Senior Associate Scientist - Market and Business Development

Job ID: HQ01291

About IRRI:

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research, and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.

Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.

Job Purpose

As part of one CGIAR initiative, IRRI is partnering with other CGIAR institutes such as CIMMYT, IFPRI, CIP and IWMI in implementing a large project on ‘Transforming Agri-Food Systems in South Asia’ (TAFSSA)”, the One CGIAR South Asia Regional Integrated Initiative.  Working across South Asia, TAFSSA will deliver a coordinated program of research and engagement across the food production-to-consumption continuum to improve equitable access to sustainable healthy diets, improve farmer livelihoods and resilience, and conserve land, air, and groundwater resources.

This position will focus on establishing a strong network with key market players and creating or improving market linkages and business development support. This includes understanding the market / business related issues, and potential opportunities of supporting farmers in market linkages and business development of targeted agri-food systems. The specific duties of the position include implementing project activities in the country and building a strong network of key stakeholders, coordinating, and organizing market linkage workshops, supporting business development in agri-food systems, coordinating, and implementing market experiments, surveys and other project activities.

This position will be based at the IRRI Country Office Bangladesh and may only be filled by permanent citizens of Bangladesh.
 
Roles and Responsibilities

• Develop, manage, and oversee implementation of strategies independently in accordance with agreed objectives, outputs, and timelines as reflected in approved impact pathway documents
• Develop and maintain partnerships with various public and private stakeholders in involved in agricultural marketing systems
• Support business development through innovative ways of involving both public and private sectors
• Facilitate the development of market feasibility studies and impact assessments in collaboration with key stakeholders
• Plan and manage the implementation of project activities and research/research support service activities
• Identify the market and value chain inefficiencies and issues of targeted agri-food systems
• Manage and coordination with stakeholders
• Coordinate and organize business development workshops to link farmers and other actors to the appropriate markets in increasing their income
• Coordinate market and value chain activities in the country and support the project lead in developing, monitoring, and implementing work plans
• Steer and provide strategic direction to producers, aggregators and other actors for local aggregation and marketing of the product
• Participate in Institute wide activities and represent IRRI in events/ meetings
• Collaborate and consult with key stakeholders of the project in integration and execution of project activities
• Build strong network of different actors in the agri-value chain for business development in Bangladesh
• Contribute towards reducing inefficiencies in the existing value chains and creating new value chains wherever necessary
• Coordinate and organize training and awareness creation programs with necessary resources
• Promote business development of agricultural produce to increase farmers income through various approaches
• Review, monitor and manage expenditure/disbursements of the activities assigned to and manage and monitor expenditures of partners and liaison with IRRI financial office to ensure adequate financial activities showcasing the institute’s scientific leadership
• Documentation of successful cases of business development along with challenges and reasons for failure of other/existing cases
• Organize and coordinate market linkage workshops / trade fairs  
• Advice internal stakeholders on the market and business-related aspects
  Scaling out success stories/cases
• Prepare reports and communications materials
• Perform any other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor from time to time

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Business Management / Marketing or relevant subject area
• Experience in Agricultural Business Development for at least 10-12 years 

Skills Required

• Extensive proven networking in marketing and business field of agri-food systems
• Strong collaboration skill and experience in creating long-term partnerships
• Proven proficiency in sustainability management aspects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent leadership skills
• Proficiency in bringing new approaches and imparting/organizing skill development and awareness programs
• Experience of working in an international organization / MNCs (Multinational Companies)
• Exposure of working across different agri-food systems and location of Bangladesh

Salary Ranges: Basic BDT (90,583- 165, 917)/ per month

Apply Instruction

Interested & eligible candidates are requested to submit their application through the link:
IRRI regrets that only shortlisted applicants will be notified and any kind of persuasion in the selection process will lead to cancellation of candidature. Join Us to Deliver Rice Science for a Better World. Join Us to Deliver Rice Science for a Better World.

IRRI is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: 15 June, 2022