The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) seeks applications from highly motivated, visionary research leaders with exceptional capacity to successfully motivate, manage and lead its research theme on Water Availability, Risk and Resilience (WR).
The Theme Leader (TL) will direct IWMI’s research theme on Water Availability, Risk and Resilience (WR), provide advanced research-for-development leadership of the theme and the overall research strategy of the Institute. In addition, TL will ensure that IWMI delivers on its strategic commitments, contributes to the relevant CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs) and, where assigned, undertakes responsibilities for managing flagships and other components of these CRPs. TL will report to the Deputy Director General (Research for Development) (DDG), and will be based at IWMI’s headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, or at one of the Institute’s major regional offices in Africa and Asia.
Water availability is a key constraint to poverty reduction and food security. The starting point for sustainable water resources management and all water-use activities in any basin is to know how much water is available for various uses, the source of this water (rivers, lakes, aquifers or soil moisture), its interactions with land and livelihoods, and its variability in time and space. Variability of water resources is a major natural impediment for sustainable agriculture, food production and development at large, and is the primary determinant of water scarcity and a significant factor in ensuring national water security. Extremes of variability – floods and droughts – are the primary agents of destruction, severe crop damage and loss of human life. Variability is increasing with climate change, and hence it has to be explicitly accounted for in climate change adaptation strategies. This research theme aims to advance data and knowledge on groundwater and surface water processes, availability and variability for various uses across scales, and on the drivers of change to provide solutions that minimize flood- and drought-related risks, improve preparedness and maximize the resilience of farmers and nations to such natural disasters; to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities, nations and economic sectors to progressing climate change and increasing water variability; and to guide environmentally sound and socially acceptable development and operation of various forms and scales of water storage. The theme is the key contributor to the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) Flagship on Managing Resource Variability, Risks and Competing Uses for Increased Resilience (VCR), and to the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).
We seek candidates with a PhD or equivalent experience in an area relevant to the theme, with at least 15 years of relevant postdoctoral experience. If you have a minimum of 5 years of program leadership and management experience relevant to IWMI’s research program; a clear understanding of development challenges and processes, especially those related to the theme, and an interest in a research-for-development agenda; and strong international reputation as a key contributor to one or more of the research areas associated with the position, as evidenced by an extensive publication record in peer-reviewed international journals, research impact and other acknowledgements then you are the person we are looking for!
This is an internationally recruited position with a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes a housing allowance, transport, education, shipping assistance, annual home leave, retirement and health insurance package.
For a detailed job description and to apply, please visit www.iwmi.cgiar.org/jobs. Your application must include a copy of your curriculum vitae, cover letter which addresses IWMI’s requirements stated above, and contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position. Applications must be submitted by 17:00 (Colombo time) on July 31, 2016 (Sunday).
The International Water Management Institute (www.iwmi.org) is an international, non-profit, scientific research organization dedicated to providing evidence-based solutions to sustainably manage water and land resources for food security, people’s livelihoods and the environment. IWMI is a member of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
IWMI is an equal opportunity employer and emphasizes the importance of regional and gender diversity in identifying candidates for this position and its staff more generally.
