Plant Nutrient Management Research and Lab Senior Specialist - Rwanda

About the role

One Acre Fund serves more than 4 million smallholder farming families across sub-Saharan Africa. This renewable senior specialist role sits within the Rwanda research programme, leading laboratory and field experiments on soil fertility, plant nutrition, and fertiliser optimisation for smallholder crop systems. Based in Kigali with frequent farm visits across Rwanda. Deadline: 13 August 2026. One Acre Fund hires on a rolling basis; early applications are reviewed first.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute field trials on fertiliser rates, timing, placement, and product comparisons for staple crops (maize, beans, sorghum, wheat).
• Manage a soil and plant tissue laboratory: oversee sample processing, method validation, quality assurance, and equipment maintenance.
• Analyse soil and plant data using statistical software (R, STATA, or similar); produce concise technical reports for programme teams.
• Translate research findings into farmer-facing agronomic recommendations for One Acre Fund’s extension network.
• Mentor junior research staff and lab technicians.
• Collaborate with external partners (CIMMYT, IITA, National Agricultural Research Systems) on multi-site trials.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in agronomy, soil science, plant nutrition, agroecology, or a related field.
• Deep technical knowledge of soil fertility management, plant nutrient cycling, and fertiliser chemistry.
• Experience running soil/plant laboratories, including wet chemistry and ICP analysis techniques.
• Familiarity with experimental design and statistical analysis for agricultural research.
• Willingness to work in rural Rwanda with regular travel; strong organisational skills.

Nice to have

• Experience with fertiliser product evaluations in East or Central Africa.
• Knowledge of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) approaches.
• Prior work with smallholder farming systems or agricultural development organisations.

How to apply

Apply directly on the One Acre Fund careers page at the link above. One Acre Fund never charges fees or asks for payments from candidates. Official communications come only from @oneacrefund.org email addresses. Apply by 13 August 2026; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.