(RFP300295) - Research Associate - Cassava Breeding

The Organization
The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) is part of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. CIAT delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives. CIAT solutions address the global crisis of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.
CIAT works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. CIAT is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to transforming food, land and water systems in a climate crisis.

About the position
CIAT's Cassava Program collaborates with diverse partners to strengthen the cassava value chain, from production to markets. With over four decades of sustainable crop and soil management advancements, the program has enhanced smallholder livelihoods. Today, it combines improved genetics, agro-ecological management, big data, and scenario analyses to drive cassava agriculture forward.
CIAT seeks a highly motivated and self-driven Research Associate - Cassava Breeding to support the Cassava Program. The position focuses on managing field research in Vietnam, working closely with the Southeast Asia breeding lead and regional teams to assess breeding populations and develop superior cassava varieties.
The successful candidate will independently oversee field operations, including planting, irrigation, pest management, data collection, crossing nursery activities and harvesting across multiple sites. Training and career development will be provided by experienced breeding scientists and the program lead.
This position will be based in Tay Ninh province, Vietnam with extensively travel to Dong Nai and Lam Dong provinces.

Key duties & responsibilities
Coordinate research effort with established experimental designs and implementation according to specified plan;
Establish trials in accordance with the guidelines;
Collect, organize and carry out basic data cleaning procedures to facilitate consistent and harmonized datasets. Analyze data when required;
Engage with partners and guide them on data collection and sharing of data in compliance with experimental protocols;
Sustain quality of research work by ensuring that field experiments are properly established and  well managed with rigor and in accordance with established and safety guidelines;
Collaborate with greenhouse, field, and partner teams to ensure proper maintenance of plant materials;
Participate in pruning and making crosses when required;
Summarize field activities, propose innovative solutions to challenges, and manage performance trials;
Travel frequently to research sites and work flexible hours during planting, making crosses and harvesting seasons.

Requirements Required qualifications and experience
Bachelor degree or equivalent in agronomy, agricultural sciences, or related fields; a master's in plant breeding or genetics is preferred;
Minimum two-three years of research experience in tropical agricultural systems, with cassava or vegetatively propagated crops as an advantage;
Knowledge of plant breeding, genetics, experimental design, and field plot management;
Experience with smallholder tropical farmers and national research institutions;
Ability to travel to rural areas in Vietnam.

Skills and competencies
Strong interest in developing cassava varieties using traditional, genomic, and phenomic approaches;
Highly motivated, adaptable, and capable of managing multi-location trials and supervising field teams;
Passion for collaborative, interdisciplinary, and farmer-focused research;
Willingness to learn and integrate innovative research methods and travel nationally for fieldwork;
Fluency in Vietnamese; English proficiency is desirable.

Benefits Terms of employment
This position is a national recruited position based in Tay Ninh, Vietnam. The initial contract will be for 1 year, subject to a probation period of 2 months, and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.
This position is graded at BG6 level, with a minimum basic salary of VND 24,487,062 in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the CIAT job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to monthly allowances, insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.
CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications
Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number (RFP300295) - Research Associate - Cassava Breeding as the position applied for. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate's last name, first name for ease of sorting (Cover letter should illustrate your motivation to apply and suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications and work responsibilities. Detailed curriculum vitae should include the names and email addresses of three professional referees who are knowledgeable about your skills and professional abilities). CIAT collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Applications closing date: 1 April 2025
Please note that email applications will not be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
We invite you to learn more about us at:
http://alliancebioversityciat.org