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Global Crop Diversity Trust GeneSys II Project Manager


The Global Crop Diversity Trust is an international organization whose mission is to ensure the conservation and availability of crop diversity for food security worldwide. The Global Crop Diversity Trust is in the process of establishing its headquarters in Bonn, Germany. For further information about the Global Crop Diversity Trust, consult the web page at http://croptrust.org  
GeneSys is a global portal to information about plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. It is a gateway from which germplasm accessions from genebanks around the world can be easily found and ordered. More information about GeneSys can be found at: http://www.genesys-pgr.org
The Global Crop Diversity Trust is seeking candidates for the position of:
GeneSys II Project Manager
Reporting to the Assistant Executive Director, the GeneSys II Project Manager will be responsible for the development and deployment of GeneSys II. The GeneSys II Project Manager will be based at the Trust’s offices in Bonn, Germany. He/she will manage technical implementation with the coordinators of the various work packages defined for GeneSys II development. The GeneSys II Project Manager should have experience in project management, IT development, and community building. He/she will work with a Management Group that may eventually consist of representatives of work packages, which would be done as subcontracts. The identification could be by a competitive call for proposals or commissioned directly. The specific responsibilities of the position are as follows:
• Provide technical and management leadership for the development of GeneSys II.
• Coordinate the design of work packages, identify developers for work packages, monitor delivery timeframe and quality of GeneSys II system with input from the Oversight Committee, the Trust, the Management Team of the Genebank CRP, data providers that are part of the GeneSys Platform, and users.
• Lead the identification of work package developers by developing a call for proposals, and/or commission directly as agreed with the Oversight Committee. This might include taking a lead to work with work package providers to develop a proposal or bid request, solicit interested providers to respond, review proposal or bids with input from Oversight Committee or others as appropriate and manage contracting process.
• Overall management of the implementation of the GeneSys II project through a team of developers of work packages, which would be done as subcontracts. The developers could be CGIAR Centers, other genebanks or private IT companies.
• Develop overall workplan and budget for review by the Oversight Committee. In collaboration with the Director of Finance of the Trust, provide financial monitoring of work package providers and collate financial reports for onward transmission to donors.
• Represent GeneSys II as needed to promote the platform to new data providers and/or users.
• Collaborate with the Trust, the Genebank CRP, and others to develop a communication strategy to guide the longer term promotion of GeneSys II.
• Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications and competencies
• At least 5 years of experience in project management, especially in relation to software development or other team development processes.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in IT software program development.
• Experience in community building amongst software development community, data providers, or user community.
• Skills to effectively manage user input in application development.
• Working knowledge of English (both written and spoken).
• Experience with multi-national or global software development, websites or other internet knowledge management systems would be an advantage.
• Ability to interact effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
Terms and Conditions: The Trust offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary, non-contributory retirement savings plan, medical insurance and leave provisions. This is a Professional position classified as Level 4, in a scale of 6 Grade Levels with 6 being the highest. The salary range starts at Euro 55,000. All benefits are denominated and paid Euros. Relocation costs are covered for candidates who reside outside of the Bonn/Cologne or surrounding areas. The initial contract will be for a period of three years, subject to a probationary period of twelve months.
Applications: Interested candidates should submit the following:
• a one page summary of your qualifications and experience, indicating how you meet each of the duties and competencies for the position and your motivations for applying;
• your curriculum vitae in English (please include your current residence address, telephone, fax and email address, date of birth, gender and nationality);
• names and full contact details of at least three referees.
The above items should be sent to: Human Resources Office, Global Crop Diversity Trust, preferably by email at trustvacancy@croptrust.org not later than 23 November 2012. Alternatively, applications can be sent by mail to the following address: Global Crop Diversity Trust, c/o FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. All mailed applications must be postmarked by the above deadline. Please quote source of advertisement.
The Trust is an equal opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality.

All applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted