A unique English-language institution, RICA combines research, education, and extension services to train Rwanda’s next generation of leaders in agriculture, while supporting national priorities for agricultural development.
RICA students will learn the principles of Conservation Agriculture and One Health, with an emphasis on building communication, leadership, and entrepreneurship skills. Students will gain hands-on experience in smallholder farming, while also being exposed to six different enterprise-scale agribusinesses during their course of study. They will also engage closely with local farming communities through on-site extension education and through the NASHO Irrigation Cooperative to ensure research insights are informed by local needs and knowledge is transferred to benefit local communities.
Precision Agriculture Lecturer
The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) is a unique and innovative English language undergraduate institution dedicated to preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders of Rwanda and East Africa. Students at RICA engage in curricular and co-curricular learning opportunities emphasizing Conservation Agriculture and One Health principles, oral and written communication, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
In an experiential learning environment, students develop the knowledge and experience necessary for a wide range of careers in agriculture. Students at RICA experience the six agricultural enterprises including Food Processing, Dairy, Poultry and Swine, Row and Forage Crops, Vegetable and Fruit Crops, and Irrigation and Mechanization. Communication, One Health, and Entrepreneurship are woven throughout the curriculum. All RICA graduates will be innovative problem solvers able to operate farms and ranches, start agribusinesses, assume management roles in cooperatives, NGOs, and other agricultural enterprises, serve their communities as extension agents and technical and policy experts, or assume positions of agricultural leadership in Rwanda.
DESCRIPTION
We are seeking a Precision Agriculture Specialist to join a world-class team of educators and researchers at RICA. Candidates may have training and experience in precision agriculture from either agronomic/soil science or engineering backgrounds. Ideal candidates will have a passion for education with a focus on conservation agriculture and systems thinking and will actively engage with students in the learning environment by demonstrating technical skills and mentoring students. Such a candidate will commit to the RICA teaching philosophy, which celebrates experiential learning that is founded in research and extends to the community. This position is a comprehensive teaching position whereby the successful candidate is a stakeholder in all aspects of the program, including but not limited to, the responsibilities listed below.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead course development and instruction for Site-Specific Crop Management courses to second- and third-year students.
- Participate in team teaching the experiential first-year Practical Farming series and other cropping systems courses.
- As part of a team mentor students on capstone and internship experiences.
- Introduce and direct maintenance of a geodatabase of RICA land resources, infrastructure, and land management.
- Champion Conservation Agriculture and One Health principles in teaching and mentoring.
- Join the extension team in providing precision agriculture and remote sensing solutions to farm management questions.
- Conduct interdisciplinary research adapting precision agriculture technologies to Rwandan agriculture.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Fluent speaker of English.
- MS or PhD in Agronomy, Soil Science, GIS, Ag Mechanization, Environmental Science, Ecology or related field.
- Proficient in the use of GIS software.
- Enthusiasm for conservation agriculture, experiential learning, and team teaching.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience teaching agriculture students.
- Experience in active and experiential learning and team teaching.
- Experience operating and maintaining drones for agricultural remote sensing applications.
- Experience in curriculum and course design.
- Demonstrated success in research and/or extension (e.g. presentations, publications, awards).
- PhD preferred.
BENEFITS OF JOINING THE RICA TEAM
Academic staff at RICA will be part of creating something unique in the world. While working with other world-class educators and researchers, you will transform agriculture in Rwanda and East Africa for a conservation-minded and food-secure future. RICA staff will also enjoy an internationally competitive salary commiserate with the applicant’s background, a relocation allowance, on-campus staff housing or a housing subsidy, and an on-campus meal plan.
HOW TO APPLY
Submit the following documents in English to RICA Human Resources website BY CLICKING HERE TO APPLY
- Cover Letter summarizing intent and suitability for the position.
- A resume or CV.
- Official degree certificate for highest degree obtained.
- Summary of the applicant’s teaching experiences (500 words max).
- The applicant’s philosophy of education and how this aligns with the mission of RICA (500 words max).
- List of recommenders with contact information.
Please combine your resume/CV with your degree certificate as one PDF file before you upload.
Review of applications will begin April 15, 2022 and continue until a successful candidate is identified.
Attachment
