3 Job Opportunities at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

3 Job Opportunities at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) 

POSITIONS ANNOUNCEMENT

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

IITA is looking for a suitably qualified person to fill the following positions to support the IITA banana project that will be based at the IITA Office at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NMAIST) in Kijenge, Arusha.

REF: IITA-TZ18-R4D-001-NRS-AR

Position: FIELD ASSISTANT 

Responsibilities
The Field Assistant will perform the following duties, among others:
• Pollinate banana bunches
• Extract banana seeds
• Design, plant and maintain banana fields (irrigation, manuring, pest cide application, ...)
• Supervise casual labourers working in the field
• Oversee bunch harvesting, ripening and seed extraction
• Ensure timely delivery of seeds to the tissue culture lab
• Describe banana varieties
• Transplant in vitro plants into the nursery and maintain the nursery
• Maintain excellent breeding records
• Report findings orally and in writing
• Be responsible for the maintenance of field equipment
• Maintain stocks of chemicals for field research
• Assist administration for import and export of plant material
• Other official duties as assigned by the banana breeder

Required Qualifications / Experience 

• BSc in Agronomy or Plant Pathology or Plant Physiology or Breeding or related discipline with at least 1 years' experience 
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision, but also participate as a team member in accomplishment of duties.
• Strong attention to detail 
• A positive attitude 
• Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills in English 
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment. 
• The ability to work independently and as a team member; 

REF: IITA-TZ18-R4D-002-NRS-AR

Position: LABORATORY TECHNICIAN 

Responsibilities 
The Laboratory Technician will perform the following duties among others:

• Sampling suckers and shoot tips of banana plants 
• In vitro multiplication and regeneration of banana plants 
• Embryo rescue and germination of embryos/ seeds 
• Prepare in-vitro media (stock solutions and working media) 
•  Chromosome doubling of diploid banana varieties
• Transplant in vitro plants into the nursery and maintain the nursery 
• Process imported plant material 
• Maintain excellent lab and nursery records 
• Be responsible for the maintenance of lab equipment 
• Keep the laboratory operations aseptically clean 
• Stock control by tracking the use of the lab consumables and supplies 
• Assist the field assistant in planting in-vitro plants 
•  Report findings orally and in writing 
• Other official duties as assigned by the banana breeder 

Required Qualifications / Experience 

• The candidate should have a BSc in Molecular Biology / Biotechnology / Agriculture or related field. 
• Preferably work experience in agricultural sciences or other research environment 
• Familiarity with general laboratory working procedures 
• Flexibility. reliability, honesty and independence 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in both English and Kiswahili 
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment. 
• The ability to work independently and as a team member 

REF: IITA-TZ18-R4D-003-NRS-AR

Position: Driver/Field Assistant 

Responsibilities 
Driver/Field Assistant will perform the following duties among others:

• Keep vehicle clean 
• Operate vehicle in safe and courteous manner and always follow road safety standards 
• Regularly inspect the vehicle and regularly take it for general maintenance services as specified in the manufacture's manual in order to keep the vehicle in good condition 
• Advise project manager or administrative assistant and staff in due course on minor or major repairs as soon as problem is detected 
• Take vehicle for routine servicing as specified in the manual and in case it is necessary with approval
• Drive Official vehicles as assigned in a safe and courteous manner at all times using defensive driving techniques 
• Assist in the delivery of mail, equipment, supplies, documents to partners and other institutions as required 
• Update the vehicle logbook on a daily basis with the trips undertaken indicating start and end kms, the trip description and the responsible officer 
• Liaise regularly with staff, project manager and administrative officer on weekly activities 
• Assist in any other activities as needed 

Professional Requirements 

• The candidates must possess at least category C driving license 
• At least completed secondary school education 
• Must possess at least a form four certificate 
• Excellent written and spoken Kiswahili and English 
• Prior experience driving 4X4 vehicles in city streets and rural rough roads in Tanzania will be appreciated 
• Mechanical experience will be an added advantage 

General Information: 
The initial period for this position is one and half years with possibility of renewal. This is a nationally recruited position and IITA offers a competitive remuneration package.

Applications: 
Applications including curriculum vitae, copies of certificates. telephone number, email address. and names and addresses of two referees should be sent to the
Country Representative,
IITA-Tanzania, 
Plot No. 25. Mwenge - Coca-Cola Road. Mikocheni Industrial Area 
P.O. Box 34441, 
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania 
or by email to: IITA-Tanzania@cgiar.org

Applicants are requested to please indicate the reference number for the position as indicated on the heading of the announcement in your application as well as on the subject of your email if sending by email. If sending by post or hand delivery, please indicate the reference number on your application as well as on the left hand side of your envelope. Please note that any applications without the reference number indicated will be automatically disqualified.

Closing date:
Two weeks from the date of advertisement appearing in the newspaper. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Source: Mwananchi April 13, 2018