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Global Research Program Director – Accelerated Crop Improvement

  • Company

    ICRISAT - The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics

  • Location

    Patancheru Hyderabad

  • Employment Type

    Full-Time

  • Functional Category

    Research & Knowledge Management

  • Experience

    20 - 27 years

  • Date Posted

    12-Aug-2025

About ICRISAT - The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is a non-profit non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries the semi-arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these poor people to overcome poverty hunger and a degraded environment through better agriculture. ICRISAT is headquartered in Hyderabad Telangana India with two regional hubs and six country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org ICRISAT conducts research protecting the environment.Dryland agriculture has long been viewed with pessimism and hopelessness. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and dependent on external aid. ICRISAT challenges this pessimistic view. Working with diverse partners in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa for almost four decades ICRISAT has found that dryland farmers are ingenious and resourceful. By applying scientific innovations backed up with adequate policy Vision mission and approach ICRISAT envisions a prosperous food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. To achieve this our mission is to reduce poverty hunger malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. Our approach is through partnership-based international agricultural research-for-development that embodies Science with a Human Face.

Overview of the Role

The Global Research Program Director “Accelerated Crop Improvement” will lead a multi-disciplinary team of scientists working in the area of germplasm conservation characterization maintenance and use development and deployment of genomics/bioinformatics resources trait engineering molecular biology marker trait association trait introgression crop physiology integrated crop protection crop breeding seed systems and capacity development. The position will report to the Deputy Director General - Research. This position will be hired through a Globally Competitive Recruitment process on a contract for a period of three years with an attractive compensation and benefits package payable in US dollars.

Job Description

· Lead the Global Research Program “Accelerated Crop Improvement” across Asia East and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa in the area of germplasm conservation characterization maintenance and use development and deployment of genomics/bioinformatics resources trait engineering molecular biology marker trait association trait introgression crop physiology integrated crop protection crop breeding seed systems and capacity development.
· Provide effective leadership to the research team placed in different research clusters to deliver high quality research for development outcomes from the Program.
· Inspire and facilitate research teams and individual scientists to deliver high quality scientific outputs.
· Contribute to the ICRISAT efforts for resource mobilization and work with multi-disciplinary teams to develop research proposals and follow-through for successful funding.
· Work with other global research program directors as well as regional directors and demonstrate comprehensive output delivery as a team.
· Manage and provide supervision to the staff from different disciplines of the Global Research Program ·Accelerated Crop Improvement’ located in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Required & Preferred Qualifications

Skill

· Demonstrated leadership abilities and strong interpersonal skills.
· A deep understanding of agricultural science in crop breeding genomics seed systems crop physiology crop protection and its critical role in tackling issues such as climate change natural resource management malnutrition gender issues and rural poverty across developing countries that impact the UN SDGs.
· Insights into solutions in agricultural science ranging from plant breeding technologies to digital solutions and agribusiness.
· Proactive and achievement oriented.
· Strategic and innovative in business development strategy and execution.
· Established networks and skills to establish and strengthen industry partnerships.
· Ability to write impactful pitches and to follow these through personally or with support from others.
· Excellent written and oral skills in English. Knowledge of other international languages especially French will be an advantage.

Education

A Ph.D. degree in Plant breeding/Genetics/Genomics/Biotechnology/Crop Protection/relevant disciplines of crop improvement.

Experience

Relevant work experience of at least 20 years in the area of agricultural research for development with high quality research outputs including an excellent record of publication in high impact journals.