Training Specialist at AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center

Position Announcement
Training Specialist
Shanhua, Taiwan

AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center is a non-profit, autonomous international agricultural research center with headquarters in Taiwan and regional offices around the globe.  AVRDC conducts research and development programs that contribute to improved incomes and diets in the developing world through increased production and consumption of safer vegetables.  For more information on AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center, please visit our website: www.avrdc.org.

AVRDC seeks a Training Specialist to lead the Center’s capacity-building activities globally.  The position will be based at AVRDC’s headquarters in Shanhua, Taiwan.  The Specialist will report to the Head of the Global Technology Dissemination group.

The Job:

• Provide  leadership and guidance for AVRDC’s training activities globally, including technical, administrative and logistical issues;
• Help the Center to develop a capacity-building strategy and enable the Center to disseminate its technologies more effectively through training;
• Provide guidance on appropriate educational methods for AVRDC’s projects, trainees and learners;
• Carry out training needs analyses, and curriculum design and courseware development; collate appropriate development training materials and ensure translation into appropriate languages as needed;
• Work with AVRDC’s Monitoring and Evaluation group to evaluate the impact of AVRDC training activities;
• Develop and write proposals for capacity-building and training projects, support capacity-building in AVRDC’s research and development projects;
• Ensure quality control of training data;
• Maintain a database of training scholars and activities and provide summaries/results for donor reports, Board presentations, etc.;
• Link with institutions outside horticulture/agriculture to improve the nutritional outcomes of AVRDC’s work;
• Develop an effective network with universities to link AVRDC scientists with university students who can conduct collaborative research;

The Person:  Applicants must have a PhD in education, training, capacity building, communications or a related field.  Experience in agriculture, rural development, nutrition or primary health care areas is highly desirable; experience with development education and training of trainers is also highly desirable.  Experience in adult learning, participatory training approaches, discovery-based learning and curriculum design and development is necessary.  Skills in data collection, evaluation and needs analyses are also important.  At least five years of international experience is required.  Good organization, communication and coordination skills are essential.  Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential; other language skills are desirable.

The Reward:  This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position with competitive pay and benefits.  The initial appointment is for three years and may be extended depending on the performance of the incumbent and need for the position.

How to Apply:  Submit a letter of application with curriculum vitae, a recent passport size photograph, names and addresses (including telephone/fax/e-mail) of three referees, and date of availability.  Please send applications stating the job title by e-mail to human.resources@worldveg.org. The closing date of application is 31 August 2014 or until the position is filled.  Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.