Seed Systems Specialist, Sudan

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT®, is not-for-profit agricultural research for development organization with partners in over 100 countries. Please refer to our website for more information: www.cimmyt.org

CIMMYT is looking for an Arabic speaking, outstanding, self-motivated, and result-oriented professional for the position of Seed Systems Specialist, to work in Sudan. The position will lead seed systems on the USAID-funded “Sustainable Agrifood Systems Approach for Sudan” SASAS program. The goal of SASAS is to support accelerated delivery activities that are gender sensitive and inclusive, for sustainable agrifood systems.

The location of this position will be Sudan (the city is to be determined). For now the position will be temporarily based in Nairobi Kenya with frequent travel to Sudan as is possible.

Specific duties:

• Collaborate with relevant public and private sector institutions, contribute to deploying and scaling up seeds in support of cropping systems in Sudan, including but not limited to groundnut, sorghum, sesame, and vegetable seed systems.
• Provide technical support to seed companies, NGOs, and NARS in designing and implementing seed road maps and systems analysis for seed system scaling to meet seed demand for target beneficiaries.
• Work with Gender Lead to ensure gender- and market-responsive seed systems interventions and extension approaches for enhancing livelihoods, including demonstration of new varieties to generate demand and capacity building of local institutions.
• Support sustainable intensification practices that promote soil health in climate-resilient crop production.
• Promote and manage various rural development and innovation models around extension/seed system/climate innovative technologies engaging institutions, change agents, and stakeholders.
• Lead the development of approaches for promoting seed entrepreneurship amongst women and youth.
• Engage with knowledge agencies, training institutions, and experts for stakeholder capacity building and strengthening partnership.
• Lead the collection and dissemination of high-quality seed producibility data to seed companies, NGOs, and community-based organizations.
• Document the work through high-quality technical reports that demonstrate project impacts.
• Work with and support project and program economists to implement a broader social science research agenda related to seed system strengthening, seed marketing, market intelligence, agri-business, and end-user preferences in the region.
• Contribute to the positioning of CIMMYT as a thought leader in debate related to legume and cereal seed systems development through high-level publications and presentations.
• Engage local stakeholders (seed companies, CGIAR breeding teams, NGOs) on strategies, policies, and research to address bottlenecks in legume and cereal systems in Sudan and the region.

• Arabic speaking and proven record of working in Arabic speaking regions on seed systems.
• Ph.D. in Crop Science, Breeding, Seed Systems would be desired. Candidates with different backgrounds will also be considered.
• 5 or more years of experience in international agriculture development research, preferably working on seed systems.
• At least 5 years in research project management or a related role, including publications, donor relations, reporting and fund raising.
• Core experience:
  • Expert knowledge of Seed Systems.
  • Long-term experience working with research organizations, NGOs, private sector seed companies or related.
  • Evidence of policy support and high-level government engagement in Seed Systems development.
  • Project management and donor relations expertise.
• The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Team Leadership, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Problem Solving, and Communication.

The position is for an initial fixed term of two (2) 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.