V A C A N C Y    A N N O U N C E M E N T

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
IN THE DRY AREAS
P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105;
E-mail: ICARDA-JOBS@CGIAR.ORG
Website: www.icarda.cgiar.org

Range Ecology & Management Specialist
Arabian Peninsula Regional Program, Muscat, Oman
 
The Organization
ICARDA is a non-profit international agricultural research center in a worldwide consortium of 15 centers, supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The CGIAR is co-sponsored by the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). With a staff of over 400 scientists and support personnel, representing more than 45 nationalities, ICARDA addresses two key areas of agricultural research: germplasm improvement (cereals and legumes) and natural resource management. The Center has a global mandate for barley, lentil and faba bean improvement, and a regional mandate for the improvement of wheat, chickpea and forage and pasture legumes. A major emphasis is placed on the conservation and management of land and water, and improved productivity of small ruminants in integrated farming systems in dry areas. The Center's research and training programs are implemented in partnership with national programs and, in most cases, with other CGIAR centers as well as advanced research institutes in both developing and industrialized countries.

The Position
ICARDA is seeking a Range Ecology and Management Specialist to work within ICARDA's Arabian Peninsula Regional Program (APRP) on Technology Transfer to Enhance Rural Livelihoods and Natural Resource Management in the Arabian Peninsula. The project co-financed by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the OPEC Fund for International Development aims at developing more productive and sustainable rangeland and irrigated production systems, including protected agriculture, through the more efficient use of the natural resources of the Arabian Peninsula, and by strengthening cooperation among the participating countries and with regional and international organization.

The appointee will be technically responsible to the Director, Diversification. & Sustainable Intensification of Production System Program, and administratively responsible to ICARDA's Regional Coordinator for the Arabian Peninsula, who is responsible for coordinating all the linkages between ICARDA and the National Agricultural Research Systems of the Arabian Peninsula: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The ICARDA Regional Office is located in Muscat, Oman.

Job Requirements
•
 Developing a research strategy for sustainable range management and irrigated forages. The research will be conducted in close partnership with the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and with the active participation of rangeland users and other stakeholders (extension services, policy makers, development institutions) in the Arabian Peninsula, to meet the identified needs for sustainable production through efficient and effective use of natural resources.
•
 Managing and implementing the activities of the AP project relating to rangeland and irrigated forages.
•
 Promote the utilization of indigenous and exotic species including spineless cactus for forage production and rangeland rehabilitation through personal research and support to the national research activities.
•
 Conduct research at sites in the Arabian Peninsula, working primarily with national scientists, and supported, where necessary, by other ICARDA scientists
•
 Day-to-day management of related research activities, liaising with national partners in each of the seven Arabian Peninsula countries
•
 Assessing the status, constraints and potentials of the production base, considering the interactions among vegetation, livestock, and crops, as well as the implication of the institutional policy and property rights issues.
•
 Assessing the status, constraints and potentials of other goods and services provided by rangelands (carbon sequestration, biodiversity, eco-tourism, etc).
•
 Be kept abreast with / and use advanced tools (e.g. GIS, modeling, expert systems, decision support tools) for designing and conducting research projects addressing the problems facing sustainable use of the rangelands in the Arabian Peninsula (climate change, urbanization, population increase)
•
 Publishing research results in peer-reviewed journals, and preparing reports, training materials, and other documents.
•
 Developing and contributing to the project activities in strengthening national institutional and human resource capacity through training, regional networking, workshops/conferences and information dissemination to end-users.
•
 Supervising, training, assisting and assessing, as appropriate, visiting scientists, post doctoral fellows, degree students, research assistants, and other technical support staff.
•
 Assisting in the preparation of special project proposals for external funding.

Qualifications and Experience
•
 Earned PhD in range sciences, ecology or a related discipline, with a minimum of 5 years professional experience in dry areas rangeland rehabilitation and management research. A record of post-doctoral research fellowship would be an asset
•
 Proven record of research excellence, scientific publication and project proposal preparation
•
 Ability to work with pastoralists and farmers
•
 Strong quantitative/ qualitative analytical capacity
•
 Ability to work within a multi disciplinary and cross-cultural team.
•
 Fluency in English and Arabic.
•
 Competency in relevant computer applications
•
 Supervisory and management skills and experience.


Terms of Appointment
The appointment will be for an initial period of one year, renewable thereafter on an annual basis. The salary is paid in US dollars. Benefits include housing allowance, paid home leave travel, a pension scheme, life and health insurance package, vehicle for business and personal use, and support for dependents' education according to ICARDA Policy.

Application
Qualified applicants may download and complete the ICARDA employment application form (MS Word or PDF), and send it with a cover letter of interest, a recent photograph, and any other relevant supporting documents (non-returnable) to:
  Personnel Services
ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Telephone: (963-21) 2213477, 2225112, or 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105, or 5744622
E-mail: ICARDA-JOBS@CGIAR.ORG
Website: http://www.icarda.org

NOTE: 1. If sending by e-mail, please do not include graphics or other large file attachments.
           2. Quote reference INT-P/0748/07on application (or in subject line if applying by e-mail).

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received by 29 November 2007.

ICARDA is an equal opportunity employer, and encourages applications from women.

Posted on 4 November 2007  
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