Manager Rapid Generation Advancement/Speed Breeding

ICRISAT seeks applications from Indian nationals for the position of Manager Rapid Generation Advancement/Speed Breeding to support Accelerated Breeding, Accelerated Crop Improvement. The incumbent will lead the day-to-day coordination and management of Work Package 3 (Population Development and Speed Breeding Optimization) under the NNF-funded project Applying modern tools to enhance precision and speed of dryland crops breeding. The role encompasses planning, executing, and overseeing RGA/speed breeding experiments, managing facility operations, supervising technical staff and consultants, tracking milestones and budgets, and liaising with internal teams and external partners to ensure reliable and timely delivery of optimized protocols and upgraded infrastructure for accelerated breeding in dryland crops, with an initial focus on sorghum and groundnut at ICRISAT Hyderabad. This position will be based at ICRISAT's Headquarters in Patancheru, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Responsibilities:

Purpose:

Conceptual and Applied:

- Manage and coordinate the full cycle of RGA/speed breeding experiments (Tasks 3.1 3.3), including experimental planning, resource allocation, protocol optimization, and milestone tracking against project timelines.
- Oversee day-to-day facility operations (growth chambers, glasshouses), scheduling, procurement of supplies, and maintenance of environmental controls (LED lighting, temperature, humidity, irrigation).
- Translate research outputs into scalable, standardized SOPs; ensure reproducibility across breeding cycles and seasons; and maintain comprehensive documentation for WP3 project reporting and NNF deliverables.

Engagement:

Internal and External:

- Supervise, mentor, and performance-manage a team of technical staff, consultants, and trainees supporting RGA activities; foster a culture of safety, quality assurance, and continuous improvement.




- Coordinate with WP leads (WP1, WP2, WP4, WP5), external partners (CIMMYT co-lead, University of Queensland), and national partners (ICAR, KALRO, TARI, EIAR) to align speed breeding activities with project milestones and cross-WP deliverables.
- Prepare and present WP3 progress reports, technical notes, and presentations for the Project Operations Committee, Scientific Advisory Committee, and NNF reporting cycles.
- Any other assignments from time to time as assigned by the supervisor.

Timeliness and Quality:

- Monitor and manage WP3 operational budgets, track expenditures against approved plans, and liaise with institutional Finance Managers to ensure compliance with NNF and ICRISAT financial policies.
- Lead dissemination of WP3 results, including publications in high-impact journals, conference presentations, and contributions to project communication products.
- Support facility upgrade planning and execution (Task 3.3), including LED lighting, automated fertigation, solar energy solutions, and environmentally sustainable infrastructure improvements.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

- MSc in Plant Breeding, Crop Physiology, Agronomy, Horticulture, Controlled Environment Agriculture, or a closely related discipline with a minimum 6 years of experience in managing controlled-environment experiments, speed breeding/RGA programs, or breeding operations in field crops (experience in sorghum and/or legumes is a strong advantage).
- Demonstrated experience:
- Proven ability to manage teams,



coordinate multi-partner activities, and deliver results within defined timelines and budgets in an international research environment.
- Hands-on skills in managing growth chambers/glasshouses, environmental set-point control, plant husbandry, crossing/pollination support, and seed processing.
- Solid project management, organizational, and documentation skills; ability to translate research findings into practical, scalable protocols and SOPs for breeding programs.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary, multicultural, and deadline-driven research environment.

Desirable Skills:

- Experience with budget management, procurement processes, and financial reporting in donor-funded research projects.
- Sensor-based monitoring and environmental logging (temperature, humidity, light intensity/PPFD) with strong data discipline.
- PPFD/LED tuning experience for crop-specific optimization (photoperiod and light spectrum/intensity management).
- Experience with automation or control systems for irrigation, climate, and/or lighting (e.g., programmable controllers, IoT-enabled systems).
- Statistical analysis skills for experimental interpretation (e.g., R, Python, Genstat, SAS, or equivalent) and clear reporting of outcomes.
- Familiarity with genomic selection concepts, rapid-cycle breeding, and/or doubled-haploid technologies is an advantage.

General:

This is a contractual role for a period of 36 months (3 years), renewable based on the performance of the incumbent and the institute's continuing need for the position.

Disclaimer : This job posting has been aggregated from external source. Role details, content, and availability are subject to change. Applicants are advised to confirm the latest information directly on the company website before applying.

📌 Manager-Manager- RGA and Speed Breeding (Hyderabad)
🏢 Icrisat
📍 Hyderabad