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Administrative Assistant , International Potato Center

Ref.: 12-53 AA/NRS/HQ

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a dynamic and responsible Administrative Assistant with excellent organizational skills to support the Social and Health Sciences Global Program. Success factors for the position are: excellent communication skills, teamwork, ability to prioritize work, sound judgment and excellent technology skills, as well as initiative and positive attitude in a high energy and constantly changing environment.

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, a network of 15 research centers mostly located in the developing world and supported by more than 50 donor members.

The Global Program on Social and Health Sciences (GP-SHS): The organization has over 40 years of interdisciplinary research experience, where social and biological scientists jointly generate research outputs and impacts related to on-farm conservation of genetic resources, varietal improvement and adoption, integrated crop management and value chain upgrading. The social science and health team plays a key role in ensuring the relevance of CIP research by functioning as a compass for the Center’s overall research program. This involves setting priorities, engaging the right set of partners and stakeholders in regional settings, addressing nutritional needs and opportunities through potato and sweetpotato and documenting adoption processes. The team also ensures that the widespread impacts of CIP’s research are systematically documented.

Duties and Accountabilities:

  • Ensure the smooth operation of the Global Program Leader office work by providing high levels of support
  • Ensure work priorities, procedures and administrative systems for the Global Program’s office are followed appropriately with strong emphasis on quality
  • Track and monitor deliverables and deadline, sending reminders as needed.
  • Manage the Global Program Leader schedule; organizes and prepares relevant briefing or background material for meetings
  • Screens and prioritizes incoming correspondence and phone calls
  • Establish and maintain relevant files and databases for the Global Program office

Selection Criteria:

  • Minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience.
  • Excellent interpersonal and intercultural communications skills; maturity and ability to interact responsively and tactfully with staff at all levels, with demonstrated good judgment and discretion.
  • Proficient in MS Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, Endnotes
  • Strong organizational skills, attention to details, and demonstrated ability to multitask and judge priorities under tight deadlines.
  • Self-development, initiative-taking
  • Acting as a team player and facilitating team work, facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team effectively
  • Fluent in English and Spanish.
  • Willingness to learn CIP’s policies, administrative processes and procedures.

Conditions: This position is local. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.

Applications: Applicants should apply by email, sending a letter of interest, a full C.V., and the names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to: cip-recruitment@cgiar.org. The reference name of the position should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message. Screening of applications will begin in July 9, 2012 and will continue until the post is filled.

All applications will be acknowledged, only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Learn more about CIP by accessing our web site at http://www.cipotato.org