JOB ADVERTISEMENT – RESEARCH TRIALS AGRONOMIST

An opportunity has arisen to join Seed Co.’s dynamic Research and Development efforts at Kitale, Kenya. The Research and Development function provides crop variety solutions to Seed Co.’s Strategic Business Units across Africa. The R&D Trials Agronomist will primarily be responsible for the successful delivery of R&D trial activities and official variety registration in Kenya and or East Africa in accordance with set guidelines. Comprehensive in-house agronomic and scientific training related to this job will be provided.

The key responsibilities will involve up to and not limited to:

• Conducting field research trials of maize and other crop varieties to be selected for commercialisation and generating high quality data that supports their registration and delivery to the market.
• Establishing yield trials at various trial sites/locations across Kenya and the East Africa region.
• Developing trial layouts, site preparation, seed preparation, planting and supervision of field trials during the growing season, data collection, harvesting and data capturing.
• Sampling and assessing agronomy trials according to protocol with support from the Product Evaluation and Advancement Manager – including disease and pest incidence and severity, crop yield and quality assessments.
• High standard and active involvement in the collation and analysis of research data generated to allow effective product advancement decisions.
• Operation of agricultural research equipment used in field trials.
• Reviewing and reporting on trial operations.
• Coordinate the planning of research trials, protocols and trial designs.
• Liaise with value chain departments to ensure crop varieties are evaluated and the best identified and handed over to commercial entities for commercialisation processes.
• Collaborate with National Seed Registration Agencies in submitting promising varieties for National Performance Trials (NPTs) and Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability tests (DUS) as a precursor for variety release and registration.
• Identify Unique Selling Points (USP’s) and provide technical data to support further product evaluation, product launches and market penetration.
• Effectively contributing to the Research function output in the areas of crop variety recommendation to the SBUs.
• Working collaboratively with value chain partners to ensure the best research outcomes whilst maintaining the quality and integrity of research standards.

Qualifications and skills required

• A BSc or MSc Agriculture Degree in Agronomy, Crop Science or Crop Production is desirable as well as an understanding of the Kenya cropping industry.
• Practical experience in agriculture and or agricultural research.
• A deep understanding of the Kenya agricultural industry.
• Enthusiasm, high intrinsic motivation, proactive, a positive ‘can do’ approach, hard working as well as strong attention to detail and quality.
• Sound work ethic and a strong desire to conduct field research in the fields.
• Ability to interpret experimental protocols and trial plans.
• A willingness and ability to collaborate with others to ensure the best field research outcomes – Team Player.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Proactive in field operations and data handling to ensure good results from trials.
• Sound understanding of agronomy operations.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a larger team.
• Computer competency with familiarity of MS word & MS Excel.

This is a full-time role, and the role will involve travel in and out of Kenya with extended periods of time away from home. If you are resident in Kenya, you are enthusiastic with a sound work ethic and have a desire to be involved in field research we would like to hear from you. Applications should be emailed to recruitment@seedcogroup.com by 10th July 2025.