R&D Manager

Job Description

R&D at Project Alba aims at growing always more crops at always better yields while improving farmers resources ( soils, water, use of labour ) with the constraint of using tools usually available in small-scale farmers in developing countries.

The R&D Manager leads a team currently composed of 7 members responsible for that program and works directly with the CEO, participating in strategic decisions. Work is structured in four key areas :

• Introduction of new crops by adapting seeds and techniques to local conditions. Market and technical research to identify potentially interesting crops.
• Improvement of agricultural practices adapted to small scale farmers in developing countries
• Research of tools and inputs that can bring value to farmers at reasonable costs and identification of suppliers.
• Supervise technical trainings of operation team and farmers Alba is working with

His/her tasks include but are not limited to:

• Organise and manage the experiment team.
• Design and manage experimental projects in crop development and introduction of new practices.
• Organise and manage technicians testing new practices, new trainings with farmers and answering technical emergencies identified by the operations team and by farmers.
• Maintain discussions with a network of experts on technical topics, in order to increase the technical level of the company.
• Provide analysis on technical matters to operations team and CEO.
• Meet, report and set directions with the CEO on a monthly basis.

Working in a startup environment, one of the biggest challenges is to respect very tight development periods to reach substantial results in a limited timeframe.

Qualifications

• Masters in agriculture, agronomy.
• Other closely related qualifications [e.g. biology, environment, engineering] and relevant experience in agriculture will be considered.

Experience

• 5 + years.
• Experience in developing countries.
• Project management background.

Spirit

• Business oriented. Experience in for-profit companies is valued.
• Engineer, hacker, entrepreneurial spirit. Natural inclination to understand how things work, to fix things, to find ways around problems and to jump from problem to problem.
• Design thinking mentality with good listening skills. Drafting, prototyping fast and early for feedback.
• Versatility: at ease with simple as well as complex tasks, practical and intellectual tasks.
• Field mentality. Needs to enjoy going on a mission physically, be on an experiment field, connect with farmers. Needs a good health !
• Multi-cultural. Understands communication is important and not easy, willing to learn foreign cultural norms. Patient.

• Skills and/or experience with programing.
• Khmer Language.
• Good networks with tropical agronomy experts.

About the Organization

We support small-scale farmers in developing countries to increase their income by increasing their productivity, ensuring they adapt to market needs and making them resilient to climate change.

We are a for profit social startup with an innovative business model of advanced contract farming. For more information, please go to our website.

More information