Research Associate – Irrigation and Scaling Pathways

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT®, is a not-for-profit agricultural research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries. Please refer to our website for more information: www.cimmyt.org

CIMMYT is seeking an experienced professional to support the ‘Russia–Ukraine crisis response: Building food system resilience to global supply chain and climate shocks in Nepal’ Activity. This Activity will be implemented as part of the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) to deliver a rapid and coordinated response to the effects of global supply chain distortions and their implications for smallholder farming households and poor consumers in Nepal.

This position will work under ‘Objective 2. Smallholder farmers’ resilience to economic shocks and climate change improved through sustainable and inclusive irrigation development’. Activities in this objective include locally targeted irrigation scaling strategies, management advisories, and gender-equitable business models, including access to finance for irrigation pumps (with a focus on but not limited to solar irrigation). By coordinating and sequencing these actions, CSISA’s efforts in irrigation development will build further resilience in Nepal’s agricultural systems to economic and climatic shocks, including recent fuel and agricultural commodity price volatility.

Position title: Research Associate – Irrigation and Scaling Pathways

Reference No: N22267

Duty station: Kathmandu, Nepal (frequent field travel)

Major duties and responsibilities

• Work with senior staff to facilitate the research and partnership activities implemented in CSISA Resilience and Response project for irrigation-related activities
• Lead efforts to develop, propose, and implement complex research techniques and procedures for the analysis of sustainable and inclusive smallholder irrigation use and scaling pathways in Nepal
• Lead efforts in the design and the implementation of action research activities for scaling sustainable and inclusive use of sustainable and inclusive smallholder irrigation technologies and business models in Nepal
• Take the lead and responsibility in drafting relevant documents and reports
• Take lead responsibility in assuring analytical techniques and/or fieldwork are developed in compliance with established quality standards.
• Perform research and statistical analysis of the information collected on sustainable and inclusive irrigation use and scaling and lead the development of a database to present the results achieved by the project under the supervisor’s guidance. 
• Assist in writing papers for international scientific journal standards.
• Supervise field activities as assigned and report abnormal situations that arise in the development of the project assigned.
• Take a leading responsibility as a member of the team to develop periodic reports and tables that allow the program scientists to track their projects.
• Participate in the publication of research results through annual reports, presentations, and publications.
• Participate in special projects with other research institutions and international organizations.
• Strongly contribute to the training and updating of knowledge and research techniques to the rest of the staff working in the unit and keep updated on new research techniques or processes.
• Visit and supervise other CIMMYT field work programs and/or field programs of collaborators.
• Take a leading role in conducting field surveys and interviews with farmers and other stakeholders, and analyze this information for inclusion in CIMMYT publications.
• Coordinate efforts to raise awareness about project activities, products, and outcomes among stakeholders, partners, policymakers, and the general public.
• Assisting in monitoring and evaluation, and reporting efforts by providing quality input and reports in a timely manner (as indicated by the project lead and supervisor).

Required academic qualifications, skills and attitudes:

• Masters’ degree or PhD in agricultural water management, irrigation sciences, agronomy, or another related field. 
• Advanced knowledge of relevant administrative and operating protocols and policies required for research associates
• Specialized knowledge of irrigation including crop water use, irrigation scheduling, and irrigation technologies with a focus on groundwater
• Comprehensive managerial competence. 
• At least 5 years of professional work experience in research and research for development projects.
• Requires conceptual knowledge of theories, practices, and procedures within agricultural water management, irrigation system design, and crop water use
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Demonstrated ability to write, publish, and disseminate technical reports, success stories, and promotional materials.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, and multi-cultural environment.
• Complexity of thinking needed: Work is complex and technical in scope. 
  • Regularly requires a combination of mental abilities such as probing, analysis, careful judgment, flexible and original thinking, and creativity.
  • Involves the application of concepts from environmental sciences and agriculture 
  • Understand the linkages with other disciplines. Create multi-disciplinary projects and initiatives.
  • Ability to identify and finalize solutions to field problems (soil, water management, farm machinery, nutrient management).  
  • Chooses options and solutions for complex problems.
• Interpersonal skills:
  • Frequent contact with people other than immediate colleagues and with external entities.
  • Ability to communicate and relate effectively, internally and externally is important.
  • Purpose is to share information, and secure the cooperation and commitment of individuals, large project teams, or external institutions.
  • In addition to effective communication, the jobholder has to motivate and provide leadership.
• Information Technology needed: Proficiency to use standard software at an advanced level; knowledge of R and potentially Python for data analysis.

Candidates must go through the link below and submit the application with detailed information no later than February 18th, 2023.

https://cimmytrecruitment.wufoo.com/forms/n22267-research-associate-irrigation-and-scaling/

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.