About One Acre Fund
Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund supplies 1 million smallholder farmers with the agricultural services they need to make their farms vastly more productive. Our 8,000+ team is drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. With operations across six core countries in Africa, we make farmers more prosperous by providing quality farm supplies on credit, delivered within walking distance of farmers’ homes, and agricultural training to improve harvests. On average, the farmers we serve harvest 50 percent more food after working with One Acre Fund.
To learn more about our work, take a look at our Why Work Here blog for more information.
About the Role
The Farm Coordinator plays a important role in achieving the Seed Center's objectives at RICA. You will facilitate the on-station and on-farm trials, specifically DUS and VCU, and ensuring the seamless operation of daily research activities within the seed center. You will ensure the accurate execution of these trials, contributing to the success of the Seed Center's mission.
You will collaborate with our Seed Product and Agronomy Specialist and Seed Innovation Lead to develop and implement strategies aimed at upholding rigorous research standards. You will directly report to the Seed Product and Agronomy Specialist and you will manage 2-3 direct reports and some casuals.
Responsibilities
- Trial design and management
- Plan, oversee on-station and on-farm trials (DUS and VCU trials), including daily operations at the research station to ensure accurate trial implementation.
- Lead low complexity research projects involving trial design, trial follow up, data analysis, and report writing.
- Oversee research trials for follow-up and data quality control, aiming to attain validated research data.
- Plan a weekly trial activities and ensure the necessary logistics (protocols, personnel) are prepared and in place
- Ensure that all trial management tools (datasheet, multi harvest sheet, …) are updated.
- Manage input procurement for on-station and on-farm trials, and create equipment specifications essential for research operations.
- Work with seed production in charge on the designed projects to ensure correct implementation, review datasheets and protocols, and facilitate communication.
- Data collection and analysis
- Oversee trial data collection, ensuring accuracy,documentation of any unusual occurences and upload to the database
- Verify data filtering and cleaning for each trial, generate preliminary PIVOT table analysis, interpret results, and prepare research reports
- Team and people management
- Manage the station team, which comprises junior staff, interns, and casuals employees by providing technical supervision, support team morale and ensuring the team understands the workplace codes.
- Enhance the autonomy of station officers in field management and educate them on trial principles and recognizing data biases.
- Manage Station Assets, Infrastructure, and Inventory
- Ensure management of material inventory, infrastructure upkeep, research equipment maintenance, planting and harvesting, and formulation of station efficiency strategies.
- Ensure accurate tracking, recording, and storage of trial produce during harvesting to prevent any potential damage.
- Ensure that the station material that needs to be disposed is recorded and well disposed and prompt reporting of infrastructure that require renewal
- Others
- Ensure adherence to safety and environmental regulations.
- Undertake other duties as assigned by the senior manager and support other teams
Career Growth and Development
We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.
Qualifications
Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:
- 2+ years relevant work experience in Agronomy, Crop Science or related fields
- Minimum of a diploma in the relevant educational field such as agronomy and crop science.
- Agriculture knowledge:
- Understanding of agricultural principles, agricultural design practices and crop production techniques/methods, knowledge of multiple crop types and their growth cycles and specialized prerequisites for trials, having knowledge in conducting DUS and VCU trials.
- Research design process, establishment and management of crop field trials, planning, field logistics and supervision.
- Experience in people and team management with patience, and a commitment to service excellence.
- Experience dealing with a range of stakeholders including farmers and our partners.
- Knowledge on plant data collection, simple data analysis using google sheets and report writing.
- Language: Fluent in English and Kinyarwanda (required)
Preferred Start Date
As soon as possible
Job Location
Bugesera at RICA, Rwanda (on-site)
Benefits
Health insurance, paid time off
Eligibility
This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Rwanda
Application Deadline
May 5 2024
One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
