About IRRI
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science, improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baรฑos, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff. Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.
The IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) is an IRRI regional facility that supports research collaboration, training, and service provision to institutions, scientists, and other stakeholders from India and other South Asian and African nations. The centre aims to enhance South-South collaboration and strengthen the capacity of rice growing countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa in crop production and seed quality and enhance farmersโ income. It also seeks to deliver research for development services for the private and public sectors through its state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for grain quality, crop production, and nutritional quality. Lastly, it enables knowledge transfer through short courses on rice-based agri-food systems and other IRRI Education products within the region.
Job Purpose
The PM-RKVY initiative, โInnovation and Agri-entrepreneurship Programneโ under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmersโ Welfare (MoAFW) aims to foster innovation, strengthen agripreneurship, and develop an ecosystem that supports agribusiness growth across India. The programme focuses on developing agri-business innovation, empowering farmers, and nurturing agripreneurs through structured incubation, mentoring, networking and capacity-building support. The programme provides funding assistance to innovative and high-potential agri-startups and agripreneurs, enabling them to scale their ventures, refine business models, and commercialize impactful solutions. Through this initiative, the programme contributes to strengthening rural livelihoods, enhancing market competitiveness, and accelerating Indiaโs transition
toward an innovation-driven agribusiness ecosystem.
The ManagerโMarketing and Communication role requires specialized expertise in brand strategy, digital communication, and stakeholder engagement for promoting PM-RKVYโs agri-startup and incubation initiatives. Existing IRRI staff do not possess the combined experience in marketing campaigns, content management, and outreach for agripreneurship programs. The selected candidate has proven skills in brand positioning, digital media management, and communication strategy for startups and rural enterprises. Engaging this expert ensures effective visibility, outreach, and engagement, enhancing program impact and stakeholder participation.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Develop and implement marketing and branding strategies to enhance program visibility and stakeholder engagement.
- Plan and execute training programs, mentoring sessions, demo days, investor meets, and capacity-building workshops for startups and agripreneurs.
- Support startups with product positioning, branding, pricing, packaging, go-to-market strategies, and business development.
- Lead outreach campaigns, manage digital communication channels, and oversee development of communication materials.
- Coordinate with mentors and industry experts for startup evaluations, capacity building, and milestone tracking.
- Support planning and execution of key events, including exhibitions, field demonstrations, stakeholder programs, and trade fairs.
- Document program outcomes and ensure communication and branding activities align with government guidelines and project objectives.
- Undertake any additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the Institute Director, Project Investigator (PI), or Co-Project Investigator (Co-PI).
Qualifications
- Professional with MBA/ PGDM/Equivalent Master degree in Agriculture/Agri-Business/ finance/marketing/IT/Economics/Agri-Economics/International Business from UGC recognized institute/universities.
- With minimum 3-5 years of experience in marketing, digital marketing, developing business plan/assessment and evaluation of startups projects/ entrepreneurship development and well conversant in managing social media.
- Expertise in designing and delivering training sessions for diverse stakeholders.
- Experience in supporting startups and entrepreneurs across various stages of their enterprise development.
Skills Required
- Strong expertise in marketing strategy, branding, and product positioning for startups and agribusinesses.
- Experience in digital marketing, social media management, and content creation.
- Proficiency in developing communication materials, including brochures, newsletters, blogs, and press releases.
- Knowledge of market research, competitive analysis, product positioning strategies, customer engagement, and go-to-market strategies.
- Ability to plan and execute outreach campaigns, events, and stakeholder engagement activities.
- Strong writing, storytelling, and visual communication skills.
- Experience in coordinating with mentors, industry experts, and project teams for program promotion.
- Analytical skills to monitor campaign performance and generate insights for continuous improvement.
- Understanding of government programs, agribusiness ecosystems, and entrepreneurship development.