• Application Deadline:
• Position: Sweetpotato Breeder Senior Scientist


• Job Type Full Time


• Qualification BA/BSc/HND


• Experience


• Location Edo


• Job Field Agriculture / Agro-Allied 
  

The position:

• The selected candidate will develop and implement a sweetpotato breeding program and coordinating a breeding network aimed at catering the west Africa sweetpotato market segments.


• The selected candidate will work closely with local partner organizations including CGIAR and NARES institutions, as well as other partners to establish a crossing and evaluation program aiming at the delivery of superior varieties able to support rapid adoption rates by farmers.


• The Sweetpotato Breeder Senior Scientist will be based in one of our offices in West Africa where she/he will establish the program and the breeding network.


• The incumbent will function as a member of the CIP global breeding team and report to the CIP Africa breeding lead.

Key Responsibilities

Science Leadership

• Lead and manage sweetpotato breeding programs, focusing on developing high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient varieties.


• Collaborate with local and international research institutions, farmers, and stakeholders to ensure the adoption of new varieties.


• Conduct genetic analysis and utilize modern breeding techniques, including marker-assisted selection and genomic tools.


• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to inform breeding decisions and strategies.


• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at scientific conferences.


• Mentor and train junior scientists, technicians, and students in sweetpotato breeding techniques and methodologies.


• Collaborate closely with CIP social scientists, economists and gender specialists’ teams to ensure the update and refinement of Product Profiles and Market Segments served.


• Maintain updated estimates of genetic gains.


• Represent the sweetpotato breeding program in both internal and external meetings, and promote the visibility of progress and success through active engagement with the communications team

Strategic Planning & Management

• Establish and coordinate West Africa sweetpotato breeding network.


• Coordinate the yearly planning process and revision of the breeding pipelines.


• Organize product advancement meetings.


• Identify and guide the development of concept notes and research ideas for resource mobilization purposes.


• Support and contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the partners annual workplans and budgets of the funded activities.


• Facilitate collaborative research among/within NARS in SSA.


• Building linkages among multiple partners including NARS, NGOs, seed companies/associations and policy makers to ensure a vibrant and responsive breeding program.


• Manages the sweetpotato breeding budget and the budget allocation process.