Jordan: Senior Researcher / Researcher - Jahez Project Leader

Mar 31, 2024 | International Water Management Institute
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The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center is seeking a critical thinker and innovative researcher to join as a Senior Researcher / Researcher* - Jahez Project Leader. This is an internationally recruited position; therefore, individuals with relevant abilities from diverse locations around the world are encouraged to apply. Please disregard the preferred geographic location indicated above, as this is a technical limitation of the Workable software. The successful candidate may be based in Jordan or another IWMI Office; however, remote working may be considered if telecommuting from a time zone within a 4-hour difference from Jordan.

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the availability of this position is contingent upon the receipt of donor funding.

The Jahez (Ready) project: Building resilience for refugees and their host communities in Jordan" aims to enhance anticipatory action and climate change adaptation to build the resilience of refugees and their host communities in Jordan. This project will be implemented by IWMI and the UK Met Office in partnership with other development and humanitarian agencies, under the supervision of the Government of Jordan.

The incumbent is responsible for spearheading the design and implementation of the Jahez project, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), considered a flagship project aimed at piloting inclusive and integrated early warning, community-based disaster risk management, and climate adaptation solutions which will incorporate nature-based solutions (NbS) to mitigate climate stress within both refugee and hosting communities.

As a Senior Researcher / Researcher, the role will also entail participating in designing and delivering high-quality research outputs as pertaining to the program. As the Project Leader, the incumbent will be expected to leverage their considerable project management and coordination skills to successfully work with IWMI staff, consultants, and partner organizations, as well as high-level government representatives and technical staff to deliver targeted support to the countries participating in this pilot project.

The person will be responsible for external representation and engagement with the donor (FCDO), and other key stakeholders at various levels as an essential element of scaling and implementing the solutions provided by the project.

Duties & Responsibilities

As the Project Leader:

• Lead the delivery of agreed activities on time and in line with FCDO's agreed planning and budget calendar and processes.
• Provide strategic leadership and, together with the project team, partners, and stakeholders, build a shared vision for the project, its goals, and how it will deliver impact.
• Oversee the planning and implementation of project activities.
• Oversee, manage and support the work of other project team members, including project partners and consultants.
• Facilitate the delivery of project outputs and contribute towards outcomes and impacts across the project.
• Sign off on key project deliverables and the release of funding as approved in the project proposal, work plan, and budget.
• Optimize financial resources, making decisions that maximize value for money, impact, and drive efficiencies.
• Be the internal and external "face" of the project, including interactions with FCDO, national focal points, project oversight bodies, as well as at events, project management and stakeholder meetings, etc.
• Liaise regularly with FCDO Project Management Unit for guidance and support.
• Coordinate to achieve synergies with other IWMI projects in the focal countries of implementation.
• Oversee project reporting processes and manage risks proactively and in line with the project risk register.
• Ensure implementation of the project's communication strategy and gender action plan.
• Support a work environment that promotes a culture of collaboration, learning, effective knowledge sharing, knowledge transfer, and interdisciplinary teamwork.

As the Domain Expert:

• Analyse existing vulnerability and disaster risk information to identify risks to food, land, water systems, and other priority areas such as agriculture, livelihoods, and food security.
• Collaborate with in-country stakeholders to consolidate information on early warning data, decision-support systems, and priority risks.
• Develop disaster risk reduction strategies in partnership with local and national stakeholders, incorporating early warning/early action (EW/EA) and longer-term adaptation strategies.
• Define and establish early warning triggers with stakeholders, such as risk level thresholds for rapid allocation of financial resources to prevent and mitigate the impact of forecasted hazards on agriculture and food security.
• Formulate crisis timelines, overlaying seasonality and livelihood impact information to identify timings for early warning and anticipatory action.
• Define and establish protocols and standard operating procedures in collaboration with stakeholders for linking early warning to anticipatory action (early action as well as longer-term adaptation), clarifying roles and responsibilities for risk monitoring and early action implementation.
• Support the operational and timely implementation of anticipatory action at the country level, by conducting field missions, advising on appropriate actions, operational arrangements, and accessing the Early Action Fund.
• Strengthen partnerships and inter-agency efforts on locally driven disaster risk reduction (including EW/EA and climate adaptation strategies) at the country level, fostering collaboration on early warning and coordinated anticipatory action implementation.
• Assist in institutionalizing locally driven disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies with key government partners.
• Support capacity building activities at the country level, including delivering the CGIAR-Anticipatory Action learning program.
• Represent and advocate for locally driven disaster risk reduction with donors, technical partners, and UN Agencies.
• Support communication efforts through tailored products using various channels such as the web, photo/video, social media, press releases, and other means.
• Lead proposal development and resource mobilization in key research areas relevant to the subject matter of the post.

Requirements

Educational Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• At Senior Researcher level:
• PhD in water resources management, climate, environmental studies, economics, urban and rural development or a closely related field coupled with minimum of 10 years of relevant post-doctoral experience.
• At Researcher level:
• PhD in the aforementioned fields coupled with a minimum of 05 years of relevant post-doctoral experience OR;
• Master’s degree in the aforementioned fields coupled with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
• Experience working on research and development and/or public sector-funded projects that promote, plan, design, and implement water management and climate resilience.
• Experience managing large multi-partner, complex development projects.
• Experience in overseeing complex development projects in conflict-prone and socially fragile environments.
• Experience managing and navigating partner and stakeholder relationships with governmental, private sector, and community counterparts at various levels of organizational hierarchies (i.e., senior to lower management, and professional staff), and at the regional, national, and local levels.
• Proven experience undertaking participatory and/or co-development processes with national and local stakeholders.
• A record of peer-reviewed and/or technical report publications on subjects relevant to climate finance, nature-based solutions, policy, and water management, with a preference for interdisciplinarity.
• Experience in undertaking or overseeing hydrological, environmental, and social monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience working in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Experience in capacity-building and training programs for diverse participants.
• Proven experience of working with an international organization abroad.

Desirable:

• Experience implementing FCDO funded projects.

• Qualification in Project Management (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2 or similar) and/or substantial, successful project management experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential:

• Proven understanding of climate finance, policy, and water management principles and practices.
• Excellent ability to interpret, summarize, synthesize, present, and utilize outputs of environmental (i.e., hydrological, agricultural, and/or climate) and socio-economic models for evaluation purposes, to support planning, and/or to inform decision-making processes.
• Strong ability to apply evidence-based learning within policy environments.
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to communicate the relevance of analyses in a succinct and understandable manner to various audiences and stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize work and achieve stretch targets, including through strong time management.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask effectively.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and new procedures quickly.
• Attention to detail, precision, and strong problem-solving skills.
• Personal attributes include high standards of conduct, respect, flexibility, diplomacy, and sound work ethics.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, managers, project partners, focal points, community members, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written language skills in English, including effective listening and strong verbal and written communication abilities.

Desirable:

• Proficiency in Arabic is preferred but not required.

Benefits

This is an internationally recruited position with a competitive salary, an attractive retirement plan, comprehensive international health insurance, life insurance accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. Internationally recruited staff who are employed at a duty station outside of their home base/country of nationality will also receive relocation assistance, a housing allowance, home-leave plane tickets for self and eligible dependents and education assistance for eligible dependents. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of three years.

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the availability of this position is contingent upon the receipt of donor funding.

*Please note that should a qualified candidate at the Senior Researcher level not be identified, or if a suitable candidate at the Researcher level is found during the selection process, the position will be adjusted accordingly.

How To Apply

Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. IWMI will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on April 10, 2024 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). The application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if the candidate is shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers its innovation, contributes to its excellence, and is critical for its mission. IWMI offers a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. IWMI is consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects its global character and its commitment to gender equity. ISMI, therefore, encourages applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.