Researcher - Water Management Based at USAID Office in Washington DC

Researcher - Water Management

Based at USAID Office in Washington DC

The person and the job:

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) seeks to appoint a highly qualified specialist in agricultural water management who, as a first duty assignment, would be given the role of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) visiting scientist in Washington DC, USA. For more than a decade, collaboration between USAID and IWMI has included an IWMI scientist being seconded within USAID in Washington, DC, USA. In this role, the visiting scientist will assist relevant offices within USAID on strategic planning and Mission support, undertaking research and analysis, and participating in liaison and interaction with relevant USAID staff, Missions and partners. The scientist will also spend a portion of his/her time (~20%) on IWMI’s core research activities.

The appointee will be located in the Bureau for Food Security (BFS), and divide his/her time between the BFS and the Office of Water of the Bureau of Economic Growth Agriculture and Trade (EGAT).

You will:

· promote greater inclusion of sustainable agricultural water management in the US government’s Feed the Future (FTF) initiative, and support the development of approaches that ensure water management does not constrain the achievement of the initiative’s objectives;

· provide input to incorporate agricultural water management in the design and implementation of relevant projects, programs and strategies in Washington DC, and USAID missions in countries where the Feed the Future initiative is being implemented (which will entail short-term travel (TDYs) to USAID missions);

· collaborate with other offices and teams within USAID including the Global Climate Change team, regional bureaus and other partners within USAID to encourage strong and appropriate consideration for agricultural water management in the context of their activities; and

· identify synergies and opportunities for collaboration between IWMI and USAID.

You will possess:

· a PhD or Masters with equivalent experience in a relevant discipline (economics, engineering, agronomy, etc.);

· a background in scientific research in biophysical or socioeconomic aspects of irrigated and/or rainfed agricultural systems in developing countries;

· an excellent knowledge and experience in agricultural systems and development programming;

· experience leading and operating in interdisciplinary teams, and skills in developing and managing multi-faceted development programs;

· a demonstrated ability to synthesize scientific information and communicate its relevance to stakeholders;

· excellent knowledge of global political and economic interests, trends and institutions;

· excellent interpersonal skills interfacing with diverse constituents, leaders and colleagues; and

· a track record of publication of scientific output.

This is an internationally recruited position but open only for US citizens. Selected candidate will be offered a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes a transport allowance, retirement and health insurance package. Applications are welcome from individuals who wish to take a secondment from their current employment.

Closing date: 20 June 2012 (24:00 hrs. Sri Lanka time)

To apply for the post : http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/About_IWMI/Vacancies/

For information about IWMI visit : http://www.iwmi.org