Associate Scientist - Value Chain and Market Development Specialist

About
the position: The selected candidate
will lead and implement the market development of root and tuber crops and
drive the integration of potato and sweetpotato innovations across value chains
through strategic public–private partnerships to accelerate scaling in South
Asia. The position will focus on enhancing the efficiency, competitiveness, and
sustainability of value chains by reducing post-harvest losses, improving
product quality and value addition, strengthening market access and business
linkages, and increasing returns for farmers and other value chain actors. With
minimal supervision, the successful candidate will work closely with
multidisciplinary teams across CIP and collaborate with public and private
sector partners, including seed and processing companies, Farmer Producer
Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Groups (FPGs), agribusinesses, and other
value chain stakeholders, to strengthen potato and sweetpotato value chains in
South Asia. The role will also generate and translate market intelligence into
actionable insights to inform CIP's breeding, seed systems, and
research-for-development programs, ensuring that innovations are aligned with
market demand and industry needs.

• Lead the development
  and strengthening of potato and sweetpotato value chains in South Asia by
  integrating CIP technologies and innovations through market-led approaches,
  public-private partnerships, and commercialization strategies.
  
• Desing, develop and
  implement market development strategies to strengthen aggregation, post-harvest
  and supply-chain management, cold chain infrastructure, storage, processing,
  branding, value addition, market access, and commercialization, improving value
  chain efficiency and competitiveness.
  
• Build and strengthen
  strategic partnerships with seed companies, processors, retailers, exporters,
  FPOs, FPGs, financial institutions, government agencies, and development
  partners to accelerate technology adoption, investment, and market expansion.
  
• Develop, pilot, and
  support sustainable business models for FPOs, FPGs, cooperatives,
  entrepreneurs, and agribusinesses to strengthen seed production, aggregation,
  storage, processing, value addition, market linkages, and service delivery,
  improving enterprise profitability and long-term sustainability.
  
• Lead and conduct value
  chain assessments, market analyses, and investment studies to identify
  constraints, market opportunities, business models, and pathways for scaling
  potato and sweetpotato innovations, and generate market intelligence to inform
  CIP programmes.
  
• Lead research and
  technical support on entrepreneurship and inclusive agribusiness development by
  identifying and supporting business opportunities across input supply, seed
  production, custom hiring services, storage, processing, logistics, value
  addition, branding and marketing, creating employment and income-generation
  opportunities for farmers and rural youth.
  
• Lead the development
  and strengthening of market linkages through buyer-seller meetings, business
  forums, trade fairs, exhibitions, exposure visits, and stakeholder platforms
  connecting producers, FPOs, processors, retailers, exporters, and institutional
  buyers.
  
• Design and deliver
  capacity-building programmes for FPOs, FPGs, private sector partners, and other
  stakeholders on value chain development, agribusiness management, post-harvest
  management, quality standards, market-oriented production, and business
  planning.
  
• Lead research and
  technical validation of post-harvest technologies, mechanization, grading,
  packaging, quality assurance systems, and cold chain solutions to reduce
  losses, improve product quality, and enhance market competitiveness.
  
• Generate and
  disseminate high-quality market intelligence and scientific reports,
  policy briefs, investment cases, project proposals, and donor reports related
  to value chain development and commercialization, and represent CIP at
  technical meetings, industry forums, and partnership platforms.
  
• Lead the training and
  capacity development needs of CSARC and contribute to the report on
  preparations and proposal developments.
  
• Develop scientific
  communication and knowledge products, including training manuals, technical
  guidelines, extension materials, policy briefs, and communication resources
  that facilitate the adoption and scaling of root and tuber crop innovations.
  
• Publish and communicate
  research findings through scientific journals, workshops, seminars,
  conferences, and stakeholder engagement events. Support multidisciplinary
  research teams by contributing to experimental design, data analysis,
  technology validation, and dissemination of research outputs. Conduct
  laboratory testing of stored materials in accordance with FSSAI protocols to
  ensure food safety, quality compliance, and suitability for fresh consumption
  and processing.
  
  

Requirements

• PhD in Agricultural
  Economics, Agribusiness Management, Agribusiness, Post-Harvest Technology, Food
  Science, Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture, Agronomy, Rural Management, or
  related discipline.
  
• A minimum of eight (8)
  years of experience in agricultural value chain development, market systems,
  agribusiness development, post-harvest management, agricultural
  commercialization, or private sector engagement is required. Demonstrated
  experience in developing and strengthening agricultural value chains,
  conducting market and value chain assessments, fostering public-private
  partnerships, developing business models for Farmer Producer Organizations
  (FPOs), Farmer Producer Groups (FPGs), and agribusiness enterprises, and
  facilitating market linkages and commercialization of agricultural technologies
  is essential. Experience working with private sector companies, processors,
  development partners, government agencies, and farmer organizations, along with
  a strong understanding of cold chain development, value addition, and
  entrepreneurship promotion, will be highly desirable. Preference will be given
  to candidates holding a PhD in a relevant field.
  
• Experience in designing and delivering training
  programs, extension activities, or stakeholder engagement is highly desirable.
  
• Strong understanding of seed systems, production
  practices, post-harvest management, storage, processing, quality standards,
  value addition, market systems, and value chain development for agricultural
  commodities. Experience in project implementation, partnership development,
  proposal writing, and resource mobilization will be an added advantage.
  
• Advanced written and spoken English with demonstrated
  ability to prepare technical reports, scientific publications, training
  materials, project documents, and stakeholder communications.