International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) announces vacancy for Product Manager

Product Manager – Seed System and Product Management

Job ID: HQ01449
Location: Nepal
Closing Date: 28-Nov-2022
Salary: 115540 – 184862 NPR per month

About IRRI
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.

Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.

Job Purpose
IRRI in association with NARES partners is engaged in developing and promoting high-yielding, climate resilient, nutrient-rich, 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 significantly impact farm productivity and resource optimization, thus making farming more remunerative. There is a need to scale up the adoption of these varieties for better impacts. National programs of the country release many rice/crop cultivars each year, but relatively farmers adopt few. The farmer-to-farmer exchange is considered to be the main mechanism for the widespread dissemination of varieties. However, a lot of work needs to be done to ensure the quality of seeds distributed in farmer-managed systems through the engagement of potential community-led institutions. The formal seed chain needs to advance and scale the production, and distribution of new varieties/products through a strengthened Breeder Seed and Foundation seed linkage and timely/ production and distribution in the right volume for better access to quality seeds. Evidence-driven data need to be generated to evaluate the 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 programs. Research for development needs to be strengthened around seed system models, varietal delivery, and adoption. Stake holder feedback around a new product being evaluated and introduced or developed need to be captured systematically and fed into breeding programs. The seed business remains a potential enterprise opportunity for many farmers or farmer’s groups and needs to be built as a 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 Scientist I – Seed System and Product Management, South Asia, this position, therefore, will render evidence-backed research and managerial support to the seed system and product management team for validation, dissemination, and scaling of the demonstrated technologies, especially newly developed genotypes.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Incumbent will provide strategic direction to manage the plan and implementation of the different varietal evaluations (OFTs, Head to Head trials, cluster demonstrations, varietal cafeteria, mini kit trials etc)
• Spearhead the conduct and facilitation of trials and associated experiments, careful selection of farmers and geography, timely data and collection, and field validation in a gender-focused framework
• Fostering a strong network and coordination with NARES partners, private entities, seed corporations and other key seed stakeholders
• Charting out and implementing a clear pathway for varietal advancement for specific products
• Leading the capacity building of implementing partners, research technicians (RTs), data enumerators (DEs) and field support staff to ensure proper establishment and management of trials and research activities
• Reporting and documentation of all research activities as per the donors’ and internal requirement
• Close working engagement with the department of agriculture, Agriculture Universities, National Seed
• Board, Seed Quality control Center, and Farmers’ collective for technology evaluation, promotion, and delivery
• Strategic coordination with seed dealing private agencies/companies to showcase and evaluation and spread of the technologies
• Identification and engagement with farmers’ collectives and potential CBOs for seed scaling program through seed entrepreneurship
• Need-based engagement with seed corporation units, private seed companies, and also local seed enterprises for product advancement through their channels
• Networking with rice traders, millers etc for market insights to strengthen seed system program
• Constant engagement and coordination with implementing partners (NGO/CBOs etc) for work plan development and implementation
• Active work engagement with knowledge agencies, training institutions, and experts for stakeholder capacity building and strengthening partnership
• Internal engagement with research, finance, and admin staff
• Product advancement plan and implementation through private and public agencies
• Delivery of product concept and profile development as per the prioritized market segments
• Quality implementation of all forms of varietal evaluation trials and scaling initiatives
• Supporting research team with data collection, questionnaire designing, enumerators training, and data quality checks
• Successful management of research activities including trials, evaluation, and impact studies
• Accomplishment in all capacity development programs including quality seed production initiatives targeting farmers and seed entrepreneurs.
• Develop and manage qualitative and quantitative monitoring of research trials and other activities
• Collection, compilation, and submission of trial data in a usable form for analysis and documentation
• Managing data dashboard for easy, quick and customized data retrieve for building analytics
• Reporting and documentation of seasonal and yearly activities for donors and other key collaborators
• Publishing research-generated knowledge products and communication materials in the forms of impact studies, significant change stories, caselets, newsletters, blogs, compendium, flyers etc
• Supporting senior scientists with insights, data and relevant inputs in developing research papers and publications
• Stakeholder consultations and coordination with relevant seed system actors
• Building and maintaining a spirited field team where work efficiency is optimized and utilized.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agriculture Science/Agronomy/Extension/Agribusiness Management/Rural Management with minimum 5 years of relevant work experience around research & development work in seed systems, product management, rural innovation models, technology transfer/promotion or
• PhD degree in Agriculture Science/Agronomy/ Extension/Agribusiness Management/Rural Management with minimum 3 years of relevant work experience around research & development work in seed systems, product management, rural innovation models, technology transfer/promotion.

Allowances: In addition, you will be provided the following benefits:

• Provident Fund (10% of base salary)
• Health Medical and Dental Insurance Plan (for self and authorized dependents)
• Group life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• Gratuity Payment, per limit provided by Government of Nepal

Skills Required
Mandatory

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

Preferred

• Working experience around in 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

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. This position will remain open until filled.

To apply for this job please visit www.irri.org.