Rwanda Plant Nutrient Management Research & Lab Senior Specialist (Renewable)

Lead end-to-end research on innovative plant nutrient management products, practices and services to drive measurable farmer impact. You will oversee soil and plant lab operations, manage a technical sub-team, and bridge the gap between high-confidence laboratory analysis and large-scale field implementation.

Responsibilities

Lead Applied Research in Plant Nutrient Management & Soil Health

• Design and lead multidisciplinary research, trials, and modelling to evaluate innovative plant nutrient management solutions (products, practices, services) for smallholder farmers.
• Assess feasibility, adoption potential, risks, and impact of products and practices through rigorous research and analysis.
• Develop scientifically robust methodologies, experimental designs, and impact models to support evidence-based decision-making.

Deliver High-Quality Trials, Data Analysis & Scalable Recommendations

• Oversee quality implementation of field and station trials, ensuring strong data integrity and research standards.
• Analyse and interpret complex datasets to generate actionable insights, technical reports, and decision-support recommendations.
• Translate research findings into scalable operational recommendations and farmer-facing solutions.
• Develop extension material based on well-evidenced products, practices and services.

Provide Technical Leadership for Soil & Plant Laboratory Operations

• Oversee laboratory and inventory operations, ensuring quality standards, SOP compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Guide laboratory resourcing, equipment planning, KPI tracking, and introduction of new analytical capabilities aligned with organisational priorities.
• Build technical capacity of laboratory and inventory staff through coaching, training, and performance support.

Build Research Partnerships & Drive Continuous Improvement

• Develop and manage collaborations with research institutions, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to strengthen technical capability and accelerate impact.
• Lead trainings, workshops, and process improvement initiatives to enhance departmental effectiveness.
• Represent the department in cross-functional and external technical engagements.
• Contribute to effective departmental coordination and administrative execution.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• Relevant academic background in Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Nutrition, Microbiology, Agroecology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in agricultural research (e.g. experimental design, sampling methodologies, and bias minimisation techniques).
• Deep technical knowledge of soil science (biological, chemical and physical), plant nutrition, nutrient management options, soil food web theory, nutrient cycling, and soil health assessment options.
• Understanding of soil/plant laboratory operations management and soil chemical, biological and physical analysis techniques (e.g. dry chemistry, microbial enumeration).
• Familiarity with various fertiliser types (especially microbial biostimulants and synthetic fertilisers).
• Experience with data analysis tools.