcoming seed potato value chain project. 

The position will be based in Eldoret, Kenya. The Field Coordinator will be engaged primarily to implement project activities to strengthen seed potato system development in a holistic manner by interlinking relevant disciplines and actors from public and private sectors. 

The Field Coordinator will be responsible for interventions to improve productivity of seed and ware potato production and value chains, such as building capacity in seed and ware potato, good agricultural practices, monitoring demonstration sites and farmers’ fields, and overseeing monitoring and evaluation activities.

The principal tasks and responsibilities include the following:

• Lead capacity building interventions in good agricultural practices for seed and ware potato for farmers, extension, private sector enterprises and partners;


• Coordinate and monitor demonstration and training sites managed by extension agents;


• Coordinate and support planning and delivery of field days;


• Seek collaborations with private sector stakeholders to build effective seed potato value chains;


• Support extension to document and collect data from demonstration plots to inform and improve delivery of project and potato program interventions


• Organize marketing events with specialized potato markets: processors, supermarkets, restaurants;


• Work closely with monitoring and evaluation teams to coordinate, plan and execute monitoring and evaluation activities;


• Develop communication materials targeting farmers and extension officers; and


• Contribute to planning, executing and reporting on quarterly and annual work plans and reports consistent with project objectives.

The successful Field Coordinator will have:

• Ph.D. degree in agronomy, plant pathology, seed systems or a closely related discipline;


• A minimum of three years’ experience in implementing agronomy- and seed-system-related interventions;


• Strong technical knowledge of potato agronomy and pathology;


• Background in field plant pathology if degree obtained in agronomy or if degree obtained in plant pathology a strong background in agronomy required


• Ability to work in an international agricultural research center, interacting with its staff and partners in a variety of institutional and ecological settings;


• Experience working with farmers, farmer groups and extension;


• Strong and demonstrated expertise to design and plan field activities;


• Good record of publications: reports, extension documents, scientific articles;


• Aptitude for teamwork, leadership, training, and communications;


• Excellent writing and communication skills;


• Fluency in English and Swahili required;


• Willingness to travel frequently and work under field conditions

Conditions: The employment contract is subject to funding and will be for a two-year term with the possibility of renewal.

Applications: 

Applicants should apply through CIP’s Job Opportunities website (http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/), including a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full C.V. and the names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. 

Screening will begin on 22nd October, 2015 and will continue until the position is filled. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The reference name of the position should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message.

CIP seeks diversity and gender balance in its staff.

Women are particularly encouraged to apply.

To learn more about CIP please visit http://www.cipotato.org/cip/jobs.asp