The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking an innovative and multi-skilled candidate to join as a Policy and Engagement Advisor.

This position will be based in Rome & hosted by Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

The Policy and Engagement Advisor (PEA) will provide management, analysis and innovation for various external and internal policy developments, dialogues and engagements resulting from strategic IWMI initiatives or through projects. The PEA will work with external stakeholders in the development of policies and policy-supporting evidence based on IWMI/CGIAR research, innovation, knowledge, and insight across our partner countries and in regional and global fora.

The role will involve identifying relevant policy organizations tasked with bringing water and climate security, undertake policy analysis, and work alongside IWMI senior management to devise and implement influencing strategies. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in promoting IWMI, its ideas for enhanced water security, research findings and policy advice to national, regional, and global policy communities. The PEA will particularly support strategy and policy program development in climate change adaptation and management working with negotiators and key decision-makers.

This role requires the incumbent to be proactive and able to provide ongoing and at times intensive support to policy makers. It necessitates a high level of communication skills, integrity, and experience of effectively navigating a complex, multicultural and multi time-zone environment. The role involves interaction with key departments within and beyond IWMI Research Division including working with the IWMI Country Representatives.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure the effective development, through co-design, of water and climate security agenda, strategy, and policy development initiatives and their adoption through IWMI projects across strategic programs.
• Work with policy makers, external IWMI researchers, and Country representatives to co-design and integrate policy and research agendas into IWMI’s work program in their respective countries, considering the evolving country situation.
• Work with IWMI senior managers to maintain external and internal knowledge networks and explore emerging potential policy development opportunities at local, national, and global scales.
• Analyze critical evidence data and research findings, and develop academic publications, briefing papers, and other outputs to communicate results and outcomes.
• Develop and coordinate cooperation with One CGIAR Initiatives, policy, and advocacy functions in One CGIAR and other Centers to advance shared objectives for engagement with policy processes.
• Perform any other support duties as required by IWMI senior managers within the scope of this function.

Requirements

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Essential

• Strong knowledge of water and climate issues in the Global South.
• Understanding of water, climate, and development policy processes, forums, and the actors involved, including key global platforms.
• Established networks with key policy influencing organizations.
• Experience in developing communication outputs, dialogue processes, and other forms of engagement to influence changes in water policy.
• Fluency in English, with excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and effective planning skills.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and independently coordinate workload to meet deadlines.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and be flexible.
• Ability to anticipate needs/issues, drawing on a high degree of initiative and judgment to reliably execute or coordinate a range of tasks independently.
• Proven experience in working at a senior administrative level within a multidisciplinary and multicultural organization.

Desirable

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including tact and diplomacy.
• Relevant experience in a similar role with proven skills to draft business correspondence and documents, summarize information in written narratives and presentations including textual, numeric and graphic/charts.

MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Master’s degree in a related discipline to IWMI’s work.
• Five years of related experience, including managing knowledge and partnership relationships.
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to convey messages through clear and concise writing.
• Extensive experience working at the international level and with a variety of research and/or development organizations.

Benefits

This is a nationally recruited position & eligible applicants must have the legal status to live and work in Italy, i.e.: Be Italian nationals holding a valid passport or identity card; Or be EU citizens holding a valid passport or identity card and confirmation of registration from the Registrar’s Office (Anagrafe); Or Non – EU citizens holding a valid Italian work permit (permesso di soggiorno per lavoro subordinato).

The successful candidate will be issued a contract from Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. The Alliance offers an attractive remuneration package which includes a competitive salary, leave provisions, medical and life insurance, and non-contributory retirement plan. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of three years with the possibility of extension.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on July 20, 2023 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter (both written in English), and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

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