Program Leader - International Development Research Centre

The Global Adaptation Research Program (GARP) is a new partnership between IDRC and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID). This new program of research on adaptation to climate change represents a joint investment of CAD 70 million over seven (7) years in Asia and Africa.

The Program focus is on increasing the resilience of the most vulnerable populations and their livelihoods in three ‘hot spots’ selected for their combination of significant climate change impacts in the biophysical environment and high risks due to a large number of poor people with limited capacity to adapt. The Program’s geographical scope includes Africa and Asia, and the hot spots are semi-arid zones, mega-deltas and densely populated river basins including glacier-fed systems.

The Program’s goal is to develop robust evidence to inform how to increase the resilience of vulnerable populations in these hot spots. It will generate knowledge on conditions leading to vulnerability to climate change and how to increase resilience and develop sustainable adaptation measures within and across the hot spots.

These outputs will provide decision-makers at the local, national and regional levels with the robust scientific evidence they need to inform their policies and programs to increase the resilience of the vulnerable populations and make a difference in their life.

As the Program Leader, drawing on the professional credibility you have established over your career, you will develop and maintain a program-level vision; provide intellectual leadership in identifying critical research issues; and lead on the development, management and monitoringof a portfolio of projects to be delivered through competitively contracted research consortia. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of professional staff based in Canada as well as in some regional offices, ensuring effective implementation of the Program at the grantee level and the broader results and impact at the program level. You will report to and engage with the key governance bodies of GARP, its Executive Committee and International Advisory Group. You will represent the program internationally, enhancing the global awareness, understanding and support for the Programin order to influence and inform the activities of development actors.

Candidate Profile

Education

• PhD. in a relevant natural or environmental science or an area of applied environmental research for development such as environmental studies, geography or natural resources management and publications related to climate change research in developing regions.

Experience

The position requires 10 years of relevant experience, with an emphasis in developing regions, in the following activities:

• leading and managing multidisciplinary, international teams includingsenior researchers with diverse backgrounds and expertise;
• communicating the results and impact of research to a variety of audiences including academia, policy actors (national, international and donor), and practitioners;
• representing an organization, explaining and promoting its vision, mandate and activities, including at the international level
• conducting or commissioning research including in developing regions; and
• consulting with stakeholders to define research needs and facilitating the uptake and use of evidence.

Language

• A superior knowledge of English and intermediate knowledge of French is essential for the position

Knowledge

• Exceptional knowledge of the field of adaptation to climate change andbuilding of resilience of vulnerable communities
• Exceptional knowledge of research actors of developing regions, including in the above field
• Good knowledge of Canadian / UK policy related to research, climate change and development
• Understanding of methods and approaches to effectively communicate research to decision-makers and policy actors

Competencies

• Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to synthesize and package information to respond to the needs of a variety of groups within and outside the IDRC.
• Professional Expertise: provides specialized advice and guidance on issues of research design, outreach, and organizational development; and articulates how research contributes to development goals
• Management Excellence: accurately assesses risks; achieves challenging and realistic goals responding to needs on time and budget; shows how creativity can be built into accountability for results; and inspires high performance from diverse teams
• Value-Based Leadership: leads by example to demonstrate integrity, fairness, transparency, work-life balance and respect; effectively represents IDRC values in diplomatic, political and international fora; and is sensitive to individual, gender and cultural differences
• Strategic Agility: develops and maintains networks; uses influence and networks to gain strategic intelligence; formulates novel and innovative approaches; and takes action to generate, leverage or expand opportunities
• Engagement: fosters commitment to continuous improvement; uses and values partners and stakeholders perspectives; creates a sense of direction to mobilize team, partners and stakeholders
• Passion for Vision and Mandate: advances by identifying and harnessing internal and external opportunities; and promotes strong client focus in all actions

Additional Information

This position requires a willingness to travel internationally, an average of 30-60 days per year.

For more information about this opportunity and to apply, visit our website at www.idrc.ca/careers.