Field Research Assistant

**Context and background**

The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is an independent non-profit organization that combines innovative research, market systems development, and strategic partnerships to spread sustainable agricultural solutions for improved soil health, food security, and livelihoods around the world.

IFDC is seeking a self-motivated Mozambican for the position of Field Research Assistant with strong on-farm trials management skills and the ability to work both individually and as part of a multi-disciplinary team. This position is responsible for the establishment and management of on-farm fertilizer trials for various smallholder farming systems in Mozambique. This position works closely with farmers, various industry partners (e.g. fertilizer companies), and public institutions such as Mozambique's Institute of Agricultural Research (IIAM), universities, and polytechnic institutes among others to discuss the project's progress, its impact, and explore a quick avenue to disseminate impactful results to end users.

**Duties & Responsibilities**:

- Assist in the identification & supervision of suitable and representative locations for the establishment of on-farm trials
- Collect soil samples and ensure nutrient analyses are done following the guidelines provided by their supervisor
- Interpretation and implementation of the research protocols for on-farm trials
- Ensure that logistics for the establishment of trials are in place e.g. Procurement of the ingredients/nutrient and preparation of fertilizers blends, if needed
- Interact with farmers, private sector, and public institutions for the establishment of on-farm research trials
- Prepare the work plan and submit to the daily supervisor for approval
- Establish on-farm research trials
- Ensure timely data collection, processing, and reporting writing from on-farm research trials
- Assist in publishing results in reputed scientific journals, technical reports, and magazines.
- Performing a variety of other related duties as required.

**Responsibility**

This position requires a high dedication, and degree of judgment as to the type of research design, treatment preparation, allocation, range of data to be collected, and type of analyses to be performed. This incumbent will be required to meet regularly with the supervisor to discuss problems encountered with the implementation of the project, in particular on-farm trials, and to assign work (e.g., preparing reports for use by the supervisor at regular update meetings).

**Personal Work Relationships**

This position has external contacts with the private sector, farmers, national research institutes, and universities, e.g. fertilizer companies, IIAM, UEM, ISPM among others. External contacts are required to retrieve, relay or explain information and in some cases to negotiate (e.g., drawing up memorandums of understanding). Internally, most contacts are made with daily supervisors and staff to discuss and review trial implementation, data, or project status.

**Physical Effort And Work Environment**

This position requires a significant amount of work to be performed field and will involve travel to research sites.

**Position and Duty Station**

Duty Station to be determine

**Application Procedures**

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- This position is open to qualified Mozambican national applicants only.
- The position will remain open until filled.

**Required Skills**:
Required Experience
- Minimum of a Master in Agronomy or Soil Science.
- More than 5 years of relevant research experience including on-farm fertilizers trials and soil management.
- Expertise in statistics, data management, and plant physiology.
- Experience in both macro and micro crop nutrient research trials
- Proven record of published results from research trials in peer-reviewed journals
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Portuguese is required.