Associate Scientist - Value Chain and Market Development Specialist

About the position: The selected candidate will lead and implement the market development of root and tuber crops and drive the integration of potato and sweetpotato innovations across value chains through strategic public–private partnerships to accelerate scaling in South Asia. The position will focus on enhancing the efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability of value chains by reducing post-harvest losses, improving product quality and value addition, strengthening market access and business linkages, and increasing returns for farmers and other value chain actors. With minimal supervision, the successful candidate will work closely with multidisciplinary teams across CIP and collaborate with public and private sector partners, including seed and processing companies, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Groups (FPGs), agribusinesses, and other value chain stakeholders, to strengthen potato and sweetpotato value chains in South Asia. The role will also generate and translate market intelligence into actionable insights to inform CIP's breeding, seed systems, and research-for-development programs, ensuring that innovations are aligned with market demand and industry needs. Key responsibilities: Lead the development and strengthening of potato and sweetpotato value chains in South Asia by integrating CIP technologies and innovations through market-led approaches, public-private partnerships, and commercialization strategies. Desing, develop and implement market development strategies to strengthen aggregation, post-harvest and supply-chain management, cold chain infrastructure, storage, processing, branding, value addition, market access, and commercialization, improving value chain efficiency and competitiveness. Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with seed companies, processors, retailers, exporters, FPOs, FPGs, financial institutions, government agencies, and development partners to accelerate technology adoption, investment, and market expansion. Develop, pilot, and support 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 value chain assessments, market analyses, and investment studies to identify constraints, market opportunities, business models, and pathways for scaling potato and sweetpotato innovations, and generate market intelligence to inform CIP programmes. Lead research and technical support on entrepreneurship and inclusive agribusiness development by identifying and supporting business opportunities across input supply, seed production, custom hiring services, storage, processing, logistics, value addition, branding and marketing, creating employment and income-generation opportunities for farmers and rural youth. Lead the development and strengthening of market linkages through buyer-seller meetings, business forums, trade fairs, exhibitions, exposure visits, and stakeholder platforms connecting producers, FPOs, processors, retailers, exporters, and institutional buyers. Design and deliver capacity-building programmes for FPOs, FPGs, private sector partners, and other stakeholders on value chain development, agribusiness management, post-harvest management, quality standards, market-oriented production, and business planning. Lead research and technical validation of post-harvest technologies, mechanization, grading, packaging, quality assurance systems, and cold chain solutions to reduce losses, improve product quality, and enhance market competitiveness. Generate and disseminate high-quality market intelligence and scientific reports, policy briefs, investment cases, project proposals, and donor reports related to value chain development and commercialization, and represent CIP at technical meetings, industry forums, and partnership platforms. Lead the training and capacity development needs of CSARC and contribute to the report on preparations and proposal developments. Develop scientific communication and knowledge products, including training manuals, technical guidelines, extension materials, policy briefs, and communication resources that facilitate the adoption and scaling of root and tuber crop innovations. Publish and communicate research findings through scientific journals, workshops, seminars, conferences, and stakeholder engagement events. Support multidisciplinary research teams by contributing to experimental design, data analysis, technology validation, and dissemination of research outputs. Conduct laboratory testing of stored materials in accordance with FSSAI protocols to ensure food safety, quality compliance, and suitability for fresh consumption and processing. Requirements PhD in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Agribusiness, Post-Harvest Technology, Food Science, Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture, Agronomy, Rural Management, or related discipline. A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in agricultural value chain development, market systems, agribusiness development, post-harvest management, agricultural commercialization, or private sector engagement is required. Demonstrated experience in developing and strengthening agricultural value chains, conducting market and value chain assessments, fostering public-private partnerships, developing business models for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Groups (FPGs), and agribusiness enterprises, and facilitating market linkages and commercialization of agricultural technologies is essential. Experience working with private sector companies, processors, development partners, government agencies, and farmer organizations, along with a strong understanding of cold chain development, value addition, and entrepreneurship promotion, will be highly desirable. Preference will be given to candidates holding a PhD in a relevant field. Experience in designing and delivering training programs, extension activities, or stakeholder engagement is highly desirable. Strong understanding of seed systems, production practices, post-harvest management, storage, processing, quality standards, value addition, market systems, and value chain development for agricultural commodities. Experience in project implementation, partnership development, proposal writing, and resource mobilization will be an added advantage. Advanced written and spoken English with demonstrated ability to prepare technical reports, scientific publications, training materials, project documents, and stakeholder communications.