Research Field Assistant at World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) – Arusha, September 2025

World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) Overview

The World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) is a non-profit, autonomous international agricultural research center with its headquarters in Taiwan and five regional offices worldwide. WorldVeg’s research and development efforts focus on breeding improved vegetable lines, developing and promoting safe production practices, reducing post-harvest losses, and enhancing the nutritional value of vegetables. The center aims to raise awareness of the importance of vegetables in promoting improved health and alleviating global poverty.

Job Opportunity: Research Field Assistant

WorldVeg seeks to recruit a Research Field Assistant to provide general technical support to the vegetable breeding initiatives under various projects. This includes setting up laboratory, on-station, and on-farm trials, seed multiplication, and on-farm demonstration fields. The incumbent will be based in the Center’s regional office for Eastern and Southern Africa in Arusha, Tanzania.

Note: This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

• A Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Horticulture, Crop Science, or Agronomy from an accredited university.
• An MSc in Plant Breeding or Genetics is a significant advantage.
• A minimum of three years of experience in vegetable breeding, horticulture, and agronomy research, preferably within an international non-governmental organization (NGO).
• Excellent computer skills in MS-Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Familiarity with data analysis software such as R and GenStat.
• Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English and Kiswahili.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement field plans for nurseries, crossing blocks, and experiments/trials.
• Schedule and conduct all field activities: seed preparation, sowing, transplanting, irrigation, weeding, emasculation and crossing, harvesting, and seed extraction.
• Ensure proper labeling of all genetic materials and field plots.
• Design data sheets for data collection using the Fieldbook App.
• Ensure timely collection and secure storage of all field and laboratory data (yield, diseases, insect pests, abiotic stress).
• Collect samples for genotyping or nutritional analyses.
• Compile, analyze, and summarize data to support breeding decisions.
• Maintain all farm tools, field, and laboratory equipment.
• Prepare weekly/monthly work plans and directly supervise daily laborers.
• Assist in practical training courses organized by the vegetable improvement unit.
• Collaborate with other research assistants on regional research and development activities.
• Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor (Vegetable Breeder) or Country Program Manager.

WorldVeg’s Core Values

The ideal candidate will embody WorldVeg’s five core values: Dedication to Innovation and Knowledge Sharing, Commitment to Impact, Commitment to Partnerships, Respect for People, and Respect for the Environment.

How to Apply

Please follow these instructions carefully to ensure your application is considered.

Applicants should submit the following five items to info-esa@worldveg.org before the deadline:

1. A letter of application in English, explaining your suitability for and interest in the position.
2. A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) in English.
3. A recent passport-size photograph.
4. The names and full contact details (including telephone and e-mail) of three professional referees.
5. Your earliest date of availability.

Deadline: October 6, 2025

Important: Please ensure you mention the position title, “Research Field Assistant,” in the subject line of your email.

Pro Tips: Excelling in Your Application for this Research Role

Getting a position at an international research center like WorldVeg requires you to demonstrate your technical skills and scientific mindset clearly. Here is our exclusive advice to help you craft an application that stands out.

• 1. Construct a Science-Focused CV

  Your CV must immediately communicate your technical capabilities. Go beyond a standard format.

  Create a “Technical & Laboratory Skills” Section: Place this prominently near the top of your CV. List specific competencies. Instead of “lab work,” write: DNA extraction, PCR analysis, Seed germination testing, Plant tissue culture, and Pest and disease identification. For field skills, list: Trial design (Randomized Complete Block Design), Emasculation and hand-pollination techniques, Drip irrigation system management.

  Highlight Your Software Proficiency: Clearly state your level of comfort with the required software. For example: Data Analysis: Proficient in R (data visualization with ggplot2, statistical analysis) and GenStat. Data Collection: Experienced user of ODK-based tools like the Fieldbook App for in-field digital data capture.

  Quantify Your Research Experience: Use numbers to give your experience weight.

  • Instead of: “Helped with field trials.”
  • Write: “Managed and monitored 4 on-station trials for a tomato breeding program, collecting over 3,000 data points on yield and disease resistance across 150 breeding lines.“
  • Instead of: “Supervised workers.”
  • Write: “Supervised and trained a team of 5-10 daily laborers in specialized tasks such as controlled pollination and data collection, ensuring high-quality trial execution.“

2. Write a Compelling Application Letter

This letter is your chance to show your passion and connect your experience to WorldVeg’s specific mission.

• Align with their Mission: Start by showing you understand WorldVeg. Mention their work on indigenous African vegetables or a recent project that excites you. For example, “I have followed WorldVeg’s pioneering work on improving the resilience of amaranth and nightshade, and I am highly motivated to contribute my agronomic skills to a team that is making such a vital impact on nutrition in the region.”
• Mirror the Key Responsibilities: Structure your letter to address the job requirements directly and clearly. Dedicate a paragraph to your experience in trial management, another to your data collection and analysis skills, and a third to your experience working with teams. This makes it easy for the hiring manager to see you are a perfect fit.
• Show, Don’t Just Tell: Provide a brief example. “My experience directly aligns with the responsibilities of this role. For instance, in my previous position at [Previous Employer], I was responsible for the entire trial lifecycle, from designing the field layout in Excel to analyzing the final yield data in R, which directly prepares me for the duties outlined in your advertisement.”

3. Prepare for a Technical Interview

The interview will likely be a mix of technical questions and behavioral questions based on their core values.

• Anticipate Technical Scenarios: Be ready for questions like:
  • “You notice signs of a new, unidentified pest in one of your trial plots. What are your immediate steps?”
  • “Describe the process you would follow to ensure data integrity when collecting information from multiple plots with a team of field workers.”
  • “How would you handle a situation where an irrigation pump fails during a critical dry period?”
• Connect to Their Values: Prepare examples that demonstrate their core values.
  • Commitment to Partnerships: “Tell us about a time you had to work with farmers or an extension officer.”
  • Respect for People: “Describe your approach to supervising and motivating a diverse team of daily laborers in the field.”
  • Dedication to Innovation: “Can you give an example of a time you suggested a new or more efficient way of doing a task in the lab or field?”

By preparing these specific, evidence-based answers, you will present yourself as a competent, thoughtful, and professional candidate ready for the challenges of this exciting role.

This is a fantastic opportunity to build a career in a field that is crucial to Tanzania’s future. We send our very best wishes with your application.

Thank you for using Foniatz.com to search for your next career opportunity. We’re proud to support your journey!

Warmly,

The Foniatz.com Team