International Potato Center Vacancy for a Commercial Cassava Seed System Project Coordinator

The International Potato Center, known by its Spanish acronym CIP, was founded in 1971 as a root and tuber research-for-development institution delivering sustainable solutions to the pressing world problems of hunger, poverty, and the degradation of natural resources.
CIP is truly a global center, with headquarters in Lima, Peru and offices in 20 developing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Working closely with our partners, CIP seeks to achieve food security, increased well-being, and gender equity for poor people in the developing world. CIP furthers its mission through rigorous research, innovation in science and technology, and capacity strengthening regarding root and tuber farming and food systems.

CIP is part of the CGIAR Consortium, a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. CGIAR research is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring more sustainable management of natural resources. Donors include individual countries, major foundations, and international entities.

The CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) seeks a talented project leader for a new project to be implemented in Nigeria:

Job Title: Commercial Cassava Seed System Project Coordinator

Ref.: 15- 36 PL/IRS/SSA
Location: Ibadan
Resource Type: Global Recruited Staff (GRS)

The Program

• The CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) is led by the International Potato Center (CIP) with Bioversity International, the International Center for tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and includes a wide spectrum of research-for-development stakeholders.
• This collaboration, with its combined scale and capacity, will increase the ability to advance research, share knowledge, and enhance uptake to increase research and development impacts. The purpose of RTB is to tap the underutilized potential of root, tuber, and banana crops to improve nutrition and food security and foster greater gender equity especially among some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations.

• The project leader will be based at IITA headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria and report to both the Director of RTB and the IITA Director for West Africa.
• The project leader will facilitate project team building and serve as a dynamic leader for commercial sale of high quality cassava stems.
• The leader will organize and facilitate regular coordination meetings with project component leads, serve as the principal point of contact between the donor and sub-grantees, supervise financial and M&E staff, over-see financial and narrative reporting, and provide direct oversight and management support to grant activities related to promotion and cassava stem sales coordination.

• Provide necessary leadership to achieve the project’s primary goal: the development of an integrated and economically sustainable seed system for cassava capable of serving farmer’s needs for high quality planting material.
• Facilitate joint planning and operational integration through twice annual meetings.
• Ensure compliance with donor policies and procedures and the terms of the overall grant.

• Facilitate communication among grant partners and with the wider Nigeria cassava community.
• Develop a communications strategy with full collaboration of program partners and lead its implementation.
• Coordinate the mid-term and annual grant reporting process to the donor and liaise between RTB/BMGF and partners for all communication and reporting issues.
• Supervise Financial and M&E Staff.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial and narrative reporting and compliance.
• Cassava Stem Sales Coordination and management of promotion activities
• Develop a promotion strategy with full collaboration of project partners to increase general awareness of the project and to promote brand identify of cassava seed producers.
• Coordinate with cassava stem buyers including from other cassava projects, to ensure strong linkages among seed producers (breeder, foundation, village level nurseries and commercial processors), seed buyers, the Nigerian government, and industry.
• Support the development and application of an integrated cross-component M&E system to inform program implementation and management decisions.
• Facilitate implementation of systems to account for costs and income at all levels of the cassava seed value chain.
• Provide regular mentoring and monitoring so that sub-grantee expenses are liquidated on schedule.

• Candidates should have an advanced degree in agriculture, agriculture economics or a related area (with an MBA or PhD preferred) with specialized knowledge of commercial seed systems and the cassava value chain preferred.
• Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Proactive approach, with ability to find creative ways to solve problems or exploit potentials.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English.
• Experience with international agricultural research for development, CGIAR, and CGIAR Research Programs a plus.
• At least 8 years of experience in project management (direct staff management, financial management) and partner coordination (overseeing sub-grants, promoting strong collaboration among diverse group of partners).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website, including a letter of motivation, a full CV with names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.
• Screening of applications will begin on 14 December 2015 and continue until the post is filled.
• All applications will be acknowledged, however only short listed candidates will be contacted