Organization: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Country: Zimbabwe Field location: Mwenezi Office: CIMMYT in Mwenezi
We are in search of a highly skilled and motivated candidate for the position of Assistant Research Associate – Mechanization, to be based in Mwenezi, Zimbabwe (or other working districts). This nationally recruited position is open to all Zimbabweans with outstanding academic records and relevant experiences. The role involves supporting the field implementation of a mechanization project, developing work plans, guiding and supporting project staff and partners, and ensuring project goals are achieved. The incumbent will be responsible for communicating and liaising with partners, collecting and analyzing mechanization research and business data, and preparing reports, publications, and presentations.
Duties and Responsibilities
-Establish mechanization and irrigation service providers in the project areas in partnership with public and private sector collaborators. -Provide technical support to mechanization and irrigation service providers, and collect and process their mechanization business/income, expenditure, and repair and maintenance data. -Establish and monitor on-farm mechanization and irrigation trials/demonstrations following protocols and collecting and organizing machinery, soil, and agronomic data as instructed. -Organize awareness meetings, field days, fairs, and other promotional activities in partnership with project collaborators. -Assess new and existing farm machinery and other technologies, collect user feedback, prepare reports, and improve machinery in partnership with local manufacturers. -Support local manufacturers (manufacturing machinery or spares) and local machinery and spare part dealers at the project district. -Develop training curricula and train farmers, mechanization service providers, manufacturers, dealers, NGO staff, and other partners on the operation, repair, troubleshooting, maintenance, and fabrication of farm machinery and irrigation equipment. -Provide technical support to the service providers, record their machinery problems, and develop solutions in partnership with local manufacturers and machinery suppliers. -Support the preparation of technical bulletins, leaflets, and other promotional materials. -Assist in implementing mechanization research and field activities.
Qualifications and Experience
-BSc in Agricultural Engineering with a minimum of three years of work experience in smallholder mechanization projects, or MS in Farm Machinery/Mechanization, or related field with one year of relevant work experience in smallholder mechanization projects. -Experience in establishing and monitoring research experiments involving two-wheel tractor-operated seeders, rippers, boom sprayers, multi-crop threshers, and other smallholder machines. -Experience with public-private partnerships in the mechanization value chain would be an added advantage. -Demonstrate familiarity with smallholder agricultural machinery operations, troubleshooting, and delivery issues in Zimbabwe. -Hands-on experience in developing training modules and conducting training programs on smallholder machinery. -Good written and verbal communication skills in English are essential. -Candidates must possess both class 3 and class 4 valid driving licenses. -The selected candidate must demonstrate interpersonal skills, teamwork, communication, client orientation, and the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
How to Apply
Screening and follow-up of applications will begin on Wednesday, 23 January 2024. Applications must include a CV. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
