Agriculture Research & Partnerships 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

You'll report to the Global Director of R&D, and work within the Global Impact team, which combines agronomy, data science, qualitative research, and SBC skillsets. The team coordinates an R&D program spanning several countries, makes recommendations to country programs on how the products and recommendations we offer to farmers can be improved, and then supports them in delivering those recommendations to farmers through multiple channels, working in collaboration with other global teams with specialist skills for example in communications, design, video, etc. 

Responsibilities

• Research strategy - You will design and support teams in implementing efficient projects to evaluate the impact of new agricultural products, recommendations, or information/advisory services. This will include selecting experimental approaches to balance the need to evaluate impact, scalability, and usability.
• Spatial and temporal optimization of agronomic guidance - You will ensure farmers receive agronomic recommendations tailored to their capacity, location, and evolving season conditions (e.g., variety selection, seeding rate, fertilizer composition, rate, and application timing). 
• Technical communication - You will analyze and synthesize data & insights from internal and external sources, using your scientific knowledge to translate complex technical concepts into concise & compelling communication tailored to a range of audiences (e.g. smallholder farmers, internal leadership teams, government officials)
• Knowledge exchange - You will participate in two-way information sharing with a range of partners (e.g. universities, CGIAR, NARES, seed companies, donors, and governments) to share outputs and priorities emerging from our operations and research and ensure we are well-positioned to capitalize on new learning and priorities arising elsewhere.

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:

• Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Plant Science, Soil Science, or related field. Advanced degree (MSc/Ph.D.) preferred.
• Expertise in at least two of (a) fertilizer formulation & evaluation, (b) soil carbon dynamics (c) crop physiology and GxExM interactions, (d) systems agronomy
• 5+ years' experience in research and extension with a focus on smallholder agriculture in the tropics
• Strong research skills with the ability to conduct literature reviews, synthesis of complex information, and data analysis (proficiency in R preferred).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information into concise and compelling content.
• Experience with creating a variety of content types, including white papers, case studies, blogs, and digital media.
• Familiarity with agricultural R&D processes, experimental design, and data interpretation.
• English required. French, Swahili, Kinyarwanda preferred.

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Kigali, Rwanda or Nairobi, Kenya

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

19 August 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.