Rwanda Potato Seed Production Lead

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund supplies 1.6 million smallholder farmers with the agricultural services they need to make their farms more productive. Our 10,000+ team is drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. With operations across ten African countries, we make farmers more prosperous by providing quality farm supplies on credit, delivered within walking distance of farmers' homes, and agricultural training to improve harvests. On average, the farmers we serve earn 40 percent more profits on the land they enroll with One Acre Fund.

Our Rwanda program, founded in 2007, operates under the local brand Tubura. We have more than 3,200 staff located in all four Rwanda provinces and Kigali. Together, we directly serve more than 790,000 farmers. To learn more about our work, look at our Rwanda program blog for more information

About the Role

As the potato seed production lead, you will oversee all aspects of potato seed production. Your primary duties will include managing field operations, managing a team of agronomists and field workers, implementing best practices for seed quality and yield optimization, and ensuring adherence to sustainable agricultural methods. You will also collaborate with research institutions, seed companies, and farming communities to inspire creativity, facilitate knowledge transfer, and help improve food security for smallholder farmers through increased access to high-quality potato seed varieties. You will report directly to Potato Seed Venture Senior Lead and manage a team of 3 people.

Responsibilities

• Potato seed Production & planning management - Lead the potato seed production process, from seed preparation to harvesting and storage/distribution to ensure the supply of high-quality potato seeds to meet farmers' demand and support the success of potato seed companies.
• Build capacity of seed companies who have recently converted from grain seed to potato seed production to enhance productivity and accountability
• Manage a team of potato seed production and quality control Coordinators/Specialists
• Promote achievement of production and revenue targets through efficient planning, scheduling, execution, and continuous improvement of operations to maximize output, efficiency, quality, and profitability

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• BSc in Agriculture, Horticulture or Plant Science minimum, with a postgraduate degree in seed science or seed-related field
• 5+ years in potato seed production - working for a well-known, reputable seed company with experience producing certified potato seed
• Agricultural Expertise: understanding of potato agronomy, including seed variety selection, farm management, soil health management, pest and disease control, strong analytical skills to identify and resolve issues related to crop health, production processes, and resource management.
• 2+ years experience in conservation agriculture in potato seeds production
• Working knowledge of the infrastructure required for potato seed production - greenhouse, cold store and experience with DLS stores

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Kigali, Rwanda

Benefits

Health insurance, housing, and comprehensive benefits

Eligibility

One Acre Fund can support a work permit for this role. However, nationals of (or those with an extensive professional background and work history in) our countries of operation are preferred.

Application Deadline

14 October 2024

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.