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
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
