Job Description

CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow\xe2\x80\x99s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. For more information, visit cimmyt.org. The Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) - CIMMYT seeks a dynamic, self-motivated wheat scientist with demonstrated successful experience in modern breeding approaches, partnership building and network enabling, and fundraising to join our Global Wheat Program (GWP). The successful candidate will collaborate with national and international partners to develop wheat germplasm for cropping systems in targeted environments in South Asia and will be part of our global team and will work closely with CIMMYT colleagues and partners to develop, strengthen, and enable synergistic wheat improvement networks in India and other countries of South Asia. The position will be based at the Borlaug Institute for South Asia, in Ludhiana, India.
Specific duties:

• Enhance collaborative wheat improvement activities with CIMMYT colleagues and partners in India and other countries of South Asia.
• Lead the implementation of a CIMMYT-NARS trialing network at BISA farms and other sites in South Asia, including the use of modern trial designs, phenotyping approaches, and data analyses.
• Work closely with partners to assess the achievement of agreed product profiles by experimental lines and varietal candidates, and to select parents for breeding and candidates for advancement.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary research, ensuring that germplasm developed by the team is designed and validated for excellent performance in current and emerging cropping systems.
• Facilitate germplasm and data exchange, including the use of institutional database(s).
• Engage with national programs and the private sector to strengthen seed systems and scaling of successful varieties by partners in the region.
• Participate in planning meetings with national partners\xe2\x80\x99 wheat improvement teams, e.g. breeding, pathology, quality, etc.
• Contribute to capacity development activities to strengthen individual and team capabilities pertinent to the objectives of this position and CIMMYT.
• In consultation with the GWP Director, develop a strong research program in support of the objectives of this position, and build partnerships, teamwork, and funding to achieve impact.
• Prepare project reports and publish scientific and technical findings in open-access international peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to and lead fundraising efforts with CIMMYT colleagues and partners to increase impacts in South Asia.
• Provide professional mentorship to staff and partners, as appropriate.

Requirements Required qualifications, skills, and attitudes:

• Ph.D. in plant breeding/genetics or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in applied wheat improvement research.
• Strong interest in wheat research, collaboration, and partnership building in South Asia.
• Outstanding people skills, with the ability to build existing and develop new partnerships.
• Strong experience in fundraising for applied agricultural research within South Asia.
• Excellent communication and capacity-building skills.
• Demonstrated record of scientific publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Desire and ability to work collaboratively, respectfully, and inclusively in a diverse, multicultural, multidisciplinary work environment.
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally (mainly within South Asia).
• Good reporting and communication skills in English (working language).
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Problem-solving and decision-making, client orientation, negotiation and conflict resolution, communication, and teamwork.

Benefits The position is for an initial fixed term for two (2) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT\xe2\x80\x99s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health, and life insurance, assistance for children\xe2\x80\x99s education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.