Job Description
The Organization
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) deliver research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.
The Alliance works with local, national, and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.
With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.
The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
About the position
Based at the Alliance France Office in Montpellier and under the supervision of the Principal Scientist, Climate Action (primary supervisor) and the Scientist II, Climate Action (secondary supervisor) the Senior Research Associate, Climate Evidence will support the organization’s efforts by leveraging data, analytics, and modeling to drive research, policy development, investment, and the implementation of practical solutions for climate resilience and emission reduction.
This role is vital for advancing the objectives of the Climate Action Lever in promoting effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. The Research Associate will focus on expanding Climate Action's evidence synthesis efforts, particularly for decision-support. The position involves overseeing complex technical projects and work plans and managing internal and external partnerships for data management and meta-analyses. Key responsibilities include curating and managing intervention-related data assets, ensuring data quality, maintaining data-sharing agreements, and overseeing databases. The role also involves making these data assets accessible to internal stakeholders and external partners and supporting capacity-building initiatives.
Responsibilities
Evidence Synthesis
- Collaborate in developing workplans for evidence synthesis projects like the Adaptation Atlas, Evidence for Resilient Agriculture, and Sustainable Farming, overseeing data management for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, while introducing innovative methodologies to improve synthesis outcomes.
- Oversee the entire lifecycle of evidence-related data, ensuring accuracy and reliability during dataset merging across partners.
- Contribute to data-sharing principles and agreements (in coordination with the Alliance Data Management Team) to maintain data integrity, security, and availability across projects.
- Co-design and implement scalable, automated data infrastructures for efficient collection, processing, and analysis.
- Ensure adherence to ethical standards in data privacy, consent, and integrity, with quality assurance to reduce errors or bias.
- Develop and present detailed reports on evidence synthesis activities, providing clear insights for decision-making and strategic planning.
Data Science
- Plan, develop, and execute data science and visualization projects using R, and Python, incorporating AI and Bayesian methods to improve evidence synthesis.
- Automate processes for efficient data analysis and reporting, enhancing workflow from data collection to actionable insights.
- Provide technical guidance and training through workshops and tailored materials to enhance partners' skills in evidence synthesis.
- Contribute to scientific writings, technical reports, and open-source tools that advance evidence synthesis and support decision-making in climate action.
Other duties
- Collaborate with internal Alliance teams, especially within the Climate Action Lever, to align data strategies with organizational goals and ensure a unified approach to climate data management.
- Engage with external stakeholders, including scientific colleagues and partners, to integrate climate data into decision-making and ensure research efforts meet their needs and objectives.
Requirements
Essential Requirements
- Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Climate Science, Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Agriculture, Geography, Ecology, or related field.
- Previous relevant professional experience required.
- Proficiency in data analysis and programming languages such as R or Python, with expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, environmental modeling, data management, and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies a plus.
- Expertise in using R for data analysis, with a strong command of advanced statistical methods, including Bayesian statistics. Proficiency in version control systems such as GitHub is essential for maintaining code integrity, facilitating collaboration, and ensuring reproducibility in data analysis.
- Exceptional ability to clearly communicate complex data-driven insights and concepts, both in written form and through verbal presentations. Adept at tailoring communication to diverse audiences, ensuring that technical information is accessible and actionable.
- Deep understanding of the biophysical and socio-economic factors affecting agricultural systems, including adaptive capacity and vulnerability within these systems. Proficiency in integrating land use, socioeconomic, and climate data to assess impacts on agricultural landscapes.
- Adaptability to dynamic environments and effective stakeholder engagement.
- Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work in diverse teams.
- Professional fluency in English, both written and verbal.
- Eagerness to learn and adapt to new technologies.
Desirable Requirements
- Knowledge of French language both written and verbal would be an asset.
- Experience of working with the Evidence for Resilient Agriculture (ERA) data extraction and analysis systems for meta-analysis is desirable.
- Experience with the process of conducting and reporting meta-analysis is desirable.
Benefits
Terms of employment
This is a locally recruited position based in Montpellier, France. The position is level 7, on a scale of 14 levels, with level 14 being the highest. The salary range starts from Euro 36,372 per annum. All benefits are denominated and paid in EURO. The salary is exempt from French income tax (an internal taxation is applied). The remuneration package includes a competitive salary, leave provisions, medical and life insurance, and non-contributory retirement plan. The contract will be for a period of 2 years, subject to a probationary period of 6 months, and is renewable subject to performance, project needs and availability of funds.
Please note that eligible applicants must have the legal status to live and work in France. Citizens of EU countries and citizens of non-EU countries are individually responsible for compliance with requirements and formalities established by the national immigration law of France, where they stay and carry out their working activity.
Applications
Please apply online through the website (https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers) no later than 24 October 2024, attaching a curriculum vitae, motivation letter (illustrating your suitability for the above mentioned position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills), both in English, and contact information (e.g. names, email address) of at least three references (knowledgeable about your professional qualifications and work experience).
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Closing date for applications: 24 October 2024
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