Regional Leader - Sub-Saharan Africa - Ref: 09-17/RL/IRS/SSA

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research organization with a global mandate to conduct research on potatoes, sweetpotatoes, Andean root and tuber crops, and sustainable management of natural resources. CIP’s vision is to contribute from its areas of expertise to the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular those goals that relate to poverty, hunger, child and maternal mortality, and sustainable development. CIP has its headquarters in Lima, Peru with staff and activities in locations across Africa, Asia and Latin America. CIP is a member of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, a network of 15 research centers mostly located in the developing world and supported by more than 60 donor members.

The Region: CIP Sub-Saharan Africa main regional office is in Nairobi, Kenya. However, the region is served by a diverse team of scientists based throughout east, south and west Africa, and supported by CIP scientists based elsewhere in the world. Potato and sweetpotato are growing rapidly in importance in the region. Many technological and institutional challenges remain to be resolved at the country and regional level in order for the crops to contribute to their full potential as a vehicle for Africans to reach the MDGs.

The Position: The role of the Regional Leader recognizes CIP’s decentralized and team-oriented organizational structure. The Regional Leader will provide overall management and coordination for all CIP programs and personnel in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Regional Leader is CIP’s representative with other CG centers in the region, and with partner organizations; as well the Leader provides support to CIP scientists in dealings with national research organizations and government ministries throughout the region. The Regional Leader is also a member of CIP’s Program Committee, and as such plays an important role in advising on the research program, and in ensuring coordination of regional activities within the annual cycle of research planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation. The Regional Leader has overall responsibility for all administrative and budget activities in the region, and plays a key role in resource mobilization and developing funding proposals for new contracts.  There is extensive local travel within SSA and travel to other regions of the world.

The successful candidate will have:

• PhD in agriculture, agricultural economics or related discipline;
• Minimum 10 years’ research experience, preferably in potato agronomy or seeds systems research, and preferably some of which should have been gained working in Africa;
• Considerable management experience;
• Solid record of publications and citations;
• Record of successful resource mobilization;
• Aptitude for teamwork, leadership, resource mobilization and communications;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required. Good working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be preferred;
• Willingness to travel extensively.

Conditions: The employment contract will be for a three-year term with the possibility of renewal. CIP offers a range of benefits for this position in addition to exoneration from local income tax.

Applications:  Applicants should apply by email, sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full C.V. and the names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to Ms. Rosario Marcovich at cip-recruitment@cgiar.org. The reference name of the position should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message. Screening of applications will begin on September 3, 2009 and will continue until the post is filled.

CIP seeks diversity and gender balance in its staff. Women and citizens of developing countries are particularly urged to apply. To learn more about CIP please visit http://www.cipotato.org/cip/jobs.asp