Project Coordinator

PROJECT COORDINATOR

(Kathmandu, Nepal)

The person and the job:

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) would like to invite applications from prospective candidates for the position of Project Coordinator. The selected candidate will play a crucial role in managing a four-year interdisciplinary research project in Saptari District, Nepal. The Improving water use for dry-season agriculture by marginal and tenant farmers in the Eastern Gangetic Plains project seeks to conduct extensive research on the political-economic and biophysical barriers to cropping intensification through dry-season agriculture in the Eastern Gangetic Plains, with project sites in Nepal (Saptari) and India (Bihar [Madhubani] and West Bengal [Cooch Behar]), as well as additional comparative work in Bangladesh. An extensive year of field research will be followed by a series of pilot interventions to promote the conjunctive use of pond and groundwater irrigation. The target group, marginal and tenant farmers, will be mobilized through farmer groups and the project will experiment with nobel collective farming methods.

The selected candidate will be expected to oversee the day-to-day implementation of the project in Saptari District, Nepal, while offering support to the project leadership in data analysis and preparation of outputs for all three countries.

The project work will be based in Kathmandu and conducted via IWMI’s office in Nepal. However, at least 10 to 15 days a month must be spent at the project site in Saptari. The position holder will report to the Researcher - Social Science.

You will:

• work closely with IWMI staff in Kathmandu to assist with data analysis and preparing project outputs for activities in the India, Nepal and Bangladesh sites;
• play a key role in coordinating the project in the Nepal Terai;
• support the project partners (e.g., Department of Irrigation, Groundwater Resources Development Board, and iDE) in collecting primary data, including biophysical data (e.g., groundwater monitoring) and socioeconomic data (e.g., a major quantitative survey) for baseline research activities, and monitoring and evaluation purposes;
• train and support local staff from partner organizations in data collection techniques;
• travel regularly between Saptari and Kathmandu to support project activities on the ground, and work with IWMI and partner teams in their respective offices;
• be responsible for (i) arranging any purchases of hardware made by IWMI (e.g., pumping equipment); and (ii) arranging contracts for infrastructural work paid for by IWMI (e.g., pond rehabilitation). The candidate will be expected to liaise with project partners regarding their needs, identify quotations, and liaise with IWMI’s office in Kathmandu or with headquarters in Colombo to process payments;
• work closely with local partner organizations (e.g., Department of Irrigation, Groundwater Resources Development Board, and iDE), and play a key communication and coordination role between these partners;
• support the local partners in their work on the ground, by participating in technical and social research activities, and supporting the team in the implementation of pilot interventions (e.g., organization of field schools, supporting beneficiaries in the operation and maintenance of equipment, and overseeing construction work); and
• arrange the logistics for site visits to Saptari made by IWMI and other international project partners.

You will possess:

• a MSc in either rural development or a related social science discipline, agriculture, hydrology or agricultural engineering;
• a willingness to live in rural areas for prolonged periods, with at least 10 to 15 working days a month spent in the field;
• extensive experience in conducting field research in the areas of agriculture or social science;
• the capacity to prepare reports and publications;
• a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a project management position;
• a minimum of 3 years’ experience working in the field of rural development;
• spoken fluency in Maithili and Nepali;
• written and spoken fluency in English;
• excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to deal with marginalized communities in a sensitive manner and understand their needs;
• knowledge of farming systems, and critical social, economic, technical and ecological issues facing Nepalese agriculture;
• the ability to multi-task; and
• a license to ride a motorcycle.

It would be useful if you have the following experience:

• conducting large-scale social surveys;
• collecting hydrological data;
• monitoring and evaluation of large-scale projects; and
• working in the Terai or Eastern Gangetic Plains.

This is a nationally recruited staff position and only citizens of Nepal are encouraged to apply. IWMI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes transport and health insurance. IWMI’s policy is to appoint staff initially on three-year contracts which are subject to renewal, depending on performance and the Institute’s requirements.

The International Water Management Institute (www.iwmi.org) is an international, non-profit research organization dedicated to providing evidence-based solutions to sustainably manage water and land resources for food security, people’s livelihoods and the environment. IWMI is a member of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future. IWMI is an equal opportunity employer and is keen to further diversify its staff in terms of both gender and nationality

Please submit your application online at: www.iwmi.org/jobs 

Closing date: December 10, 2014

Complete Application Form + attach your résumé + attach your letter which addresses IWMI’s requirements shown above with names and email addresses of 3 professional referees, to be contacted if you are short-listed

Your application will be acknowledged automatically within 24 hours. If not, please email us at work-at-iwmi@cgiar.org