Technician at International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Kenya

Job Title: Technician - Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) Screening Facility,

Employer: The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center - CIMMYT

Duty Station: Naivasha, Kenya  

Application Deadline: 15th Nov 2013

The Organization

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT®, is a not-for-profit research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries, and through offices in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Through strong science and effective partnerships, we create, share, and use knowledge and agricultural technologies to increase food security, improve the productivity and profitability of farming systems, and sustain natural resources in developing countries.

We participate in an extensive global network of people and organizations who share similar research and development goals, including the public and private sector, non-governmental and civil society organizations, farmers, and the development assistance community.

The Position

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the MLN Project Leader, to provide technical support to the MLN Facility Manager, MLN Project Leader and scientists undertaking research experiments at the MLN Screening Facility, and to strongly support the MLN Screening facility Manager in implementing day-to-day operations of the MLN Screening Facility located at the KARI-Naivasha Research Centre.

Responsibilities:

• Effectively implement MLN screening activities, including seed preparation, planting, agronomic management and data recording on the field trials (under artificial inoculation).
• Assist in effective management of seed material (for MLN disease screening) received from CIMMYT and its partners/collaborators.
• Manage seed storage, including labelling and seed inventories.
• Assist in planting of relevant materials, generation of adequate inocula in the screenhouses, and conducting trials under artificial inoculation.
• Support sampling of maize plant parts, particularly leaves, for molecular research as well as their labelling, safe handling, storage and transport.
• Prepare electronic field books for trials in the screenhouses and field.
• Collect data on the trials and support in data management, curation and analysis.
• Assist in supervision of personnel (including field assistants, skilled and casual labour).
• Along with MLN Facility Manager, ensure implementation and strict compliance of Operational Safety, Health and Environmental policies, and adherence to CIMMYT code of ethics and core values.
• Any other duties as assigned by the Manager - MLN Screening Facility, MLN Project Leader or by the Director, CIMMYT Global Maize Program.

Essential Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture/Agronomy
• Demonstrated experience in a field or horticultural crop research program, in a laboratory greenhouse or field, in a public or private sector institution.
• Demonstrated experience of supporting effective management of greenhouses and/or research farm will be an advantage.

Terms of Offer

The World Agroforestry Centre is an equal opportunity employer and offers a collegial and gender-
sensitive working environment.

We believe that staff diversity promotes excellence and strongly encourage applications from qualified women.

This position is on local terms and will be for an initial period of three (3) years renewable, subject to six (6) months’ probation period, assessment of performance, continued relevance of the position and availability of resources.

The position will be based at the CIMMYT/KARI MLN Screening Facility in Naivasha.

How to Apply

Please combine into one document the following:
A cover letter illustrating your suitability for the position against the listed requirements and salary expectations;
A detailed curriculum vitae;
The names and addresses of three referees, including telephone, fax numbers and email addresses;
A copy of driving licence.
Go to http://worldagroforestry.org/working-for-icraf/vacancies


Please note that only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about CIMMYT and World Agroforestry Centre by accessing our web sites www.cimmyt.org and www.worldagroforestry.org