Research Associate (Montpellier, France)
Montpellier, France
JOB DETAIL
The Organization
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers 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.
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 in Montpellier, France, and reporting to the Scientist of the Multifunctional Landscapes lever, the Research Associate will support multi-disciplinary research projects, teams, and activities, working to co-develop and implement pathways to sustainable food systems. The position is well-suited to a motivated graduate with excellent data analysis skills, a curious, positive, and collaborative attitude, and a strong interest in sustainability issues at the food-biodiversity-climate nexus.
Key responsibilities
The Research Associate will be responsible for providing research assistance to the Agrobiodiversity Index (50%) and Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land-use, and Energy (FABLE) (50%) projects through performing the following duties:
- Contribute to high quality scientific outputs that help governments and companies understand how to achieve sustainable, climate-resilient food systems.
- Contribute to the Agrobiodiversity Index, participating directly in the methodological advances, outreach, and collaborations needed to implement the project activities in different countries with a focus on WP1 (agrobiodiversity tracker).
- Support a review to identify biodiversity-friendly and climate-resilient practices in cocoa, coffee, and banana supply chains in three focal countries (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guatemala).
- Support the Alliance contributions to the FABLE secretariat, improving the integration of agroecological practices and biodiversity conservation into national food system pathways via decision-support tools and dialogues.
- Support new and existing FABLE country teams, including in Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Mexico, to use the FABLE Calculator to develop food and land use pathways inclusive of agroecology, by providing training and technical support.
- Contribute to other multi-disciplinary research projects on use and conservation of biodiversity in healthy, sustainable, and just food systems.
- Contribute to scientific papers.
- Contribute to the conceptualization, planning and writing of funding proposals that consolidate and expand the Alliance’s work on sustainable food system transitions.
- Represent the Multifunctional Landscape team at scientific, science-policy, and private-sector events and forums, providing scientifically sound and timely inputs.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Requirements
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree is desired) in geography, agronomy, ecology, food systems, or related disciplines, with a strong focus on systems approaches.
- Relevant experience in the field (preferably minimum of 2 years).
- Experience working on international, multi-disciplinary research projects.
- Experience applying multi-objective food and land use system models, such as the FABLE Calculator, InVEST, Co$tingNature or similar.
- Experience with statistical analysis using R or another statistical package.
- Experience or interest in learning spatial data processing and analysis using ArcGIS, QGIS, R or another cartographic package.
- Experience designing, implementing, and analyzing data using qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
- Experience with systematic literature reviews and other literature-based data collection.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to contribute to a positive, collaborative team spirit in a transdisciplinary and multi-cultural team.
- Excellent organization, priority setting and problem-solving skills.
- Conscientious with high attention to detail.
- Willingness to travel occasionally (up to 6 weeks per year) to support project activities.
- Excellent command of the English and French languages, both written and spoken.
Benefits
Terms of employment
This is a locally recruited position based in Montpellier, France. The position is level 6, on a scale of 14 levels, with level 14 being the highest. The salary range starts from Euro 33,680 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 this position is only open to citizens and residents of the European Union.
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 the country where they stay and carry out their working activity.
Applications
Please apply online through the website ( https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers ) no later than 20 October 2023, attaching a curriculum vitae, motivation letter, both in English, and contact information (e.g. names, email address) of at least three references. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and email applications will not be considered.
Closing date for applications: 20 October 2023
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