Hiring?Get vetted candidates in 48 hours. Pay only when you hire.Get vetted candidates in 48 hours.
O
Rwanda Mechanisation Research & Station Trials Senior Specialist (Fixed-Term)
One Acre Fund
Posted 3 months agoKigali, Rwanda
Location
Kigali, Rwanda
Job Type
Full-time
Experience
Senior
Category
Product Management
Job Description
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 is our largest and operates under the local brand Tubura. We have more than 3,000 staff across all four provinces of Rwanda, as well as in Kigali. Together, we served more than 2.8 million farmers in 2024. We work closely with the government to support national efforts to improve food security. Additionally, we help channel funding and resources to promising agri-SMEs, supporting farmers by providing a market for high-impact crops such as coffee, avocado, and chili.
Seeking a creative agricultural mechanization researcher to test and iterate on smallholder farming technologies, evaluate their impact on farmers in terms of productivity boosts and cost reductions and help improve the rigour and efficiency of trials at research stations.
Well-rounded agronomic foundation (e.g. cropping systems, IPM, ISFM) and strong grounding in agroecologically sound agriculture.Proven ability to design and manage field trials using robust experimental design and sampling best practices.
08 April 2026. Please note that we h
ProGigFinder Press
Fifty silent applications, or one that lands.
Pick any job above and pay $2.99 with MoMo or Card. In 60 seconds you get a CV written for that role: it passes the screening software and reads the way a recruiter expects.
Get my CV for this job: $2.99
Requirements
- Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Mechanisation, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience in smallholder agricultural mechanisation and interpreting machine design and specifications.
- Analytical skills, including statistical analysis and impact modelling using R, Excel, or similar tools.
- High level of independence, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in applied research environments.
- Fabrication/welding skills is a plus.
- As soon as possible
- Rubengera, Rwanda
- 2 years, transformable to permanent in the case of good performance
- This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Rwanda
Responsibilities
- Lead Mechanisation Research & Feasibility Assessment
- Assess risks, scalability, and farmer adoption potential to prioritise mechanisation research investments.
- Design, Adapt & Validate Mechanisation Solutions
- Develop robust impact models assessing financial, environmental, and health outcomes.
- Deliver High-Quality Trials & Actionable Insights
- Analyse and synthesise trial data into clear recommendations and decision-ready insights.
- Present findings to internal teams, partners, and external stakeholders.
- Provide Technical & Operational Leadership for Research Stations
- Oversee research rigour, operational efficiency, performance management, and SLA adherence across research stations.
- Strengthen SOPs, data integrity, and communication flows between stations and trial owners.
- Manage station capacity, resources, and infrastructure to support high-quality trial execution.
- Build Partnerships, Develop Teams & Drive Continuous Improvement
- Mentor and
- Design and oversee rigorous trials to creatively evaluate and iterate on machine performance, usability, efficiency, and cost reduction potential.
- Ensure scientifically sound trial design, data collection protocols, and quality control across station and field trials.
- Manage relationships with manufacturers, fabricators, academic institutions, and sector experts to co-develop and improve mechanisation solutions.
- Conduct phase 0 research to identify high-impact smallholder mechanisation opportunities through market scans, feasibility studies, adoption analysis, and financial modelling.
- Select, adapt, and refine mechanisation technologies (e.g. planters, weeders, harvest and post-harvest tools, irrigation devices) based on farmer needs and contextual constraints.
Benefits
- Health insurance, paid time off
