About the Project

The UK government has announced support of up to £44 million for a WorldFish-led program targeting improved livelihoods for 300,000 people in Africa and Asia’s vulnerable fisheries and aquaculture sectors, many of whom are women.

Animals, plants and microorganisms harvested and grown in water play a significant role in sustainably feeding and nourishing the world. Globally, 800 million people depend on small-scale fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods. But these vital aquatic food systems are hindered by the insecure livelihoods of those in related jobs, their low capacity to adapt to climate change and the loss of marine nature.

The Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway, supported through the UK’s Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) program under the umbrella Blue Planet Fund (BPF), will focus on enabling communities to adapt to and mitigate against climate change as well as responsibly and sustainably manage marine and coastal nature and resources resulting in improved food and nutritional security as well as employment and income opportunities. The program will be implemented in two phases over seven years, starting with Phase 1 in Bangladesh, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Vietnam.

About the Position

We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced scientist to lead a work package focused on scaling smart climate technologies to reduce food waste and loss related to aquatic foods in Bangladesh, Kenya and Mozambique.

As a Scientist / Senior Scientist (Postharvest Loss and Waste), you will be responsible for the successful implementation of the work packages. In addition, you will conduct research to generate scientific knowledge and develop innovative solutions to address the challenges of post-harvest and of food waste and loss in the targeted countries.

You will report directly to the Project Leader, providing regular updates on progress, challenges, and risks within their work packages.

You will also collaborate with the other work package leaders, the Project Coordinator, and other team members to ensure effective coordination and integration across work packages.

The successful candidate will:

Conduct research on fish loss and waste, and post-harvest:

Design and implement research studies to understand the scale, drivers, and impacts of fish loss and waste in the targeted countries. Utilize scientific methodologies and data analysis techniques to gather insights and identify key areas for intervention.

Technology adaptation and innovation:

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to identify opportunities for adapting existing technologies and processes to reduce fish loss and waste in the local context. Work closely with stakeholders, including women’s groups in rural coastal areas, to co-design and pilot innovative solutions for post-harvest loss reduction.

Evaluate and optimize technologies:

Assess the effectiveness and feasibility of different climate-smart technologies in reducing fish loss and waste. Analyse data and evaluate the performance of pilot projects to identify the most promising technologies and practices. Provide recommendations for further optimization and scaling.

Collaboration and partnerships:

Engage with public and private sector partners to foster collaboration and leverage resources for research and innovation. Collaborate with other scientists, institutions, and organizations working in the field to enhance synergies and maximize the impact of research efforts.

Knowledge dissemination:

Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences to contribute to the scientific knowledge base in the field of food waste and loss reduction. Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to share research outcomes and best practices, fostering knowledge exchange and capacity building.

• Perform other relevant duties as requested by the supervisor(s).

Requirements

The successful candidate will have:

• Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., food technology, value chain, agricultural economics, or related disciplines) with a focus on food waste and loss reduction.
• Possess at least 5-year experience in food technology, value chain, agricultural economics or related discipline with a focus on food waste and loss reduction
• Strong research background and experience in designing and implementing studies related to post-harvest, and food waste and loss, preferably in developing countries.
• Previous experience in value chain development and research studies related to agriculture or aquaculture.
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods, data analysis, and statistical tools.
• Knowledge of climate-smart food technologies and their application in reducing food waste and loss.
• Excellent scientific writing skills and ability to publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Strong communication and presentation skills to effectively disseminate research outcomes and engage with stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Understanding of gender equality and inclusion principles, with an interest in addressing the gendered impacts of food waste and loss.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills and ability to work collaboratively with people at all levels in a decentralized, respectful, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary organization.
• Uphold the highest ethical standards by inspiring trust and treating all people with respect and personal integrity.

Desired Skills/Experiences

• Track record of successfully influencing businesses, and other organizations in the aquatic food sector.
• Track record of successfully scaling climate-smart solutions in the aquatic food sector.
• Ability to design, convene and mobilize partnerships to deliver impact for people and nature.
• Ability to effectively communicate a common vision to diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability and desire to travel and spend periods of time at the field level.
• Desire and drive to work in a development and research context to alleviate poverty and eradicate malnutrition.

Benefits

This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position with annual salary ranging between USD 81,600 – USD 96,000 per annum (for Senior Scientist level) and USD 47,900 – USD 69,700 per annum (for Scientist level). WorldFish’s IRS shall receive comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, accident, and long-term disability insurance. Internationally recruited staff employed outside of their home base/country of nationality will also be eligible to receive relocation assistance, a housing allowance, home-leave plane tickets for self and eligible dependents and education assistance for school-age dependents between age 4 and high school graduation. The duration of the contract will initially be for a three-year period with possibility for extension, depending on funding and performance. All benefits are subject to terms and conditions.

Your application must include:

• A copy of your curriculum vitae,
• A cover letter which addresses key requirements stated above; and
• Contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.

To be considered, applications must be submitted online here by no later than 24:00 (MYT), 6 August 2023.

Location: The post holder will be based in Penang, Malaysia. This position will involve international travel.

The screening will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Due to the high volume of applicants for WorldFish positions, we appreciate all interest, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Our Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

WorldFish has seven offices across Asia, Africa and the Pacific, with more than 400 staff and 27 nationalities who contribute to a dynamic multicultural work environment.

WorldFish is committed to promoting a work environment where diversity and inclusion is valued and we seek to have gender balance in the organization. We aim to also seek balance across other diversity dimensions.

People in WorldFish are treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnicity/race, national or social origin, disability, religion, political affiliation, age, family size, marital status or any other form of personal identity.

We are an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourage qualified women and men from developing nations to apply.