Research Associate-Data and Information Systems Management

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a Research Associate in Data and Information Systems Management, to be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

About CIP

CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research organization with a global mandate to conduct research on potatoes, sweetpotatoes, Andean root and tuber crops, and sustainable management of natural resources. CIP’s vision is to contribute from its areas of expertise to the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular those goals that relate to poverty, hunger, child and maternal mortality, and sustainable development. CIP has its headquarters in Lima, Peru with staff and activities in locations across Africa, Asia and Latin America. CIP, a member of the One CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. One CGIAR science is dedicated to transforming food, land and water systems in a climate crisis, and it is carried out by 13 CGIAR Centers/Alliances in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations and the private sector.

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About the role

The International Potato Center (CIP) through the SweetGAINS project has been working at modernizing sweetpotato breeding programs, by improving excellence in the management of breeding data. The position will support these efforts for Root and Tuber Crops (RTB) in Sub-Saharan African (SSA), Latin America and Asia.

Key Responsibilities:

• The data and IT specialist will be part of the data management team overseeing RTB breeding and seed data management systems.
  
• Understand existing tools used for data capture and assist in the developing modules that extend the scope for the current tools. 
  
• Respond to ICT support requests from CIP breeders and partners in a timely manner through WhatsApp/telegram/telephone/field visits. 
  
• Contribute to writing standard operating procedures for RTB breeding data management.
  
• Lead capacity building efforts among project collaborators and partners in data collection, storage and management. Act as lecturer in these trainings.
  
• Implement and monitor Quality Assurance (QA) protocols and routines, including safe and remote back-up of database systems and tools.
  
• Contribute to development and management of germplasm data management systems for RTB invitro and invivo germplasm collections at KEPHIS, Mugaga, Kenya. 
  
• Designing (in collaboration with subject area specialists) and implementing comprehensive, gender-aware, monitoring and evaluation systems to assure that quality data (both quantitative and qualitative) are collected, entered, and stored for project use and documented for eventual public use. 
  
• Contribute to development of additional dashboards to enable routine monitoring of social science data coming from the field.
  
• Support other information management activities at CIP.
  
• Keep up to date with the latest tools and resources, including open-source software, for the collection, management, storage and sharing of data and information.
  
• Maintain the confidentiality of all information collected.
  
• Perform any other activity as assigned to by the supervisor. 
  
• Supervise a junior data management staff member.
  
• Be committed to using research for development in a complex cooperative environment of research and development partners. The work will require travel within Sub Saharan Africa.
  
  

Requirements

What are we looking for?

• MA/MSc degree in Information Systems, Database Management, Computer Science, or related discipline.
  
• At least six years research experience in the design and implementation of data management systems.
  
• Experience working with integrated database systems preferably for research projects, including large-scale socioeconomic and/or biological surveys e.g., MySQL or MS SQL Server.
  
• Knowledge and experience of mobile data collection systems.
  
• Knowledge and experience of Linux operating systems.
  
• Knowledge and experience in cloud services administration (like AWS or Linode).
  
• Experience with database design, database management and computer programming, and with the application of quality assurance standards and procedures.
  
• Understanding and experience of working in applied agricultural research preferred.
  
• Experience in software and web application programming. Knowledge of PHP scripting language and development in WordPress preferred.
  
• Good judgement, adaptability, and willingness to take initiative when appropriate.
  
• Demonstrated success in working with multi-disciplinary teams and partnerships in research or project implementation.
  
• Excellent interpersonal communication and good personal organization skills.
  
• Advanced written and oral communication skills in English.