Principal Plant Improvement Consultant

Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation

The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is a research institute of the University of Queensland (UQ) which was established in 2010 and comprises of three research centres – the Centre for Plant Science, the Centre for Animal Science, the Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences.

QAAFI's team of 450 researchers, postgraduate students and support staff undertake high impact science for agriculture and food industries. The institute's strong partnership with the Queensland Government provides our researchers with a direct link to the agriculture industry in Queensland, and world class field research facilities throughout Queensland. Agriculture is one of UQ's highest ranked research fields nationally and internationally and QAAFI is a global leader in agricultural research in subtropical and tropical production systems.

QAAFI scientists are driven to make a difference to the agriculture and food industries and have over 150 collaborators worldwide.

QAAFI offers postgraduate programs in the disciplines of Plant, Animal and Food sciences internally and externally and provides professional training to both Australian and international students.

The role

The successful appointee will lead and manage a QAAFI – Plant Science consultancy to improve the institutional capacity of key breeding programs of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). The investment is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and will focus on five major crops (maize, wheat, sorghum, common bean, chickpea). UQ's role will be to support the improvement of these breeding programs through institutional capacity building in knowledge, strategies and facilities. The position will play an important role in assessing breeding programs, developing improvement plans, purchasing the necessary equipment and engaging other technical experts to support the activity. The position will be based at the St Lucia or Warwick campus and will involve significant amounts of travel to Ethiopia.

The person

Applicants should possess qualifications, technical and experience in all aspects of large plant breeding activities focused on product development. Preferably the applicant should have relevant practical plant breeding experience as well as experience in managing teams of plant breeders and related discipline specialists. Experience in senior management roles would be an advantage. The applicant must have strong written and oral communication skills and the capacity to work with multidisciplinary research teams. Experience working in developing countries would be an advantage.

Remuneration

This is a part-time (0.5 FTE), fixed term appointment at HEW level 9 for 12 months, with the possibility of extension. The remuneration package will be in the range $52,820 - $55,895 p.a., plus employer superannuation contributions of up to 17% (total package will be in the range $61,800 - $65,397 p.a.).

Enquiries

To discuss this role please contact Professor David Jordan via email david.jordan@uq.edu.au.

To submit an application for this role, use the Apply button below. All applicants must supply the following documents: Cover letter, Resume and Selection Criteria responses.

For information on completing the application process click here.

Position Description

 UQJobs_PD_Principal Plant Improvement Consultant_HEW 9.pdf

Application Closing Date

3 June 2016 11:55pm E.Australian Standard Time

Reference: 499047