Senior Specialist – Plant Nutrient Management & Lab (Renewable)

About the role

One Acre Fund is seeking a senior specialist to lead end‑to‑end research on innovative plant nutrient management products, practices and services. The role combines scientific leadership, field trial oversight, and laboratory management to generate measurable impact for smallholder farmers in Rwanda.

Key responsibilities

• Design and lead multidisciplinary research, trials and modelling to evaluate innovative plant nutrient solutions.
• Assess feasibility, adoption potential, risks and impact of products and practices through rigorous analysis.
• Develop robust methodologies, experimental designs and impact models for evidence‑based decision‑making.
• Oversee quality implementation of field and station trials, ensuring data integrity and research standards.
• Analyse complex datasets, produce technical reports and translate findings into scalable recommendations.
• Develop extension materials based on well‑evidenced products, practices and services.
• Manage soil and plant laboratory operations, inventory, SOP compliance and KPI tracking.
• Guide laboratory resourcing, equipment planning and introduce new analytical capabilities.
• Build technical capacity of lab staff through coaching, training and performance support.
• Establish and nurture research partnerships with external stakeholders.

Required profile

• Proven experience leading applied research in plant nutrient management and soil health.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a technical sub‑team and laboratory operations.
• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting large, complex datasets.
• Excellent communication skills to translate scientific findings into farmer‑facing solutions.
• Capacity to develop and implement rigorous experimental designs and impact models.

Required skills