Senior Technical Expert II -Lab Expert Full Time

 Job Summary

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) is collaborating with the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA) as one of implementing partner of ISSSE project to enhance seed quality assurance, national seed policy, regulations, and legal frameworks. The mainstreaming of national and international procedures for seed testing is vital in the establishment of any seed testing laboratory to effectively regulate the national seed industry and international seed trade. As part of human capacity building and address one of critical gaps of EAA, ATI recruits one senior lab expert for EAA who will be seconded to the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA) based at Addis Ababa. The primary objective of the Lab. expert is to ensure functional and ISTA accredited EAA seed Laboratory supporting national seed industry, and international seed trade. Reporting Structure of  the STE II : Lab expert will report directly to EAA Director General/Deputy Director General, but matrix report to ISSSE project manager while maintaining close communication with the ISSSE project team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct advanced seed testing procedures in compliance with ISTA standards.
• Conduct proficiency testing in alignment with International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) standards to support seed quality assurance.
• Participate in internal audits and assist with external audits to maintain accreditation status.
• Operate laboratory equipment for mixing, subsampling, and weighing seeds, ensuring proper maintenance of all lab tools.
• Identify and categorize various seed species, conducting physical purity tests, noxious weed content examinations, and germination assessments.
• Maintain accurate records of seed tests, interpret lab results, and report any discrepancies for regulatory action.
• Ensure that all laboratory processes adhere to ISTA accreditation requirements and international testing protocols.
• Train laboratory staff on testing protocols, equipment operation, and safety procedures.
• Oversee daily operations of EAA seed testing laboratory, ensuring compliance with ISTA standards and quality assurance protocols.
• Ensure ISTA Accredited EAA Lab. based on current state of ISTA accreditation policies and standards, and EAA Lab. alignment with existing national and international body such as International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), Ethiopian Accreditation Institute (EAI), and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
• Ensure accredited seed lab is financially autonomous through dialogue with Ministry of Finance (MOF) & Reginal Bureau Of Finance (RBOF)
• Select regional seed labs based on the audit report result by EAA central Lab. and grant basic functionality trier level
• Establish a functional plan for the EAA Lab. and layout the existing and a newly procured laboratory equipment to international standard
• Maintain relationships and communications with international and national seed sector stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, research institutions, and seed industry partners.