Social and Health Sciences Global Leader

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a dynamic, creative Leader of our Global Science Group on Social and Health Sciences and Innovation Systems (SHINES). The successful candidate will have a disciplinary background in anthropology, sociology, agricultural economics or other relevant field in the social or health sciences and will already have experience of leading multidisciplinary teams of social scientists doing innovative research to achieve development goals in complex collaborative environments. More information: http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/

The position reports to the Deputy Director General-Research and Development and the preferred location is at CIP’s regional office in Nairobi or close by country offices (Addis Ababa or
Kampala) with frequent international travel in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Provide institutional and intellectual leadership and support for social and health sciences and innovation systems research being conducted within CIP’s six Strategic Objectives (http://cipotato.org/strategic-objectives/introduction/).
• Contribute to the generation of key outputs and outcomes as identified in the impact pathways of the Strategic Objectives, especially in relation to improved eco-system and beneficiary targeting, more effective regional science and research-development partnerships and gender-responsive interventions in technical and value-chain related fields, and more innovative approaches to improving nutrition and to measuring health and income-related impacts.
• Build a strong SHINES Science Group through strengthening the current system of peer support, mentoring, supervision and professional development.
• Actively manage the scientific, financial and administrative aspects of the SHINES Global Research Group that results in a body of quality publications recognized internally and externally and a Global Science Group with efficient administrative procedures and resource use.
• Be responsible for pro-actively seeking funding through donor intelligence and development and submission of funding proposals to support the implementation of CIP’s research program in social and health sciences.
• Provide scientific advice and support to CIP’s senior management through membership of the Science Leaders’ Team and through other channels as may be requested.

Selection criteria:

• PhD in Anthropology, Sociology, Economics, Agricultural Economics or other social science discipline, or in Health Science with a strong social science competence.
• Be an accomplished and innovative researcher with at least 10 years of strong research management experience.
• Good track record in conducting social science and/or health research for agricultural development in a multi-cultural environment and in a variety of developing country contexts.
• Excellent management and communication skills to collaborate effectively.
• Demonstrated success in managing multi-disciplinary teams and partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience in attracting substantial research funding.
• Strong publication record.
• Fluency in English is required and Spanish, French or other languages are an asset.
• Willingness to travel.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website
(http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/), including a cover letter, a full C.V with the names and contact
information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and
work experience. Screening of applications will begin on 08 April, 2016 and will continue until the post is
filled. All applications will be acknowledged, however only short listed candidates will be contacted.