Rwanda Plant Nutrient Management Research Associate (Fixed-Term)

Job Description

Location: Rubengera and Kigali, Rwanda
Career Level: Professionals
Contract Duration: 2 years, with the possibility of extension based on performance
Application Deadline: 08 August 2025 (Rolling Applications)
Employment Type: Full-time

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund supports over 4 million smallholder farmers to improve their productivity, income, and climate resilience. We operate in nine countries—home to two-thirds of Africa’s farmers—providing farm supplies, seedlings, agronomic training, accessible credit, and a wide range of services. On average, farmers increase their income and assets on supported land by over 40%.

Our Rwanda program, branded locally as Tubura, was established in 2007. We now have over 3,200 staff operating across all provinces and Kigali, serving more than 790,000 farmers.
Learn more about our work in Rwanda on our program blog.

About the Role

The Agricultural Innovations Department leads nationwide agricultural R&D trials across all agroecological zones in Rwanda. We are seeking a technical professional with a strong background in Plant Nutrient Management (PNM) and Cropping Systems (CS) to lead research and develop innovative, soil-improving, and profitable agricultural practices.

In this role, you will:

• Conduct research trials (on-farm and on-station), financial modeling, literature reviews, and surveys.
• Build and oversee the Soil & Plant Lab team, which handles in-house soil/plant microbiology and chemistry analysis.
• Manage external technical partnerships and lead a team of researchers in PNM and adjacent fields (e.g. IPM, livestock).
• Report to the department lead and collaborate across the One Acre Fund system.
  

Base location is negotiable, but attendance at twice-monthly team weeks in Karongi (Lab location) is required.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Product Development (60%)

• Conduct and lead multidisciplinary research to evaluate PNM and CS products, practices, and services.
• Ensure solutions are accessible to smallholder farmers (e.g., via Decision Support Systems – DSS).
• Translate findings into scalable, impactful solutions.
  

Soil & Plant Lab Oversight (20%)

• Build Lab capacity and ensure timely, high-quality soil and plant analyses.
• Uphold Lab performance based on Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
  

External Partnerships (10%)

• Identify and manage partnerships with organizations to fill technical gaps and fast-track implementation.
  

Team Management (10%)

• Supervise researchers, including senior Lab staff.
• Foster professional growth and ensure research excellence.
  

Qualifications

Required:

• BSc in Agriculture; MSc preferred.
• 5+ years of research experience in plant nutrient management and agroecological cropping systems.
• Expertise in nutrient cycling, soil health (physical, chemical, biological), and plant growth-promoting organisms.
• Strong background in experimental design and statistical data analysis.
• Experience managing scientific partnerships.
• Familiarity with lab management, dry chemistry soil analysis, and microbial activity assessments.
• English fluency (Kinyarwanda is a plus).
  

Preferred:

• Certification (e.g., Soil Food Web School) is an added advantage.
  

Career Growth and Development

One Acre Fund is committed to staff development through:

• Weekly manager check-ins
• Mentorship and training programs
• Biannual performance reviews
• Career goal-setting opportunities
  

You’ll help shape a growing organization while building a meaningful and impactful career.

Job Location

Rubengera and Kigali, Rwanda (flexible with required attendance in Karongi for team weeks)

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Housing support
• Comprehensive staff benefits
  

Eligibility

Open to all applicants. Work permit support is available.
However, nationals of Rwanda or those with extensive professional experience in our countries of operation are strongly preferred.

Application Deadline

08 August 2025
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Important Notes

• One Acre Fund never asks for payment at any recruitment stage.
• Official communications will always come from an @oneacrefund.org email address.
• Report suspicious messages to: globalhotline@oneacrefund.org

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

One Acre Fund is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture where all employees feel valued and empowered. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, including those from historically marginalized groups.

Apply now to be part of an innovative, mission-driven team transforming agriculture in Rwanda and beyond.