Senior Welder

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Welder

Location: Ibadan, Oyo

Duties

• Weld and repair farm machinery and implements, including tractors, irrigation equipment, and heavy-duty tools.
• Fabricate metal structures for research facilities (screen houses, greenhouses, irrigation frames, trial plot fencing, etc.).
• Measure, cut, and prepare metal materials according to design specifications.
• Employ appropriate welding techniques (MIG, TIG, stick welding, arc welding, gas welding, etc.) to deliver strong, precise, and safe welds.
• Carry out preventative maintenance on welded structures to ensure long-term durability and reduce costs of replacement.
• Maintain safe working conditions and ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards.
• Keep accurate daily records of welding and fabrication activities, including materials used and labour hours (to feed into cost-recovery tracking).
• Provide input to equipment investment plans by reporting on recurring fabrication/repair needs.
• Train and guide junior welders or casual staff on proper welding techniques and safety practices.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Head of Farm Management.

Requirements

• National Diploma (ND) in Mechanical Engineering or related field with a minimum of 6 years proven welding and fabrication experience in a well-structured organization.
• NABTEB Technical Certificate in Welding and Fabrication is an advantage.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must have:

• Training or certification in occupational health and safety (e.g., NEBOSH, OSHA, or a Nigerian equivalent), with strict adherence to workplace safety standards, PPE usage, and the safe handling of welding and fabrication equipment.
• Proficiency in MIG, TIG, stick, and gas welding, with strong knowledge of metals, alloys, and welding consumables.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and fabrication plans, with experience using CNC cutting and advanced metalworking tools.
• Experience fabricating irrigation systems or research screen houses, preferably within agricultural research institutions or farm mechanization projects.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and work order tracking systems.
• Supervisory skills and the ability to manage junior welders effectively.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision while maintaining precision and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English for effective communication and reporting.

Benefits

• We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.