Job Description

About the position: The Senior
Scientist will be based in Beijing, China, and will report to Crop Improvement
Lead. The position will provide strategic scientific leadership for the
implementation of CIP's Medium-Term Science Plan (2026–2027) and CIP2030 across
China and the Asia-Pacific region through the China Center for Asia Pacific
(CCCAP). The role will strengthen CIP's crop improvement portfolio for potato
and sweetpotato by fostering strategic partnerships, providing scientific and
technical backstopping to national partners, promoting innovation in breeding,
genetics, biotechnology, and gene editing, and facilitating knowledge exchange
to address regional agricultural priorities.

The Senior Scientist will also lead
stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization efforts, represent CIP within
China's agricultural innovation ecosystem, and strengthen collaboration among
national research organizations, universities, government agencies, CGIAR
partners, and the private sector. Through these efforts, the position will
enhance CCCAP's role as a regional platform for scientific collaboration,
innovation, and research-for-development, contributing to CIP's institutional
positioning and long-term impact across Asia-Pacific.

Key
responsibilities:

Scientific Leadership and Research
Strategy

  • Lead
    the strategic planning, development, and implementation of CCCAP’s potato
    breeding, genetics, biotechnology, gene editing, cultivation research agenda
    aligned with CIP’s global research priorities.

  • Assess
    emerging scientific trends, technologies, and research opportunities in China
    and Asia Pacific to ensure innovation and relevance in breeding programs.

  • Design,
    develop, and oversee innovative breeding methodologies, research frameworks,
    tools, and applications to strengthen potato improvement programs in China and
    the Asia-Pacific region.

  • Lead
    multidisciplinary and collaborative research initiatives integrating genetics,
    genomics, breeding, phenotyping, and data-driven approaches.

  • Lead
    and support pre-breeding activities to broaden the genetic base of potato (and
    sweetpotato) breeding programs, facilitating the identification,
    characterization, and utilization of diverse germplasm and novel traits
    relevant to regional breeding priorities.

  • Strengthen
    collaboration with the CIP genebank and global crop improvement teams to
    promote effective use of genetic resources, facilitate germplasm exchange, and
    support integration of pre-breeding materials into regional breeding pipelines.

  • Introduce
    and scale innovative breeding technologies and approaches that strengthen
    research impact and adoption.

  • Ensure
    research activities incorporate research-for-development priorities and
    contribute to policy and development outcomes.

Partnerships, Representation, and
Stakeholder Engagement

  • Represent
    CIP and CCCAP as a scientific focal point in potato breeding and genetics
    within China and the Asia-Pacific region.

  • Develop,
    lead and implement resource mobilization initiatives, including the preparation
    of competitive research proposals, concept notes and donor engagement
    activities.

  • Build
    and strengthen strategic partnerships with national agricultural research
    systems, universities, government institutions, donors, private sector
    organizations, and international partners.

  • Lead
    stakeholder engagement and collaborative initiatives that strengthen research
    impact, policy influence, and institutional positioning.

  • Promote
    knowledge exchange, capacity strengthening, and scientific collaboration with
    regional and international partners.

  • Serve
    as a spokesperson and representative of scientific research for CIP in
    conferences, workshops, technical meetings, and external forums.

  • Support
    the positioning and implementation of CIP’s research and development agenda
    within CCCAP and across regional partnerships.

  • Strengthen
    coordination between CCCAP, CIP headquarters, and regional operational teams to
    ensure alignment and effective collaboration.

  • Supervise,
    coach, and mentor researchers, associates, students, interns, and technical
    staff jointly with the Director of CCCAP.

  • Foster
    an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing scientific environment.

Research Program Management and
Delivery

  • Lead
    and oversee the implementation of research portfolios, projects, and breeding
    pipelines, ensuring alignment with approved objectives, milestones, budgets,
    and quality standards.

  • Oversee
    compliance with organizational research standards, biosafety requirements,
    protocols, and operational guidelines.

  • Lead
    the preparation and dissemination of high-quality scientific publications,
    technical reports, presentations, and knowledge products.

  • Support
    the development and scaling of improved potato varieties and breeding products
    adapted to regional needs.

Requirements

Expertise
and Specialization:

  • Ph.D.
    degree in plant sciences such as plant breeding, agronomy,or other relevant degree.

  • 8–10
    years of experience in plant breeding, genetics, crop improvement, and
    coordination of multidisciplinary breeding or research programs.

  • Strong
    understanding of breeding methodologies, quantitative genetics, and integration
    of phenotypic, genotypic, and pre-breeding approaches in crop improvement
    programs.

  • Extensive
    experience in plant breeding, genetics and variety development, including
    management of multi-location breeding trials and collaborative breeding
    networks demonstrated
    experience in strategic partnership development, resource mobilization, and
    leadership of multidisciplinary research teams

  • Experience
    working with national agricultural research systems, universities, and regional
    partners in Asia is highly desirable.

  • 2-3
    years of experience in an operating role in global research organizations or
    business enterprises in multiple countries or equivalent.

  • Progressive
    international experience in similar research and/or development organizations.

  • Good
    understanding of China’s innovation ecosystem related to CIP’s research agenda
    (CAAS, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, MOST, NSFC, CICAD, main
    universities)

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.