Associate Scientist - Value Chain & Market Development Specialist

International Potato Center; Agra District; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 5,000,000; Full time

Job summary

The International Potato Center (CIP) in Agra seeks a Value Chain and Market Development Specialist to lead market development of root and tuber crops and drive integration of potato and sweetpotato innovations across value chains.

You will strengthen aggregation, cold-chain infrastructure, branding, and linkages with seed companies, retailers, FPOs, and rural entrepreneurs across South Asia, empowering farmers and agribusiness stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of hands-on experience in agricultural value chain development and market systems.
• Deep understanding of seed systems, cold chain logistics, FPO governance, quality assurance, and private-sector engagement.
• Fluent written and spoken English communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute market-led strategies to strengthen aggregation and supply-chain efficiency.
• Build strategic partnerships with seed/processing companies, retailers, exporters, FPOs and financial institutions.
• Develop and pilot viable business models for FPOs, cooperatives and rural entrepreneurs.
• Lead value chain evaluations, market analyses and investment studies to generate intelligence.
• Organize training, draft SOPs, technical guidelines and policy briefs for resource mobilization.

Skills

Value chain design

Market development

Public-Private partnerships

FPO engagement

Quality standards

Post-harvest management

Food safety

Education

Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics

Job description

Location: Agra

Role Overview

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a Value Chain and Market Development Specialist for its South Asia Regional Center (CSARC) in Agra. This role leads the market development of root and tuber crops and drives the integration of potato and sweetpotato innovations across value chains. The position focuses on enhancing value chain efficiency, post-harvest management, quality standards, commercialization, public-private partnerships, and market linkages to empower farmers, FPOs, and agribusiness stakeholders across South Asia.

Key Responsibilities

• Value Chain & Market Strategy: Design and execute market-led strategies to strengthen aggregation, supply-chain efficiency, cold-chain infrastructure, storage, processing, branding, and commercialization of root and tuber crops.
• Public-Private Partnerships & Linkages: Build strategic partnerships with seed and processing companies, retailers, exporters, FPOs/FPGs, financial institutions, and government bodies. Facilitate buyer-seller meets, trade fairs, and market platforms.
• Agribusiness & FPO Business Models: Develop and pilot viable business models for FPOs, cooperatives, and rural entrepreneurs across input supply, custom hiring, post-harvest processing, and logistics.
• Market Intelligence & Research: Lead value chain evaluations, market analyses, and investment studies to generate market intelligence. Validate post-harvest technologies and ensure food safety compliance per FSSAI standards.
• Capacity Building & Knowledge Dissemination: Organize training programs for stakeholders, draft SOPs, technical guidelines, scientific papers, policy briefs, and grant proposals for resource mobilization.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Educational Qualification: Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Post-Harvest Technology, Food Science, Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture, Agronomy, or Rural Management.
• Experience: Minimum 8 years of hands-on experience in agricultural value chain development, market systems, agribusiness, post-harvest management, and commercialization.
• Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of seed systems, cold chain logistics, FPO governance, quality assurance, FSSAI protocols, and private-sector engagement.
• Soft Skills: Strong proposal writing, research publication capabilities, project implementation skills, and fluent written/spoken English communication.