Research Assistant Bioversity International Rome or Montpellier, Italy, France

Research Assistant

Agrobiodiversity and Ecosystem Services Programme

(Temporary Assignment – 6 Months)

 

Bioversity International (“Bioversity” for short) is the world’s largest organization undertaking research on

agricultural biodiversity, dedicated to addressing global issues related to food security, poverty, climate change and environmental degradation. We are a non profit organization, active in over 100 countries worldwide, with more than 350 staff working from some 16 country offices. We are one of 15 centres of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR). This is an exciting time to join Bioversity International. We have recently developed new and ambitious goals, clear objectives and performance indicators for the next ten years. Two strategic priorities have been set ? to improve the useof biodiversity by smallholder farmers and the conservation of plant diversity.

 

For further information on Bioversity International, consult the Web page at

http://www.bioversityinternational.org

 

Purpose of Role and Key responsibilities

Located in Bioversity’s Headquarters near Rome or in Bioversity’s Montpellier France office and under the

supervision of the Leader of the Agrobiodiversity and Ecosystem Service Program, the incumbent will

provide scientific and organizational support to the Conservation and Agriculture Platform.

 

The incumbent will provide support in planning, launching and monitoring a new two-year initiative to

gather and present a synthesis of high-quality scientific evidence that addresses the urgent need for

collaboration between the agriculture and conservation agendas. It will focus on the contribution of

biodiversity conservation to farming systems and food security, and the contribution of agriculture to

biodiversity conservation. Both goals are tightly bound: our vision is of an agriculture that is

environmentally sustainable, multifunctional, and productive. The initiative will inform and influence the

actions of key policy and decision makers in conservation, agriculture, food agencies and major donors on the use and conservation of biodiversity across a range of agricultural landscapes. It will elucidate

biodiversity conservation’s contribution to the well-being of smallholder farming communities in tackling

food and nutrition security, as well as protecting nature and avoiding catastrophic environmental change.

 

More specifically, the incumbent will:

· Work with the program leader in launching a multi-institutional initiative of agriculture and

conservation specialists, defining how agricultural systems and landscapes can be managed for

biodiversity conservation, and how agriculture and farming communities can benefit from

conservation;

· Assist the program leader in putting in place two key leadership groups, a scientific working group

and a thought leadership group, to drive and advise the initiative;

· With the program leader and the Bioversity’s development team, research, refine and develop high

quality approaches to an array of donors in support of the initiative;

· Support the compilation and contribute to a research paper and meta-analysis on the conservation

of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, and the functional contribution of that biodiversity to

agroecological intensification and livelihood improvement;

· Support the collation and preparation of Bioversity’s leadership inputs to international and

meetings, including contacting and coordinating the participation of global thought leaders and

scientific leaders in various meetings;

· Maintain the Bioversity intranet International Calendar of events and flag important meetings or

deadlines to appropriate staff;

· Provide general project management support to Bioversity’s Initiative on Agricultural and

Conservation;

· Provide input into planning and organizing events associated with the Initiative;

· Perform other duties as requested.

 

Qualifications and competencies

 

Essential qualifications & competencies

· Relevant university degree in ecology, agriculture or equivalent qualifications;

· Minimum of 3 years’ relevant experience;

· Current and up-to-date knowledge on international scientific dialogues regarding agriculture and

conservation – some keywords: agrobiodiversity and biodiversity, ecosystem services, socioecological

systems, agroecology;

· Well developed ability to analyse scientific data, ability to conduct meta-analyses;

· Well developed synthesizing skills with the ability to write clear and concise scientific papers and

proposals;

· Proficiency in relevant software packages (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint);

· Strong interpersonal, communications and teamwork skills; comfortable communicating verbally to

senior scientists, leaders and donors;

· Courtesy, tact and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people

of different cultural and national backgrounds;

· Well developed administrative, personal organization and priority setting skills;

· Excellent command of the English language, both written and spoken;

· Sound judgment and initiative; ability to work with a high degree of independence within assigned

areas;

· Demonstrable innovation and creativity;

· Demonstrable adaptability and flexibility;

· Excellent writing and/or successful proposal development experience.

 

Desirable qualifications and competencies

· Experience in an international working environment;

· Knowledge of web content management systems (WordPress);

· Experience of fundraising.

 

Terms and conditions: This is a temporary locally recruited professional position and all benefits are

denominated and paid in EURO. The salary is level 5, in a scale of eight levels, with level 8 being the

highest. The salary range starts from Euro 2,775 per month. The contract will be for a period of six

months with the possibility of renewal.

 

Applications: Please apply online through Bioversity Job Opportunities web page

(http://www.bioversityinternational.org/about_us/job_opportunities.html) by clicking the “Apply” button,

completing the online application and attaching the required information. The closing date for the vacancy is 3 December 2012. Please note that in the application you are required to provide the contact details (address, telephone number and e-mail address) of at least three referees, which Bioversity will contact for short listed applicants. The status of the selection process can be monitored in the “Job Opportunities” section of our web site.

 

Bioversity is an equal opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity.

Women and candidates from developing countries are encouraged to apply.