PROJECT MANAGER

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Project Manager (Agriculture/Horticulture/Vegetable Science/Seed Science/social sciences) to lead the “Seed Secure Meghalaya: Establishment of low-cost formal and informal potato seed production system to enhance food security and income generation” project based in Meghalaya, Shillong.

The Project: “Seed Secure Meghalaya: Establishment of low-cost formal and informal potato seed production system to enhance food security and income generation” project is implemented by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) and funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). CIP’s engagement is to provide technical backstopping, innovations, and capacity building along the entire potato seed value chain to increase its productivity, and improve the livelihoods of small-scale and marginal farmers, CIP will work in close collaboration with Meghalaya State Government particularly Department of Horticulture, MBMA, CPRS, Shillong and private sector partners.

About the role: The Project Manager should be driven by the desire to achieve impact through high quality development interventions in close coordination with project partners. The Project Manager will have overall responsibility for all aspects of project implementation and reporting. The candidate selected will directly supervise an interdisciplinary team of specialists. This is a National recruited position that will work closely with other CIP science teams at our India regional office in New Delhi and headquarter in Lima, Peru. The assignment will include frequent travel within Meghalaya and India. The position will be based in Shillong, Meghalaya and will report to the Country Manager in New Delhi, India.

Key responsibilities:

• Design and monitor the project implementation by ensuring that is responsive to communities and partners and is aligned with CIP principles, values and strategic plan.

• Represent the project via donors, private sector and research partners and build strong and productive partnerships with them.

• Manage all technical and financial reporting to the donor, ensure timeliness, quality, and responsiveness to donor requests and the continuity of funds every year for the project.

• Coordinate with finance and administration staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities.

• Keep team members informed of the latest scientific advances in their fields of development.

• Develop new projects proposals and applications for external research funding by building on existing strengths and experience.

• Produce scientific publications and technical papers based on the research under this project.

• Supervise staff in charge, contribute to their performance evaluations and identify succession planning and development.

• Member of people management team to evaluate performance across the unit.

• Comply with national and international health and safety laws, regulations, and standards. What are we looking for?

• PhD degree in Seed Science/Horticulture/ Vegetable Science/ Agronomy/ Plant Breeding/ Soil Science/Plant Pathology/Social Sciences or related degree.

• Strong experience of at least 8 years in agriculture related area or project coordination.

• Field-based rural development project promoting agricultural or other technological innovation, preferably in potato in India.

• Excellent knowledge of innovation systems research and underlying social science methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative.

• Experience of coordinating multi-institutional collaboration in support of rural communities and their governance structures.

• Strong understanding of integrating gender and other social equity considerations into project design and delivery.

• Experience of coordinating M&E and hands-on technical reporting.

• Strong experience of using communication technologies as research and development tools.

• Good record of scientific and technical publications.

• Willingness to travel frequently in-country and work under field conditions.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are a must; additional communication skills in Hindi are an additional asset.

Why should you consider this opportunity?

• CIP is a global and reputable international organization that has a strong, state-of-the-art R&D background.

• CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improving nutrition and well-being, and gender equity for poor people in roots, tubers farming and food systems in the developing world.

• CIP is a member of the CGIAR, a network of 15 research centers that are mostly located in developing countries and supported by more than 50 donor members.

What are we offering?

• Great career opportunity in an international organization.

• Generous compensation package commensurate with experience.

• One-year term contract with the possibility of renewal.

• Work in an equal and diverse workplace.