Associate Scientist - Value Chain and Market Development Specialist

CGIAR; Agra District; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

CGIAR in South Asia seeks a leader to drive market development for potato and sweetpotato, integrating CIP technologies through public–private partnerships to accelerate scaling and improve value chain efficiency. The role focuses on reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing product quality, and expanding market access for farmers and other stakeholders.

The candidate will collaborate with multidisciplinary CIP teams, seed companies, processors, FPOs/FPGs, and agribusinesses to translate market

Qualifications

• PhD in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Agribusiness, Post-Harvest Technology, Food Science, Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture, Agronomy, Rural Management, or related discipline.
• Eight years of experience in agricultural value chain development, market systems, agribusiness development, post-harvest management, or private sector engagement.
• Experience designing training programs, extension activities, or stakeholder engagement is highly desirable.
• Strong English writing and speaking ability for reports, communications, and proposals.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and strengthening of potato and sweetpotato value chains in South Asia through market-led approaches and public-private partnerships.
• Design and implement market development strategies to improve aggregation, post-harvest management, storage, processing, and market access.
• Build strategic partnerships with seed companies, processors, retailers, exporters, FPOs, FPGs, and financial institutions to scale adoption of CIP technologies.
• Develop sustainable business models for FPOs/FPGs, cooperatives, and agribusinesses to improve profitability and long-term viability.
• Lead value-chain assessments, market analyses, and investment studies to identify opportunities and pathways for scaling innovations.
• Lead training and capacity development for CSARC and other stakeholders; develop manuals, guidelines, and extension materials.

Skills

Market development

Value chain development

Public-private partnerships

Training design

Stakeholder engagement

Education

PhD in Agricultural Economics

Job description

Job Description

Aboutthe position: The selected candidatewill lead and implement the market development of root and tuber crops anddrive the integration of potato and sweetpotato innovations across value chainsthrough strategic public–private partnerships to accelerate scaling in SouthAsia. The position will focus on enhancing the efficiency, competitiveness, andsustainability of value chains by reducing post-harvest losses, improvingproduct quality and value addition, strengthening market access and businesslinkages, and increasing returns for farmers and other value chain actors. Withminimal supervision, the successful candidate will work closely withmultidisciplinary teams across CIP and collaborate with public and privatesector partners, including seed and processing companies, Farmer ProducerOrganizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Groups (FPGs), agribusinesses, and othervalue chain stakeholders, to strengthen potato and sweetpotato value chains inSouth Asia. The role will also generate and translate market intelligence intoactionable insights to inform CIP's breeding, seed systems, andresearch-for-development programs, ensuring that innovations are aligned withmarket demand and industry needs.

Keyresponsibilities:

• Lead the developmentand strengthening of potato and sweetpotato value chains in South Asia byintegrating CIP technologies and innovations through market-led approaches,public-private partnerships, and commercialization strategies.
• Desing, develop andimplement market development strategies to strengthen aggregation, post-harvestand supply-chain management, cold chain infrastructure, storage, processing,branding, value addition, market access, and commercialization, improving valuechain efficiency and competitiveness.
• Build and strengthenstrategic partnerships with seed companies, processors, retailers, exporters,FPOs, FPGs, financial institutions, government agencies, and developmentpartners to accelerate technology adoption, investment, and market expansion.
• Develop, pilot, andsupport sustainable business models for FPOs, FPGs, cooperatives,entrepreneurs, and agribusinesses to strengthen seed production, aggregation,storage, processing, value addition, market linkages, and service delivery,improving enterprise profitability and long-term sustainability.
• Lead and conduct valuechain assessments, market analyses, and investment studies to identifyconstraints, market opportunities, business models, and pathways for scalingpotato and sweetpotato innovations, and generate market intelligence to informCIP programmes.
• Lead research andtechnical support on entrepreneurship and inclusive agribusiness development byidentifying and supporting business opportunities across input supply, seedproduction, custom hiring services, storage, processing, logistics, valueaddition, branding and marketing, creating employment and income-generationopportunities for farmers and rural youth.
• Lead the developmentand strengthening of market linkages through buyer-seller meetings, businessforums, trade fairs, exhibitions, exposure visits, and stakeholder platformsconnecting producers, FPOs, processors, retailers, exporters, and institutionalbuyers.
• Design and delivercapacity-building programmes for FPOs, FPGs, private sector partners, and otherstakeholders on value chain development, agribusiness management, post-harvestmanagement, quality standards, market-oriented production, and businessplanning.
• Lead research andtechnical validation of post-harvest technologies, mechanization, grading,packaging, quality assurance systems, and cold chain solutions to reducelosses, improve product quality, and enhance market competitiveness.
• Generate anddisseminate high-quality market intelligence and scientific reports,policy briefs, investment cases, project proposals, and donor reports relatedto value chain development and commercialization, and represent CIP attechnical meetings, industry forums, and partnership platforms.
• Lead the training andcapacity development needs of CSARC and contribute to the report onpreparations and proposal developments.
• Develop scientificcommunication and knowledge products, including training manuals, technicalguidelines, extension materials, policy briefs, and communication resourcesthat facilitate the adoption and scaling of root and tuber crop innovations.
• Publish and communicateresearch findings through scientific journals, workshops, seminars,conferences, and stakeholder engagement events. Support multidisciplinaryresearch teams by contributing to experimental design, data analysis,technology validation, and dissemination of research outputs. Conductlaboratory testing of stored materials in accordance with FSSAI protocols toensure food safety, quality compliance, and suitability for fresh consumptionand processing.

Requirements

• PhD in AgriculturalEconomics, Agribusiness Management, Agribusiness, Post-Harvest Technology, FoodScience, Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture, Agronomy, Rural Management, orrelated discipline.
• A minimum of eight (8)years of experience in agricultural value chain development, market systems,agribusiness development, post-harvest management, agriculturalcommercialization, or private sector engagement is required. Demonstratedexperience in developing and strengthening agricultural value chains,conducting market and value chain assessments, fostering public-privatepartnerships, developing business models for Farmer Producer Organizations(FPOs), Farmer Producer Groups (FPGs), and agribusiness enterprises, andfacilitating market linkages and commercialization of agricultural technologiesis essential. Experience working with private sector companies, processors,development partners, government agencies, and farmer organizations, along witha strong understanding of cold chain development, value addition, andentrepreneurship promotion, will be highly desirable. Preference will be givento candidates holding a PhD in a relevant field.
• Experience in designing and delivering trainingprograms, extension activities, or stakeholder engagement is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of seed systems, productionpractices, post-harvest management, storage, processing, quality standards,value addition, market systems, and value chain development for agriculturalcommodities. Experience in project implementation, partnership development,proposal writing, and resource mobilization will be an added advantage.
• Advanced written and spoken English with demonstratedability to prepare technical reports, scientific publications, trainingmaterials, project documents, and stakeholder communications.