Manager - Agro R&D

Job description

Overview

Job pupose:

·  The main objective of the role is to drive agro R&D & techno-commercial agenda in the nine north-west-central-southern states viz. UP, PB, HP, HR, MP, KAR, GJ and MH.
·  Person will be developing best practices to bring significant improvement in yield and quality of produce, identifying and recommending the most suitable varieties for India program, transferring proven and innovative practices and technologies to farmers by training farming community and our own agro team.
·  Person will be setting up storage protocols and monitoring storages in above said stores to reduce post-harvest losses and maintain quality of stored potatoes. Keeping liaison with CPRI, government institutes and agriculture universities will be sole responsibility of the role. Other than potato, person will also be responsible for oats varietal trial.
·  India has been identified as SUPER SITE location and part of Global R&D program for potato. Responsibilities of SUPERSITE go to this role which are very critical. Under this program, the person will be evaluating potato varieties suitable for various countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and other countries of AMESA region.
·  Person will be establishing strong relationship and interacting at AMESA region and PepsiCo global R&D team.
Responsibilities

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

·  Manage all 3 supersite trials, Kota, RJ and recently added 2 supersite locations Zahura, PB & Agra, UP, as per global protocol and multiplication (20 ACE trials) & Techno-commercial trials in 9 states of NWCS geographies.
·  Plan for and evaluate new varieties of potato and recommend the best ones for the various geographies in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka & Maharashtra which are the 9 major geographies of contract farming program.
·  Establish and manage 3 captive farm and research program on variety, agronomy and potato seed to be conducted at Captive farm and other states mentioned above.
·  Lead SUPER SITE variety evaluation program for AMESA region and come out with recommendation for India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and other AMESA region
·  Drive New Variety Registration to protect new varieties imported from USA under PPV & FRA
·  Keep close contact with Zahura team to take new varieties forward for seed multiplication & varietal evaluation trial at supersite locations.
·  Lead the Agenda of seed quality by conducting Grow out test of complete seed lots & capability development on key quality parameters to ensure quality seed production in association with seed team to meet PSP.
·  Lead the agenda of capability development on storage of seed under long storage and organize seed crop & storage review calls at PAN India.
·  Design, develop & share, protocols, training material & chemical kit with regional teammates in NWCS geographies.
·  Support sustainable farming programme in NWCS geographies in association with global sustainability team.
Qualifications

EXPERIENCE/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

·  Sc./Ph.D in Agriculture Sciences preferably with Plant Breeding or Horticulture.
·  At least 5 years experience of agriculture research in the area of variety development, variety valuation and preparing reports and recommendations
·  Basic knowledge about the potato crop, preferably 1-2 years of experience working on variety evaluation and agronomy aspects
·  Very good interpersonal skills of dealing with govt. agencies, institutes and farming community
·  Good presentation skills and a good team player
·  Multilingual (at least Hindi, English and other regional language)