Job Description

IRRI in association with NARES partners is engaged in development and promotion of new high yielding, climate resilient and other potential varieties in rice based farming systems and exploring the implementable options for crop diversification and intensification. A timely replacement of older varieties with new ones and ensuring seed replacement rate have significant impact on increasing farm productivity with optimum resources and hence ensure the welfare of farmers. There is a need to scale up the adoption of these varieties for better impacts. Indian national programs release many rice / cop cultivars each year, but relatively farmers adopt few. Farmer-to-farmer exchange is considered to be the main mechanism for the widespread dissemination of varieties. However, lot of work needs to be done to ensure quality of seeds distributed in farmer managed systems as well build multiple potential institutions led by community groups. Formal seed chain need to advance and scale the production, distribution pattern for new varieties/products through a strengthened Breeder Seed and Foundation seed linkage and timely/ production and distribution in right volume for better access to quality seeds. Evidence driven data need to be generated to evaluate varietal performance of new varieties against the old popular varieties and data from on farm trials need to be organized and fed systematically to NARES breeding and varietal improvement programmes. Research for development needs to be strengthened around seed system models, varietal delivery and adoption. Stakeholder feedback around a new product being evaluated and introduced or developed need to be captures systematically and fed into breeding programmes. Seed business remaining a potential enterprise opportunity for many farmers or farmer’s groups, need to be built as sustainable model for enhancing localized access, production and supply of quality seeds. It is also important to compare and find the pros and cons of different delivery /extension approaches while disseminating these varieties and expecting adoption and research around this also needs to be strengthened. Under the minimum supervision of Scientist I – Seed System and Product Management, South Asia, this position therefore will work on strengthening research around varietal delivery programmes, design and promoting models and innovations around seed system strengthening (formal /farmer managed systems), Conduct large scale scientific as well non-scientific evidence generation activities , on farm trials and link those to breeding programmes, foster partnership and strategic collaboration, develop business and funding and resource mobilization opportunities in the region. This position will be based at the IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh and may only be filled in by permanent citizens of India.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead conceptualization, designing, execution of collaborative research to evaluate, improvise or strengthen model across India.
• Lead implementation of multi-locational on-farm trials of newly developed rice varieties in target locations and also generate research outcome insights to stimulate horizontal learning across South Asia.
• Lead operationalization of digital innovation and connecting it to global programmes wherever the development/customization is in progress.
• Strategize, design, supervise large-scale on-farm trials for newer germplasms for IRRI defined market segments and strategizing as well as executing innovations around promotional/awareness programs, demonstrations and knowledge events.
• Identify and target the area to deploy the planned research plan around crop diversification and intensification
• Conceptualize layout and manage trials for testing advanced lines in tank command areas under two major crop establishment methods (DSR and TPR)
• Generate pieces of evidence on crop fitment and varietal suitability in close association with relevant stakeholders.
• Strengthen strategic collaboration around technology transfer, institutional innovation and product performance-related research.
• Promote and manage various rural development and innovation models around seed system/climate-smart technologies engaging various institutions, change agents, and stakeholders and also inclusive of women farmers or women-centric agencies.
• Design and ensure provisioning of research supports to farmers’ collectives (FPC/FPO) for preparing business plan around seeds.
• Lead capacity development programs for local CBO partners for research outcomes with better efficacy
• Design, manage and monitor research activities including necessary protocols, research tools, data collection, analysis, and interpretation including impact evaluation
• Carry out policy dialogues and develop policy briefs around seed/delivery systems to strengthen public systems and programs in India.
• Engage in developing communication materials and extensive documentation around research programs, delivery programs (e.g., project documents, policy/research briefs, case studies, scientific papers, articles, blogs, etc)
• Prepare business development and funding proposals, help in developing new opportunities in the field of agriculture research, development programs.
• Coordinate research with NARES/Govt. and Non-Govt. extension agencies for germplasm selection, evaluation, varietal dissemination.
• Close engagement with agriculture and rural development departments around technology delivery and varietal promotion, seed enterprise, and promotion in specific.
• State seed corporations, private seed companies, and also local seed enterprises (Farmer producer companies or FPOs), their product advancement channels, production, procurement, and distribution channels.
• Lead coordination with NGOs, Community based institutions (CBOs), women self-help groups for innovation in extension approaches, gender focus interventions, and piloting rural livelihood models.
• Engage with knowledge agencies, training institutions, and experts for stakeholder capacity building and strengthening partnership
• Scaling up of best-evaluated genotypes by actors in the formal and informal seed system through access to early generation seeds (EGS)
• Planning and directing the team efforts in the direction of project impact pathway to accomplish predetermined objectives and deliverables.
• Leadership in an outcome centric collaboration with CBOs to foster and advance farm-managed seed system and promotion of seed entrepreneurship in priority locations

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Agribusiness Management/Rural Management / Agriculture extension/ Rural Development/ Agriculture science with a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience in research & development work in seed systems, delivery and extension systems, product management, rural innovation models, technology transfer/promotion and enterprise development; or
PhD degree in Agribusiness Management/Rural Management / Agriculture extension/ Rural Development/ Agriculture science with a minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in research & development work in seed systems, delivery and extension systems, product management, rural innovation models, technology transfer/promotion and enterprise development

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Has strong business development skill and strategic partnership experience
• Has strong oral and written communication and scientific documentary skills
• Has strong organization and interpersonal skills
• Has experience of working with private sector and government stakeholders
• Has experience with gender and rural development approaches
• Has experience on data analysis and statistical tools like SPSS/STATA, R, STARR, Research designer software like Survey Be/ODK/CSPRO /KOBO/Survey Monkey or similar.

Preferred

• Working experience around social science, technology transfer, development research, rural development
• Work experience with international organization and area of international development
• Good understanding of seed systems and model around same.

In addition to the Basic Pay indicated above, IRRI also offers the below listed allowances:

• House-Rent Allowance: IRRI provides a house rent allowance of 40% of base pay per month.
• Transport Allowance: A monthly transport allowance is provided to NRS as below: NRS L7: INR 5,000
• Dearness Allowance: One Hundred and Thirteen percent (113%) of employee’s base pay.
• Leave Travel Allowance (LTA):One-month base pay per annum, on availing minimum 2 days of vacation leave
• Education Allowance: INR 1000/- per child per month (limited 2 children)

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances. Join our team and be part of our story! Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.