Oversee and execute a comprehensive range of duties encompassing strategic planning, operational coordination, and stakeholder engagement to ensure organizational objectives are met efficiently and in alignment with established goals. Manage daily workflows, prioritize tasks, and allocate resources judiciously to maintain productivity and achieve key performance indicators. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to foster innovation, streamline processes, and enhance overall performance. Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices to uphold compliance, mitigate risks, and drive continuous improvement within the organization. Serve as a liaison between departments, senior management, and external partners to facilitate seamless communication, resolve conflicts, and ensure alignment with overarching business strategies.
The successful candidate will drive the evolution of local innovation ecosystems into dynamic knowledge hubs, working in close partnership with youth, private sector representatives, government officials, policymakers, and allied stakeholders to foster collaborative progress.
Digital and AI-powered innovations are revolutionizing smallholder agricultural systems by enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. These advancements integrate cutting-edge technologies, such as machine learning, IoT sensors, and data analytics, to optimize resource management, improve crop yields, and streamline supply chains. Professionals in this field are tasked with developing scalable solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by small-scale farmers, including limited access to capital, climate variability, and market inefficiencies. Key responsibilities involve designing AI-driven tools, conducting field research, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and ensuring inclusive adoption of these technologies among rural communities. Ideal candidates possess expertise in agricultural science, data science, or related disciplines, along with strong problem-solving skills and a commitment to sustainable development.
Lead the collaborative design and development of socio-ecological systems in partnership with smallholder farmers, pastoralists, youth organizations, extension services, governments, and private sector stakeholders, harnessing advancements in precision agriculture, digital technologies, and AI-driven solutions.
Promote the conscientious, equitable, and ethical deployment of data, AI, and automation, with a steadfast commitment to gender equity, youth engagement, data sovereignty, and environmental sustainability.
Design and implement cutting-edge applications of remote sensing, IoT, edge computing, machine learning, and decision-support systems specifically adapted to farming environments characterized by limited connectivity and constrained resources.
Develop strategic public-private collaborations, digital public infrastructure, and institutional advancements to facilitate sustainable and equitable value generation through digital and AI technologies.
Develop, execute, and enhance digital platforms—including climate data systems, financial services, insurance solutions, and connections along market-input-value chains—to deliver integrated technical and market interventions. These solutions are designed to reduce risks in agriculture and pastoral systems while fostering youth employment opportunities that are meaningful and empowering.
Enhance the contribution of digital public infrastructure, open science, open data, and pre-competitive collaboration and products to foster agricultural development across diverse regions, with a specific focus on smallholder-oriented contractual agriculture.
Research dissemination and knowledge sharing involve effectively communicating findings to relevant stakeholders, ensuring that insights are accessible and actionable. This process requires the ability to translate complex data into clear, concise messages tailored to diverse audiences. Responsibilities include identifying key stakeholders, selecting appropriate dissemination channels, and creating engaging content such as reports, presentations, and multimedia materials. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential, along with expertise in data visualization and storytelling techniques. Collaboration with cross-functional teams is often necessary to align messaging with organizational goals and ensure consistency across platforms. Additionally, staying updated on emerging trends in research communication and digital tools can enhance the impact and reach of shared knowledge.
Prepare and submit scholarly articles to esteemed academic journals, enhancing INRI’s repository of research on digital advancements and AI-driven solutions in the realms of agriculture and livestock systems.
At conferences, workshops, and training sessions, you will represent INRI to present research findings, champion INRI’s expertise, and position the organization as a leading authority in the field.
Develop and enhance blogs, communication materials, and policy briefs designed to advocate for the ethical use of digital innovations and machine-augmented intelligence.
We cultivate strategic alliances by identifying and engaging with potential partners who align with our organizational objectives. This role requires a keen ability to negotiate mutually beneficial agreements, ensuring both parties derive value from the collaboration. Key responsibilities include assessing partnership opportunities, developing proposals, and maintaining ongoing communication to foster long-term relationships. Strong interpersonal skills, a results-driven mindset, and proficiency in relationship management are essential for success in this position.
Forged strategic alliances with adtech and fintech firms, youth organizations, financial and academic institutions, mobile network operators, policymakers, fellow CGIAR centers, NGOs, and investors to design, develop, and deploy digital innovations and machine-augmented intelligence solutions tailored to smallholder agriculture and livestock systems.
Harness strategic partnerships through South-South and North-South collaborations, while cultivating robust connections with esteemed institutions to deploy artificial intelligence’s transformative potential in addressing persistent development challenges within intricate smallholder systems.
Act as a knowledge broker, fostering strategic connections within the innovation ecosystem to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Lead and/or collaborate on initiatives to craft project plans, business cases, cost analyses, and other essential documentation aimed at driving the optimization of new digital tool development, enhancement, and maintenance efforts.
Contribute proactively to fundraising initiatives aligned with INRI and CGIAR priorities, with a focus on precision agriculture, digital innovations, and machine-augmented intelligence, especially targeting private capital sources.
We are seeking to enhance organizational capabilities through structured mentorship and targeted capacity-building initiatives. This role involves developing and implementing programs designed to strengthen team competencies, fostering professional growth, and ensuring sustainable skill enhancement across departments. The position requires a proactive approach to identifying training needs, designing tailored development strategies, and providing ongoing guidance to support long-term career progression. Strong interpersonal skills, a commitment to continuous learning, and experience in mentorship or training are essential for success in this role.
In collaboration with diverse stakeholders, develop and implement training and capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing the development and maintenance of digital platforms within target countries.
Co-provide guidance and mentorship to doctoral and master’s candidates engaged in pertinent research areas.
Provide guidance and assistance to research technicians engaged in collecting field data, analyzing results, and sharing conclusions with stakeholders.
Requirements
A PhD in agriculture, environmental sciences, computer science, or geospatial sciences, coupled with more than seven years of hands-on experience in technical project and program management, is required. Additionally, the ideal candidate will demonstrate a proven track record in leading the development of solution architectures for large, complex distributed systems.
Experience in technical management positions is advantageous, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Demonstrated expertise in creating, implementing, and delivering digital innovations and machine-augmented intelligence solutions tailored for crop-livestock and pastoral systems is essential. Familiarity with Generative AI and computational social sciences is advantageous.
Demonstrated expertise in authoring and publishing scholarly papers, alongside a proven ability to develop and deliver presentations for academic conferences, professional workshops, and key stakeholder meetings.
Proven expertise in developing communication materials—including research papers and policy briefs—that examine both the opportunities and challenges associated with the digitalization of agricultural and livestock systems.
Professionals should possess a strong background in grant and proposal development, fostering donor relations, and strategically engaging stakeholders to secure resources that advance INRI’s objectives.
With a proven track record of working effectively within cross-disciplinary research teams, this role requires the ability to engage collaboratively across diverse fields, including climate science, livestock productivity, crop and soil management, socioeconomic, and gender studies, while ensuring clear and comprehensive dissemination of findings.
Demonstrated expertise in jointly guiding students and mentoring research technicians engaged in data collection, field studies, and analytical processes.
Proficient in resource-constrained, smallholder agricultural systems in developing countries, with a strong emphasis on semi-arid and tropical environments, and expertise in climate adaptation and resilience strategies.
Required is relevant prior work experience in Africa and/or Asia, along with a proven grasp of the agricultural and environmental landscapes in these regions.
Candidates with a proven track record of actively collaborating or prior engagement with private sector organizations—along with a solid grasp of their business models and operational approaches—will be viewed favorably.
Fluency in both English and French is essential, with proficiency in African languages serving as an additional benefit.
Qualifications
PhD/Fellowship
Experience Required
7 years
