Rwanda Mechanisation Research & Station Trials Senior Specialist (Fixed-Term)

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 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.

About the Role

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.

Responsibilities

Lead Mechanisation Research & Feasibility Assessment

• Conduct phase 0 research to identify high-impact smallholder mechanisation opportunities through market scans, feasibility studies, adoption analysis, and financial modelling.
• Assess risks, scalability, and farmer adoption potential to prioritise mechanisation research investments.

Design, Adapt & Validate Mechanisation Solutions

• Select, adapt, and refine mechanisation technologies (e.g. planters, weeders, harvest and post-harvest tools, irrigation devices) based on farmer needs and contextual constraints.
• Design and oversee rigorous trials to creatively evaluate and iterate on machine performance, usability, efficiency, and cost reduction potential.
• Develop robust impact models assessing financial, environmental, and health outcomes.

Deliver High-Quality Trials & Actionable Insights

• Ensure scientifically sound trial design, data collection protocols, and quality control across station and field trials.
• 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

• Manage relationships with manufacturers, fabricators, academic institutions, and sector experts to co-develop and improve mechanisation solutions.
• Mentor and manage research staff, aligning performance and priorities with departmental goals.
• Lead process improvements, capacity-building initiatives, and cross-organisational collaboration to increase impact and efficiency.

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:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Rubengera, Rwanda

Contract Duration

2 years, transformable to permanent in the case of good performance

Benefits

Health insurance, paid time off 

Eligibility

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

Application Deadline

08 April 2026. 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 ([email protected]), 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.