Seed Industry Training Manager

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

Over the next 5 years, you will support Rwandan led seed companies to grow to reach their full potential through support with their professional capacity building and development of new seed products.

The contribution to the development of the Rwandan seed industry will contribute to millions of dollars of additional impact for small holders through greater access to improved seed products.

The Seed Industry Technical Trainer will provide technical and professional support to seed companies to grow to full potential which will ultimately create a vibrant and sustainable Rwanda’s Seed sector, which will eventually impact small holders through greater access to improved seed products.

We are looking for at least a 5-years experienced, dynamic, service-oriented professional for the position of Seed Industry Technical Trainer to be part of an exciting team at the Seed Innovation Centre which will be located at the Rwanda Institute of Conservation Agriculture (RICA) in Bugesera, Rwanda.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Seed Innovation Centre Lead, you will lead training on seed production technology and coordinate training activities for the seed professional course.
• Coordinate seed production, and variety trials and establishment of research fields for educational programs for the seed professionals.
• You will support the development and running of the professional course with the aim of producing graduates with world-class skills in plant variety development and breeding, seed research, seed production and quality control.
• You will provide strategic and technical support to Rwanda’s seed sector  for the development of at least one seed scheme according to UPOV standards to push for OECD membership in the next 3-5 years and support ISTA accreditation of the seed testing laboratory at RICA-Campus. 
• Develop and update tracker for all training and student research projects.

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:

• Multinational high-end seed company experience: 5+ years experience at large, R&D driven multinational seed company, ideally on the African continent companies. 
• Scale Field Production of Certified Seed Crops This experience should be directly managing field seed production, inspection and certification at scale of multiple seed crops. 
• Regulatory seed system experience: you must have operated in a country which strongly conforms to OECD, ISTA and UPOV standards and have solid working knowledge of these regulatory systems- and be ready to impart this knowledge to trainees and growing seed companies in Rwanda. 
• Academic qualification: Master’s degree or 7+ years experience in plant breeding and genetics, seed science technology, agronomy or related subject.
• Demonstrated experience in seed industry technical training with any public or private institution. 
• Language: English is required 

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Bugesera, Rwanda

Benefits

Health insurance, housing, and comprehensive benefits

Eligibility

One Acre Fund can support a work permit for this role. However, nationals of (or those with an extensive professional background and work history in) our countries of operation are preferred.

Application Deadline

18 May 2023

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.