- Organization:
- The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
- Location:
- United States (Chicago, IL)
- Email:
- hr@thechicagocouncil.org
Description:
POSITION: Project Manager/Lead Researcher, Agriculture and Non-Communicable Diseases DEPARTMENT: Global Agriculture and Food Policy Initiative REPORTS TO: Executive Director, Global Agriculture and Food Policy SUMMARY The Project Manager/Lead Researcher will work with the Chair, Agriculture and Non-Communicable Diseases and Executive Director, Global Agriculture and Food Policy to manage and implement all aspects of the “Agriculture & Non-Communicable Diseases” project. This is a temporary, consultant position that will begin immediately and end on October 31, 2011. The position is located in Chicago, IL.“Agriculture & Non-Communicable Diseases” is a ten month project (January 1-October 31, 2011) to explore the relationship between shifting agricultural and food production trends, food availability, and the rise in non-communicable diseases. The project, which will include the production of a major research report, will identify opportunities for governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders involved in agriculture and food sectors to expand the production and availability of nutritious food while balancing economic, development, and health agendas. The effort will capitalize on the recent international attention paid to issues of agriculture, health, and nutrition and will add value to the dialogue on these topics in the run-up to the United Nations High-Level Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases, to be held in September 2011.
The Project Manager/Lead Researcher will be responsible for devising, managing, and implementing all activity streams and research needed to produce and successfully disseminate the “Agriculture & Non-Communicable Diseases” report. The person will work under the guidance of the project's Chair and report to the Executive Director, Global Agriculture and Food Policy
RESPONSIBILITIES Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Project Management
- Devise, manage, and implement all components of project activity streams, which include, but are not limited to:
- Assembling and providing support for a project Advisory Group, a group of distinguished international leaders with renowned experience in gender, agriculture, development, and related issues
- Assembling and providing support for a project Technical Experts Committee
- Managing and implementing the project's research agenda and processes
- Managing the report publication process
- Designing and implementing an outreach and dissemination strategy to ensure the report's recommendations reach the target audiences; includes executing a release event, planning trips to present the report's findings and recommendations, and broadly disseminating the report to key constituents
- Represent the project on a day-to-day basis to people internal and external to The Chicago Council
- Build and manage relationships with key individuals and organizations
- Regularly update the Chair and Executive Director on activity streams' progress, status of the budget, and key next steps; flag areas of concern and devise solutions; ensure the project is moving forward in a timely fashion
- Coordinate closely with other Chicago Council staff members on project related plans, topics, and activities
- Draft correspondences, project marketing materials, and opeds/articles to be signed by the project's leadership as needed or upon request;
- Execute necessary administrative tasks (e.g. planning and executing meeting and event logistics; preparing meeting agendas and materials; organizing trips for the chair)
- Perform other projects as assigned
Research
- Serve as the researcher during the development of the report's background, conclusions, and recommendations. This may include, but is not be limited to:
- Conducting a survey of existing research on the topic (drawn from publications, events, data sets, interviews with experts and organizations, etc.)
- Under the guidance of the chair, scoping key issues/problems, and recommendations to be considered
- Devising and implementing technical review processes
- Conducting meetings and interviews with key organizations and experts
- Work closely with the Chair, Executive Director, and project's writer to develop the final report; may include, but is not limited to:
- Developing the report's footnotes and reference sections
- Producing sidebars, charts, graphs, and other supplements
- Developing report appendices
- Fact checking
- Perform other projects as assigned
Qualification:
- An advanced degree with a focus on agriculture and/or health and 5 – 10 years experience in the international arena, prefer experience working in the agriculture, health or nutrition policy realms
- Demonstrated ability to develop strategy for and manage complex projects with multiple activity streams being realized under tight timelines with minimal supervision
- Demonstrated ability to conduct research drawn from primary and secondary sources
- Superior verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts and topics clearly, thoroughly, and succinctly and support decision making in consensus-based processes
- Significant experience interfacing with and planning meetings and events for distinguished individuals (domestic and foreign dignitaries, CEOs, senior policymakers, etc.)
- Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced, demanding environment with conflicting and changing priorities; flexible schedule in working late evenings/early mornings on occasion
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills, strong attention to detail, and professional maturity
- Great initiative and a proactive spirit
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, founded in 1922 as The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, is a leading independent, nonpartisan organization committed to influencing the discourse on global issues through contributions to opinion and policy formation, leadership dialogue, and public learning. The Chicago Council brings the world to Chicago by hosting public programs and private events featuring world leaders and experts with diverse views on a wide range of global topics. Through task forces, conferences, studies, and leadership dialogue, the Council brings Chicago's ideas and opinions to the world. Learn more at www.thechicagocouncil.org.
TO APPLY Please e-mail a cover letter and résumé as Word documents to hr@thechicagocouncil.org. You can also apply via the Council's Web site at www.thechicagocouncil.org in the Career Opportunities section. EOE