The World Agroforestry Centre, is an international institute headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and founded in 1978. The Centre specializes in the sustainable management, protection and regulation of tropical rainforest and natural reserves.

Overview

To provide technical support to the Scientist/Maize Breeder in charge of line development under Eastern Africa Product Profile 2 (late maturity maize) by managing nurseries at the Kiboko research station and trials at other locations in Kenya.

Duties and responsibilities

Inbred line nursery management.

• Ensure that nurseries are pollinated and harvested according to instructions from the Breeder.
• Ensure shelling of inbred lines is carried out carefully to avoid seed mixtures.

Overseeing of Field experiments.

• Prepare field experiments (trials and nurseries), including trial designs and seed preparation using Fieldbook / Enterprise Breeding System (EBS) according to the breeder’s instructions.
• Generate seed labels and field tags for trial and nursery identification.
• Prepare field maps and planting plans for field trials.
• Manage planting of optimal trials at key locations like Kakamega, Embu, Chorlim, Kimini, and Shikusa in conjunction with external partners like KALRO and Seed Companies.

Data analysis.

• Implement electronic data capture in all the field-testing locations using KDSmart or other appropriate applications to ensure quick turnaround.
• Consolidate data from trials at all locations, examine data for accuracy and analyze the data in a timely manner using various software including EBS and Fieldbook.
• Manage historical data entry into the EBS.
• Assist M.Sc. and Ph.D. students in practical maize breeding and data analysis.

Assist in drafting project reports and manuscripts.

• Assist in preparing tables and figures from research results for project reports and draft manuscripts.

 Training and Supervision of casual labor.

• Provide training and backstopping services especially with Fieldbook and data analysis to NARS and seed company partners.
• Supervise contract in data taking according to instructions in trials under both optimum and managed stress conditions.

Seed Processing and Storage

• Coordinate seed processing and shipment with different partners, both internally and externally.
• Manage cold storage facilities by consolidating germplasm inventories and developing SOPs.
• In consultation with Scientist identify germplasm that require seed increase.

Requirements

• Master of Science degree in Plant Breeding
• 2-3 years’ experience in plant breeding or seed systems
• Knowledge of MS Office Applications.
• Valid driving license is a must.
• Maintain the farm roads clean by using mowers and shredders.

Requirements

• Diploma in agricultural machine operation or equivalent
• At least 5 years of experience in the agriculture, floriculture, and/or horticulture industries.
• Holder of a valid driving license.