Job Description

CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow's problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security and improving natural resources.

For more information, visit cimmyt.org

Objective of the Post

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated candidate for the position of Assistant Research Associate to be based in our Southern Africa Office in Harare, Zimbabwe. This is a nationally recruited position and is open to all Zimbabweans with excellent academic records. This position will support field, greenhouse and laboratory activities to ensure the efficient execution of breeding pipelines and product advancement. The position holder will provide technical and operational support in maize product development activities, including trial establishment, data collection, nursery management, seed handling, ensuring high quality and timely delivery of maize breeding targets and outputs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Nursery and Crossing Activities

• Assist in nursery establishment and maintenance (inbred lines, DH lines, single crosses and three-way hybrid formation).
• Hands on management and support of teams in controlled pollinations (selfing, crossing, tagging)
• Maintain proper labelling and documentation of breeding materials

2. Field Trial Management

• Assist in the establishment, management, and harvesting of maize trials across multiple locations in the Southern Africa region.
• Support land preparation, planting, fertilizer application, irrigation scheduling, and general management from planting through harvesting to data capture.
• Ensure adherence to experimental designs and protocols

3. Data Collection and Management

• Collect accurate phenotypic data (e.g., emergence, flowering, plant height, yield, disease scores).
• Support digital data capture using field data collection tools (e.g., tablets, fieldbook).
• Assist in data cleaning, validation, and preliminary summaries using EBS.

4. Seed Processing and Inventory

• Support harvesting, shelling, drying, seed treatment, and storage.
• Maintain accurate seed inventory records and labeling systems.
• Prepare seed packs for trials and nurseries.

5. Logistics and Operations

• People and process management of all field activities across sites.
• Monitor inputs, equipment, and materials required for field operations.
• Ensure compliance with safety and operational guidelines.

6. Reporting and Documentation

• Maintain field books, trial maps, and activity records.
• Contribute to routine progress reports and summaries.
• Document deviations and field observations clearly.
• Any other duties that may be allocated by the supervisor

Requirements

• MSc in Plant Breeding, Seed Systems or related field
• Clean Class 4 Drivers Licence and a valid Defensive Driving Certificate.
• At least 3 years’ relevant working experience in agricultural research or field operations (maize breeding experience will be an added advantage).
• Basic understanding of plant breeding principles
• Experience with field trail management and data collection
• Familiarity with digital data collection tools is an added advantage
• Knowledge of data handling tools and programs e.g. EBS for data uploading and cleaning
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work under field conditions and meet deadlines.
• The selected candidate must be able to demonstrate the following competencies: good communication, teamwork and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Benefits

• Private Health Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Training & Development