(RFP301409) ASSISTANT II - BEAN BREEDER & BIOMETRICIAN, ARUSHA TANZANIA

                                           ASSISTANT II - BEAN BREEDER & BIOMETRICIAN - (INTERNAL & EXTERNAL ADVERT)

THE ORGANIZATION

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives. Alliance solutions address the global crisis of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

About the position

The Assistant II - Bean Breeder & Biometrician is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing bean breeding activities while providing statistical and biometric support for breeding research. The incumbent will design and manage field experiments, oversee breeding populations, analyze and interpret experimental data, and contribute to the development of improved bean varieties using modern plant breeding and statistical methodologies. The position supports evidence-based breeding decisions and the delivery of high-quality research outputs aligned with the objectives of the Bean Breeding Program.

The incumbent responsible for integrating plant breeding and biometrics to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the Bean Breeding Program. The role involves designing and managing breeding trials, developing experimental designs, conducting statistical analyses, interpreting research findings, and providing technical recommendations that support variety development and genetic improvement. The incumbent ensures the generation of accurate, high-quality data to inform breeding decisions and scientific outputs

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Work closely with bean breeders, statisticians, laboratory technicians, greenhouse assistants, field technicians, and research associates to implement breeding activities.
  
• Collaborate with National Agricultural Research Systems universities, seed companies, and development partners.
  
• Provide technical leadership on experimental design, biometrics, data quality assurance, and statistical analysis.
  
• Mentor and supervise field technicians, research assistants, interns, and graduate students involved in breeding research.
  
• Participate in project planning meetings, scientific workshops, donor reviews, and research coordination meetings.
  
• Present breeding progress, statistical analyses, and research findings to internal and external stakeholders.
  
• Design, establish, implement, and manage bean breeding nurseries and multilocation field trials.
  
• Develop appropriate experimental designs and statistical analysis plans for breeding experiments.
  
• Conduct controlled crossing, selection, advancement, and evaluation of breeding populations.
  
• Monitor crop growth, flowering, disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, yield performance, and other agronomic traits.
  
• Develop field books, data collection protocols, and quality assurance procedures.
  
• Collect, validate, clean, manage, and analyse breeding and agronomic datasets appropriate statistical packages.
  
• Interpret statistical outputs and provide recommendations on selection, advancement, and release of breeding materials.
  
• Support genomic, phenotypic, and environmental data integration where applicable.
  
• Ensure accurate documentation, labelling, traceability, and management of breeding materials and research datasets.
  
• Prepare technical reports, donor reports, scientific publications, presentations, and breeding summaries.
  
• Support capacity building of research staff on experimental design, data management, and statistical analysis.
  
• Collaborate with laboratory and greenhouse teams to integrate field, laboratory, and greenhouse research activities.
  
• Ensure compliance with institutional research protocols, biosafety regulations, quality assurance standards, and data management policies.
  
• Contribute to project planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting activities.
  
• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor in support of the Bean Breeding Program
  

Required Qualifications and Experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in Plant Breeding, Crop Science, Agronomy, Genetics, Biometrics, Agricultural Statistics, Data Science (Agriculture), or a closely related discipline. MSC is added advantage 
  
• Additional training in quantitative genetics, experimental design, biometrics, or statistical modeling will be an added advantage.
  
• At least 1-2 of professional experience in plant breeding, agricultural research, biometrics, or crop improvement.
  
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and managing field breeding experiments.
  
• Proven experience in statistical analysis of agricultural research data
  

Technical Competencies

• Knowledge of Greenhouse management practices
  
• Knowledge of Crossing techniques in Beans or similar crops
  
• Ability to identify healthy plants and monitor crop growth
  
• Basic understanding of plant breeding and seed production
  
• Good record-keeping and data collection skills.
  
• Ability to safely handle agricultural equipment and greenhouse tools
  
• Knowledge of Pest and disease identification and management
  
• Strong organizational skills and attention to details.
  
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team
  
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
  
• Physically fit and able to work in greenhouse conditions for extended periods.
  
• Commitment to maintaining high standards of research quality, safety and  environmental stewardship
  

This is a nationally recruited position based at Arusha, Tanzania. The initial contract will be for one year subject to a probation period of three months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources. This position is graded at BG05 level, with a minimum basic salary of  TZS 1,119,045 a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.

The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications

Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference RFP301409 ASSISTANT II - BEAN BREEDER & BIOMETRICIAN as the position applied for. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting. The Alliance collects and process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Applications closing date:19th August 2026

Please note that email applications will not be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:

                                                        http://alliancebioversityciat.org

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