Science for Impact Specialist

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is seeking to recruit an innovative, self-motivated, and academically well-qualified candidate to conduct research-for-development activities to further the cause of inclusive technological change in smallholder agricultural farming systems.

The successful candidate for this position should be able to develop and execute studies that will help to understand better the opportunities, critical challenges, drivers, and effective spaces for sustainable scaling of agricultural innovations. He/She should also possess demonstratable skills and experience in facilitating and coordinating multidisciplinary team efforts with a diverse group of scientists (agronomists, economists, crop and soil scientists) and partners. The incumbent will offer critical inputs to outreach actions that support innovation scaling and knowledge sharing that would facilitate important feedback loops with various stakeholders.

As part of CIMMYT’s SAS Program and reporting to the research group lead on Science of Scaling and Impact Pathways, the position will be based at CIMMYT’s Lusaka Office with responsibilities across the Eastern and Southern Africa region (and globally) depending on the program and Center needs. We are therefore seeking candidates who are excited about and able to operate effectively and flexibly.

Specific duties:

• Take a lead role in facilitating CIMMYT’s Sustainable Agrifood Systems Africa team in networking, team building, and collaboration as an enabler for the group and individuals to craft answers to the complex issues facing agricultural production, profit, environmental services, and the social and human condition.
• Lead efforts at research translation, communication, and dissemination to diverse audiences including but not limited to communities of multidisciplinary scientists, policymakers, government, and business leaders, extensionists, and farmers
• Collaborate with senior staff in the Scaling Science and Impact Pathways team to manage, design, and coordinate the implementation of scaling and innovation delivery activities and studies in the following areas: (I) fostering farmer feedback loops, (ii) promotion of farmer agency, (iii) understanding scaling impact pathways, (iv) achieving transformation in agricultural systems through purposeful scaling focus, (v) adding empirical evidence to refine principles that underpin sustainable innovation scaling, and (vi) contributing to research knowledge translation as a facilitating element for scaling.
• Participate in efforts to challenge and clarify inherent assumptions in the application and use of various scaling approaches and tools
• Contribute to CIMMYT’s Science of Scaling and Impact Pathways team efforts to bring a scaling perspective into research and development projects as early as possible to help keep a focus on what projects can and should aim to achieve.
• Contribute to preparing project reports and publications, including scientific articles in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, and other outputs to reach various audiences.
• Build institutional networks and contacts for the effective functioning of the existing projects and for developing future collaborations.
• Apply their expert skills to catalyzing public-private collaboration towards increased technology availability for poor farmers, including women.

Required qualifications, skills, and attitudes:

• Minimum Master’s degree in Social Sciences or Humanities and other relevant disciplines with a strong Scaling and Innovation Outreach focus.
• Minimum of 7 – 10 years of professional experience in innovation management, research translation, outreach, scaling, and project management.
• Prior experience working in international, multi-disciplinary, and multi-cultural environments including collaborating with national research institutions and/or NGOs focused on agricultural development, technology development and dissemination, and/or agricultural machinery or farm services provision.
• Work experience in Africa or the global south, with specific experience in Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania, will be an added advantage.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to interface with rural communities, such as village leaders, extension staff, and others.
• Willingness to travel in the region and specifically to remote locations of the intervention countries.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, manage, analyze, and prepare project reports and publications using primary and secondary data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Client Orientation, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Problem-Solving, Decision Making, Teamwork, and Communication.

The position is for an initial fixed term of three (3) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health, and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.

Candidates must apply online for IRS23114_Science for Impact Specialist.

Screening and follow-up of applications will begin on Monday, March 20^th, 2023. Applications must include a CV and a cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration. For further information on the selection process, please contact Yessica Castillo, at y.castillo@cgiar.org

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

This position will remain open until filled. 

CIMMYT is an equal-opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.