NGO Jobs in Kenya. Field Assistant (2 Posts)

Agriculture Jobs in Kenya

Vacancy: Field Assistant – Doubled Haploid (DH) Nursery Operations

About the Organization:

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT® (www.cimmyt.org ), 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, nongovernmental and civil society organizations, farmers, and the development assistance community.

About the Position:

To provide support to the Research Technician for Double Haploid (DH) in the establishment and management of the haploid induction, Do/ selfing and inducer line nurseries, including all the support field processes required in the production of maize inbred lines for African maize breeders in the public and private sectors.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in seed preparation, land preparation and agronomic care and maintenance of the haploid induction block, selfing, and inducer lines nurseries that include, but not limited to judicious application of farm inputs, plant health, and sanitation;


• Assist in the proper execution of planting, pollination and harvesting protocols;


• Assist in data collection, reporting and information dissemination in an accurate and timely manner, securing-maintaining the identity and integrity of breeding materials by ensuring proper labelling and documentation from seed reception throughout the DH process;


• Assist in managing the nursery budget by optimal allocation and effective supervision of manpower and judicious use and tracking consumption of field supplies;


• Assist in the planning and implementation and achieving target outputs of field trials and experiments for continuous process improvement;


• Attend safety meetings and assist the DH Management in the implementation of the CIMMYT DH Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental policies, and Code of Ethics;


• Assist in instituting discipline among nursery workers, foster a respectful workplace and interacts professionally with all levels of management, project stakeholders, breeder-scientists and external parties doing business with DH Africa;


• Perform other relevant duties assigned from time to time;


• Maintain and secure DH nursery assets and resources;


• Ensure that CIMMYT–DH policies and ethical standards are communicated clearly, strictly enforced, and observed in and out of work environment to safeguard the CIMMYT-DH image and integrity.

Essential Qualifications:

• Diploma in Agriculture/Applied Biology or other relevant discipline;


• Minimum 5 years practical experience in maize production research, including experience working in maize doubled haploid technology, particularly setting up haploid induction blocks, pollination work management involving haploid inducer lines, plant scoring, capturing field data and systematic data organization; establishment and maintenance-management of selfing (production of doubled lines) and inducer nurseries;


• Experience in leading 40 to 60 person labor crew in a multi-tasking field environment;


• Working knowledge of Quality Management System in the seed industry;


• Background experience in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance;


• Experience in maize haploid selection, seed germination, chromosome doubling, laboratory procedures, handling-disposal of hazardous laboratory wastes, seedling management in greenhouse setting is an added advantage.

Skills and Competencies:

• Practical knowledge of the science and art of maize agronomy;


• Skills in problem-solving in maize production setting;


• Mechanical skill in handling farm and field research equipment;


• Mathematical computations;


• Relevant computer applications in maize production research;


• Excellent communication skills.

Vacancy: Field Assistant – Doubled Haploid (DH) Laboratory Operations

About the Position:

• To provide support to the Research Assistant for Double Haploid (DH) Laboratory Operations in the implementation of haploid selection, seedling germination doubling procedures, and seedling recovery including all the attendant tasks in execution of those processes required in the production of maize inbred lines for African maize breeders in the public and private sectors.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in monitoring and maintaining quality status of harvested induced source populations by ensuring dryer, seed quality testing laboratory and greenhouse equipment are maintained and operating properly;


• Assist in the preparation of induced materials for haploid selection, proper execution of haploid selection protocols;


• Assist in seed preparations for germination, chromosome doubling, doubling and laboratory procedures, potting and greenhouse operation, including safe handling disposal of chemicals and waste materials;


• Assist in managing the budget by optimal allocation and effective supervision of manpower and judicious use and tracking consumption of laboratory and potting supplies;


• Assist in data collection, reporting and information dissemination in an accurate and timely manner, securing, maintaining the identity and integrity of breeding materials by ensuring proper labelling and documentation from reception of induced materials through seedling transplanting in the Do/selfing nursery;


• Assist in the planning and implementation and achieving target outputs in haploid selection, seedling germination, seedling survival in the greenhouse, and in conducting DH process improvement initiatives;


• Attend safety meetings and assist the DH Management in the implementation of the CIMMYT DH Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental policies, and Code of Ethics;


• Assist in instituting discipline among nursery workers, foster a respectful workplace and interact professionally with all levels of management, project stakeholders, breeder-scientists and external parties doing business with DH Africa;

Perform other relevant duties assigned from time to time, including:

• Assist in pollination work supervision on his/her free time in the DH laboratory;


• Maintain and secure DH laboratory and greenhouse equipment and other Project assets and resources;


• Ensure that CIMMYT DH policies and ethical standards are communicated clearly, strictly enforced, and observed in and out of work environment to safeguard the CIMMYT DH image and integrity.

Essential Qualifications:

• Diploma in Agriculture/Applied Biology or relevant discipline;


• Minimum combined 3 years practical experience in maize production research and laboratory work, including operation and maintenance of mechanical dryer, cold storage, seed incubator-germination equipment, handling of hazardous chemical agents and wastes, use and maintenance of personal protection equipment;


• Background experience in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance;


• Seedling production management in greenhouse setting, operation and maintenance of greenhouse control systems;


• Experience in leading 40 to 70 labor crew in a multitasking laboratory and field environments;


• Background knowledge of Quality Management System in the seed industry;


• Experience in the establishment and management of maize haploid induction and doubled lines production is a plus;


• Practical knowledge of the science and art of maize agronomy;


• Skills in problem-solving in a maize production setting


• Mechanical skill in handling farm and field research equipment;


• Mathematical computations;


• Relevant computer applications in maize production and laboratory work;


• Multi-tasking and crew supervision;


• Excellent communication skills.

Terms of Offer

We offer a collegial, diverse and gender-sensitive working environment, and we strongly encourage applications from qualified women.

This position is remunerated on Local terms.

The appointment will be for an initial period of three (3) years, subject to a six (6) months’ probation.

The position will be based in CIMMYT office at Kiboko.

How to apply: Go to http://ift.tt/12IK3xM

Applications will be considered until 25th April 2014.

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

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