Rwanda Research & Seed Production Senior Supervisor (Fixed-Term) – One Acre Fund

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips 5.5 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa’s farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase their income and assets on supported land by more than 35 percent, while permanently improving their resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 9,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.

Our Rwanda program, founded in 2007, operates under the local brand Tubura. We have more than 3,200 staff located in all four Rwanda provinces and Kigali. Together, we directly serve more than 790,000 farmers. To learn more about our work, look at our Rwanda program blog for more information.

About the Role

Trials and basic Seed Production Senior supervisor will help manage agricultural research trials and basic seed production operations. You will include overseeing DUS and VCU trials across multiple crops (including maize, beans, soybeans, chia), managing data collection and cleaning, supervising seasonal seed bulking activities, facilitating practical sessions for seed technology trainees, and supervising casual labor teams. We are looking for a, proactive, and experienced person with a background in agricultural trials, seed systems, and team leadership. You will be a part of Seed Innovation Center (SIC) and will report directly to Seed Product and Agronomy Specialist. This role is based in Bugesera at RICA Seed Center.

Responsibilities

Manage Trials (DUS, VCU, and support in STB research project) and daily research site operations

• Oversee daily station operations to ensure the implementation of DUS, VCU, and assigned STB research trials.
• Ensure and accurate planting, management, and harvesting of trial plots following approved trial protocols.
• Monitor and report on station performance metrics, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure, accurate field data collection, entry, and validation using standardized tools.
• Maintain, traceable archives for each trial season to ensure data quality, integrity, and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with Conservation Agriculture practices, including maintaining soil cover, implementing legume-based crop rotations, and minimizing soil disturbance through organic soil management.
• Report progress, observations, and any deviations from protocols to the manager for review.

Responsible for maize basic seed production

• Implement maize basic seed production in close collaboration with the Seed Product and Agronomy Senior Specialist.
• Ensure quality field management and strict adherence to basic seed production standards.
• Maintain accurate seed traceability and documentation for all seed lots produced.
• Coordinate field inspections and certifications with regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Assist in the planning and delivery of hands-on breeding and seed production practical sessions.

Others

• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Perform any other duties assigned to support station operations and research objectives.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

Technical skills: Excellent knowledge of DUS/VCU trial standards and basic seed production systems.

• Strong data collection, cleaning, and reporting skills (Excel, Fieldbook, etc.)
• Familiar with Google sheet (can maintain complex spreadsheet)
• Proven experience supervising large field teams and casual laborers.
• Commitment to conservation agriculture  practices.
• Effective communication in English

Knowledge:  Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Crop Science, Seed Technology, or a related field.

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Bugesera, Rwanda

Benefits

Health insurance, paid time off

Contract Duration

2 Years

Eligibility

This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Rwanda.

Application Deadline

15 December 2025. Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.