Key responsibilities:

Product strategy and definition
Work with Market Intelligence, Seed Systems, and value chain actors to understand and document drivers of variety replacement and adoption, and to inform product cycle strategy.
Ensure Target Product Profiles (TPPs) are defined, validated, and supported by robust business cases, and are adopted and used by breeding teams to guide selection decisions.
Ensure socially inclusive needs and circumstances, particularly of women and youth, are intentionally incorporated into target setting, product development, and market strategies.
Pipeline governance and advancement decisions
Manage advanced testing and ensure qualitative and quantitative data from on-farm trials and pertinent studies are available, organized, and fit-for-purpose for product advancement meetings.
Support transparent, evidence-based germplasm advancement processes from late-stage testing through recommendation for release and commercialization.
Promote good data practices and clear decision criteria aligned to TPPs, including documentation of trade-offs and risks.
Validation, release and commercialization readiness
Coordinate with the Seed Systems unit and the seed industry to ensure complete seed production and multiplication information is available for products recommended for release.
Support development of product dossiers and related materials required to inform release, licensing, and commercialization decisions with partners and national authorities.
Facilitate structured feedback loops from farmers, seed companies, and other stakeholders back into product design and breeding priorities.
Planning, partnerships and capacity development
Contribute to DCP and CGIAR product design and management modules, annual and multi-year work plan development, execution, and reporting.
Manage and track budgets associated with product management and late-stage testing activities, in line with CIMMYT financial policies and donor requirements.
Build capacity of CIMMYT colleagues and external partners in modern product management and delivery approaches for dryland crops.
Contribute to refereed publications, project reports, knowledge products, and fundraising.
Requirements
MSc or higher in crop sciences, plant breeding, agricultural economics, seed science and technology, agronomy, or a related field.
Four or more years of experience in seed product management, marketing of seed hybrids/varieties, and/or business administration (desirable).
Agrobusiness experience in the commercial seed industry in Africa and/or demonstrated understanding of industry and value chain trends and developments.
Working knowledge of product development principles, including understanding requirements for variety adoption and practical methods for marketing.
Skills and attitudes
Commitment to social inclusiveness, including awareness of the roles of women and youth in variety uptake and market participation.
Cross-cultural and cross-functional team leadership and collaboration skills.
Strong oral and written communication skills; able to translate technical information into decision-ready insights.
Results focus, persistence and pragmatism; able to drive progress in multi-stakeholder environments.
Core competencies
Team leadership, negotiation, conflict resolution, client orientation, critical thinking, design thinking, strategic thinking, problem solving.
Benefits
The position is for an initial fixed-term for three (3) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.