International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Senior Associate Scientist I - Agricultural Economics

Job ID: HQ01174

Location: India

Closing Date : 06-Jan-2021

Salary: 69400  - 144200  INR per month

Job Purpose

With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and U.S. Agency for International Development, the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) has worked as an eco-regional initiative to support agricultural development in South Asia since 2009. CSISA’s aim is to use sustainable intensification technologies and management practices to enhance the productivity of cereal-based cropping systems, increase farm incomes, and reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint. As a science-driven and impacts-oriented initiative, we reside at the intersection of a diverse set of partners in the public and private sectors, occupying the ‘messy middle’ where research meets development. By engaging with a network of partners, CSISA is built on the premise that transformative development typically requires not one single change, but the orchestration of several. Under the broader CSISA platform, IRRI has got EiA use case for Bihar on rice planting dates and trying to establish a dynamic agro advisory ecosystem adapted to optimized cropping systems in contrasting environments. Under this use case, the lessons learned in CSISA will be extensively used in creating a minimum viable product (MPV) on dynamic agro-advisory generated through data-driven approach.

With minimal direction, the successful candidate will coordinate the activities on participatory science and technology evaluations, production practice surveys across CSISA sites in India, Nepal and Bangladesh in collaboration with NARES partners and develop knowledge materials and publications. Extend knowledge and provide technical back-stopping in the “Trainings and other Extension Activities” on sustainable intensification technologies. Responsible for coordinating training module development, pan and conduct surveys, workshops, meetings and other platforms for knowledge sharing on key agricultural technologies/ interventions of CSISA. Contribute to and lead the research activities by conceptualizing, planning, and conducting research studies in collaboration with NARES including preparation, improvement and/or development of necessary protocols, research tools, data collection, analysis and interpretation/manuscript preparation, and provide strategic direction to the NARES partners. Moreover, the incumbent will take a lead in EiA use case and will be responsible for contribution to developing the Minimum Viable Product on dynamic agro-advisory generated through data-driven approach and managing the activities under convergence platform created to disseminate agro advisory. S/he will be also involved in managing training events, field days, travelling seminars, public harvest events (Mega-crop cuts) and exposure visits organized for capacity building of farmers, service providers, and extension agents, and number of MTS created and development of knowledge and outreach materials. Besides, incumbent will also provide support to APART and other projects in promoting sustainable intensification technologies and management practices developed and validated in CSISA to enhance the productivity of rice based cropping system in Assam and other parts of India.

The duty location for this position has been changed to IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) at Varanasi, UP in India. 

This position is open for only existing IRRI staff. 

Roles and Responsibilities

·         Independently develop, manage, and oversee implementation of strategies in accordance with agreed objectives, outputs, and time lines as reflected in approved impact pathway documents

·         To manage activities to conduct participatory science and technology evaluations and research

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across various CSISA sites in India, Nepal and Bangladesh

·         Plan and manage the implementation of research/research support service activities of the projects (CSISA and EiA) including data collection for development and validation of management technologies that help to augment expression of tolerance in farmers’ fields.

·         Under EiA, develop and test a data driven approach to generate Agro-advisories catering to variability in the landscape, establish a dynamic agro advisory ecosystem adapted to optimized cropping systems in contrasting environments

·         Manage and guide the implementation of research support activities under CSISA and EiA to ensure timely data collection, management, analysis and dissemination of result and information.

·         Finalize draft reports for CSISA and EiA for submission to supervisor and stakeholders and technical literature to disseminate results.

·         Publish and actively contribute to articles in peer-reviewed journals/digests that highlight findings from research and experiment activities showcasing the Institute’s scientific leadership

·         Review, monitor and manage expenditures/disbursements of the activities assigned to and manage and monitor expenditures of partners and liaise with IRRI financial office to ensure adequate financial

·         Develop and maintain partnerships with various stakeholders including NARES partners, CSISA/ EiA project staff in India (CIMMYT, IFPRI and IRRI), and CSISA management to implement activities to meet the agreed CSISA project outputs and time lines

·         Steer and provide strategic direction to NARES partners and to coordinate the activities for increasing the capacity of these partners in line with CSISA’s and EiA’s objectives

·         Participate in Institute wide activities and represent IRRI at various meetings or events

·         Promote the dissemination of CSISA and EiA findings through workshops and popular communication channels, CSISA and IRRI newsletters etc.

·         Consolidate/synthesize and finalize reports for submission to donors / partners and other stakeholders

·         Coordinate and implement CSISA and EiA activities with various stakeholders

·         Support for conceptualize and building a dynamic agro-advisory system Bihar in collaboration with partners

·         Lead the preparation and presentation of research findings related to the project in various formats and forums

·         Prepare technical literatures and publish in scientific journals and/or web-based publications, the research findings and results

·         Lead/contribute in writing of journal articles on sustainable intensifications in rice, direct seeded rice, agro-advisory impacts and social impacts of chemical weed management, and related topics in rice-based systems

·         Manage and develop team members to ensure professional growth

·         Support for active showcasing of work by Institute's scientific leadership through different platforms of communication

Qualifications

PhD. in Agricultural Economics with minimum 5 years of overall relevant experience in agriculture research, project or program coordination, rice science or related field

Skills Required

Mandatory

·         Extensive proven technical proficiency in conducting research experiments/surveys

·         Extensive Research management experience

·         Strong collaboration skills and has experience in creating long-term Partnerships

·         Excellent leadership skills

·         Excellent analytical skills

·         Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills

·         Strong international publications in high impact journals

·         Experience in working with a larger team

·         Experience of research and extension both at national and international level

·         Strong experience in testing and validating technologies

Preferred

·         Worked in an international organization

·         Experience of writing project proposals

·         Exposure of working in India, Bangladesh and Nepal

·         Experience of working with NARES partners in South Asia

Allowances

·         House-Rent Allowance: IRRI provides a house rent allowance of 40% of base pay per month.

·         Transport Allowance: A monthly transport allowance is provided to NRS as below: NRS L7: INR 5,000

·         Dearness Allowance: One Hundred and Thirteen percent (113%) of employee’s base pay.

·         Leave Travel Allowance (LTA): One-month base pay per annum, on availing minimum 2 days of vacation leave

·         Education Allowance: INR 1000/- per child per month (limited 2 children)

 

For more information and online application click here