A leading Agricultural company is inviting applications from a suitably qualified and experienced person to fill the following vacant position under its establishment.

TITLE: SEED PRODUCTION RESEARCH OFFICER (1) – LUSAKA

REPORTING TO: SENIOR MANAGER – PRODUCTION

Key Competencies, Responsibilities & Critical Success Factors

• As Seed Production Research Officer, the successful candidate will be responsible for Embedding appropriate planning, multiplication, processing and testing protocols and procedures that lead to production of Line Maintenance Seed that meets quality, quantity, and timeline product specifications.
• To multiply and manage all seed varieties released by the Research and Development team so as to maintain the true type characteristic of each variety.
• Delivering Line Maintenance Seed and required supporting data at handover to Field Production Staff and other interested parties.
• Contracting out-growers for the multiplication of high-class seeds
• Accurate data management of all the important traits such as flowering days, Seed parent yield, split days for planting (hybrid maize), disease and pest tolerance etc.
• Managing of all pre and post control plots as well as accurate data collection for the same.
• Carry out various crop agronomic trials in order to come up with best practices that will result in production of high-quality seed in order to achieve low COGS.
• Maintain an accurate inventory of all high-class seeds and ensure that they remain viable at times.
• Work with Research & Development (R&D) and other Production team members to test and implement new production ideas.

You will be part of a Growing Team

As a team, we grow by putting farmers and consumers at the heart of agriculture, to help reshape the industry for the 21st century. We believe that the future of farming depends on aligning the food chain from end to end, so that we work together to build agriculture into an industry that is more financially secure, sustainable, innovative, and responsive. We are aspiring to shape an industry that’s better able to understand and react to market demands that effectively harness science, technology, and innovation to optimize productivity and which has the know-how and resources to help chart its own long-term success in the face of climate challenges and change.

Who are we looking for?

To be considered you will need:

• Bachelor’s degree in agronomy or Diploma in General Agriculture from a reputable institution
• Minimum work experience in seed growing, 3years for Diploma holders and 2 years for degree holders
• Training in Seed Inspector’s course will be an added advantage
• Grade 12 School Certificate with five (5) ‘O’ Levels (credit or better)