The IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) serves as a regional hub supporting collaborative research, capacity building, and service provision for stakeholders from India, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. ISARC aims to enhance South- South cooperation, strengthen rice production and seed quality, increase farmers’ incomes, deliver research services through its advanced laboratory facilities, and facilitate knowledge transfer through short courses and IRRI Education offerings.
The World Bank-supported UPAGREES project aims to enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen rural enterprises, and improve market access in 21 districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh by promoting resilient agri-food value chains, empowering farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and encouraging private sector participation. As part of this initiative, the IRRI South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) will collaborate with the Uttar Pradesh Diversified Agriculture Support Project (UPDASP) and its Project Coordination Unit (PCU) to provide technical support for interventions in rice-based systems, while a designated Support Organization (SO) will coordinate on-ground implementation, including demonstrations and trainings.
Under the minimal direction of the Scientist-II Cropping Systems Agronomy and Resident Coordinator, the successful candidate will coordinate the activities on participatory science and technology evaluations and scaling of sustainable intensification technologies including direct seeded rice and zero-tillage wheat systems. Contribute to and lead the research activities of various projects at ISARC in collaboration with NARES partners by conceptualizing, planning, and conducting research studies at NARES sites 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. He/she will also lead the new proposal writings and implementation of activities in relation to agronomy, soil and water management across the South Asia. He/she will Extend knowledge and provide technical back-stopping in the “Training and other extension Activities” on sustainable intensification technologies including DSR and Zero tillage wheat systems in ISARC. Responsible for preparing technical literature and training modules, developing and organize ToTs and hands'-on -training, workshops, meetings and other platforms for knowledge sharing on key agricultural technologies/ interventions.
Responsibilities:
Independently develop, manage, and oversee implementation of strategies in accordance with agreed objectives, outputs, and timelines as reflected in approved impact pathway documents.
Plan and manage the implementation of research/research-support service activities in collaboration with NARES partners.
Develop and manage the agronomic research and development activities in Uttar Pradesh under the UPAGREES project.
Manage and guide the implementation of research-support activities to ensure timely data collection, management, analysis and dissemination of results and information.
Finalize draft reports for submission to supervisor and stakeholders, and technical literature to disseminate results.
Contribute to publishing and actively contribute to articles in peer-reviewed journals/digests that highlight findings from research and experimental activities showcasing the Institute’s scientific leadership.
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 reporting.
Develop and maintain partnerships with various stakeholders including NARES partners, to implement activities of KERA project.
Contribute to developing and maintaining partnerships with project partners for successful implementation of research and scaling activities of agronomy.
Provide strategic direction to NARES partners and to coordinate the activities for increasing the capacity of these partners in line with ISARC objectives.
Participate in Institute wide activities and represent IRRI at various meetings or events.
Promote the dissemination of findings through workshops and popular communication channels.
Consolidate/synthesize and finalize reports for submission to donors / partners and other stakeholders.
Prepare new proposals on agronomy, soil and water management for various funders.
Contribute to 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.
Contribute/Lead in journal articles on sustainable intensifications in rice, various crop establishment methods and water management and soil amendments and best bet agronomy 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 Agronomy or Soil Science
Minimum of 5 years of overall relevant experience in agriculture research, precision agronomy, Direct Seeded Rice, Project or Program Coordination, rice science or related field
Skills Required:
Mandatory
Has extensive proven technical proficiency in conducting research experiments/surveys/scaling of DSR technology
Has extensive Research management experience
Has strong collaboration skills and has experience in creating long-term partnerships
Has excellent leadership skills Has excellent analytical skills
Has excellent oral, written communication and interpersonal skills
Has strong international publications in high impact journals
Has experience of working with a larger team
Experience of research and extension both at national and international level
Strong experience in testing and validating technologies
