Research Technician - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. 

To find out more about IITA, visit our websites at http://www.iita.org.

Job Description

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA is a member of the CGIAR Consortium

Terms of appointment: This is Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position. Initial appointment is fixed term for two years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding.

The position

IITA is recruiting for a Research Technician position for an on-going donor-funded project across Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. The successful candidate will work as a member of a team of research and development partners working with National Research Institutions, Cocoa buying companies, community-based organizations and farmers in Ghana.

Main Duties

• Ensure the correct establishment and implementation of research trials according to the agreed protocols
• Provide technical support to partners’ Field Technicians leading implementation of Satellite Trials

• Support partner Field Technicians in data collection and management from the on-station and on-farm research activities
• Support the development of data collection tools (by providing feedback on use of existing tools) for on-station and on-farm research activities
• Work with research and development partners working with National Research Institutions, Cocoa buying companies, community-based organizations and farmers in implementing CocoaSoils related research activities
• Contribute to the development and review of research protocols for on-station and on-farm research design and implementation through field feedback
• Contribute to the identification and selection of farmers and cocoa fields for on-farm research
• Facilitate data collection and management from the on-station and on-farm research activities (focusing on the Satellite Trials)
• Assist in validating and communicating research results to stakeholders in the cocoa sector
• Develop work plans and budgets for field related activities on CocoaSoils
• Provide technical support for on-farm research activities of student/interns working on cocoa
• Produce reports on field activities and observations from field visits
• Reports to the Project Research Assistant

Duty Station: Accra with consistent field work travels to project sites across the cocoa growing belt of Ghana.

Required Skills or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Agriculture from a recognized University.
• At least 2-3 years relevant experience in on-farming research for development activities on cocoa.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability in undertaking research-for-development activities
• Demonstrated ability in working with development partners to disseminate cocoa recommendations
• Good writing and verbal communication skills in English and other local languages in Ghana (if applicable).
• Good team player and adaptable to working with private companies and in multicultural environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills especially in local environment.
• Good knowledge of the cocoa sector key actors in Ghana is an advantage.