Soil Conservation and Land Management Specialist, ICARDA, Amman, Jordan

Soil Conservation and Land Management Specialist (ICARDA)
Depending on the availability of funds, the initial contract will be for 3 years, of which the first year will be probationary period. Subsequent employment is determined based on the performance and continued need for the position.
Organisation/Location: ICARDA, Amman, Jordan
Application deadline: 31-October-2014
Website: https://apps.icarda.org/iea/

Details:

Main purpose of the position
Land degradation is a major threat to the productive and sustainable agriculture in the dry areas. The candidate will contribute to ICARDA’s response to these challenging problems. He/she will contribute to the assessment of the extent and distribution of threatened areas, formulate soil and water conservation solutions and monitor the progress in halting degradation and improving productivity.

About ICARDA
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is an international autonomous, non-profit, research organization temporarily based in Beirut, Lebanon supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA is committed to the improvement of livelihoods of the resource-poor in dry areas by enhancing food security and alleviating poverty through agricultural research, and the equitable use of natural resources. For more details: www.icarda.org

Main responsibilities

Work jointly with ICARDA scientists from other disciplines, national program partners, and with advanced research institutes to assess the extent and distribution of major threaten areas.
Identify the main technical, social and policy issues of soil and land management problems in the dry areas.
Develop linkages to current research and development work in key countries to formulate and mainstream soil and water conservation measures to help farmers reducing land degradation and improving productivity.
Facilitate the adaptation and use of advanced environmental and watershed modeling tools to aid the assessment of the impact of land management and to support decision making process in the dry areas.
Establish field trails and experiments to assess the impact of selected land and water conservation interventions on soil erosion and productivity.
Establish networks and partnerships to strengthen the knowledge management and dissemination of sustainable land management.
Apply an integrated approach to land degradation analysis and land use and management options. Foster the implementation of holistic, inter-disciplinary and participatory approaches
Initiate and support appropriate training activities in soil and land management.
Contribute to fundraising for research projects from bilateral donors and CGIAR Research Programs to tackle land management issues in the dry areas.
Produce high quality research publications, particularly in ISI peer-reviewed journals.

Education, qualifications and experience

PhD degree in soil conservation / land management or relevant disciplines.
At least 5 years post PhD experience in research on soil conservation and land management or related aspects.
Competence in systems-oriented land management and land-use planning, and extensive field research experience in the application of conservation management practices for land and soil, part of which should have been in developing countries.
Demonstrated capability and willingness to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary and multinational context.
Proven capacity and skills in advanced environmental and watershed modeling tools.
Ability to work as a member of multi-institutional and multidisciplinary teams, and a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels and in multicultural settings.
A willingness and ability to travel regularly for work.
Computer skills and an ability to communicate fluently in English. A working knowledge of Arabic or French is desirable; GIS and remote sensing capabilities would be an advantage.

Terms of appointment, salary and benefits
Depending on the availability of funds, the initial contract will be for 3 years, of which the first year will be probationary period. Subsequent employment is determined based on the performance and continued need for the position.

How to apply
Please apply online at www.icarda.org/iea/ by 31 October 2014
Website: https://apps.icarda.org/iea/