Location: Dili, Timor Leste

Application Deadline: 25 August 2021

Post level: Internationally Recruited Staff

Type of contract: Fixed term contract

Language(s) required: English (Proficient/fluent writing and oral skills)

ABOUT WORLDFISH

WorldFish is an international, non-for-profit research organization that works to reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty by improving fisheries and aquaculture. With a 45-year track record of leading-edge science, WorldFish generates research evidence and innovations to inform sustainable practices and inclusive policies that enable better livelihoods and healthier diets for millions of poor people, particularly women, who depend on fish for food, nutrition and income. WorldFish is a member of CGIAR , the world’s largest global partnership on agriculture research and innovation for a food secure future. Headquartered in Penang, Malaysia and with regional offices across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, WorldFish leads the cross-disciplinary CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH).

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Post-doctoral Fellow/Scientist, Fish in Livelihoods and Food Systems will join our growing Dili-based research team partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Timor-Leste with a focus of improving nutrition outcomes through increased access to sustainably produced aquatic foods for vulnerable people and populations. In line with the new WorldFish Aquatic Foods for Healthy People and Planet research and innovation strategy, the WorldFish Timor-Leste country program is expanding its focus on components of food systems beyond production, and this position is key to supporting this new direction.

The position will work with gender, nutrition, fisheries and aquaculture specialists to develop and implement research approaches, programs and develop policy recommendations with a particular focus on equitable nutrition-sensitive management of fish within local food systems, the flow of benefits from diverse fish production systems, and the factors enabling and limiting improved health outcomes from diversified diets including fish.

The position will work directly on a number of linked programs in Timor-Leste, and contribute to the CGIAR research initiative on Aquatic Foods through broader institutional engagements, particularly in the Pacific. A scientist-level appointment to this position would take a leading role in the detailed design of research activities, training project team members, and leading reporting processes.

The position will be remotely based until such time as humanitarian travel to Timor-Leste is permitted, at which time the incumbent will be expected to relocate to Dili. The geographic focus of the position includes Timor-Leste, and NTT province, Indonesia.

The successful candidate will be responsible to:

Research Projects (80%)

  • Work with project leaders and senior experts to develop a stream of research that seeks to optimize livelihood, equity and nutrition outcomes from diverse aquatic foods production systems through developing and applying nutrition-sensitive in Timor-Leste, ultimately with broader relevance to SIDS (a scientist-level appointment would bring substantial field experience to this process, and take on a leading role in research design).
  • Work with other scientists and teams across the CGIAR Aquatic Foods Initiative to develop innovative, scalable approaches to nutrition-sensitive fish systems.
  • Apply research experience and contemporary methods to the development and implementation of community, household and intra-household research on fisheries livelihoods, gender and fish in food systems.
  • Work with research, government and NGO partners in Timor-Leste, Indonesia and the Pacific to build capacity and implement key research activities.
  • Take primary responsibility for research implementation, data collection, data quality assurance and analysis under project activities.
  • Under the guidance of senior team members, produce high-quality scientific publications from project findings (a scientist-level appointment would bring substantial field and publication experience to leading these outputs).
  • Contribute to the development of policy advice and action plans on nutrition-sensitive fisheries management.
  • Work with project leaders to identify and apply for additional opportunities to fund related research (a scientist-level appointment would use their experience in fund raising to take a leading role in building the country program, and linked streams of research).

Stakeholder and donor communication (20%)

  • Ensure quality communication with local stakeholders (government, NGOs, private sector) and donor representatives to promote WorldFish as the partner of choice for fisheries and aquaculture research;
  • Represent WorldFish in national and international fora.

Requirements

This job might be for you if you have the below skills and qualifications:

  • PhD in social science, rural development, nutrition or fisheries/aquaculture science (for resource-based degrees, only applicants with highly relevant trans-disciplinary social research experience will be considered).
  • For a scientist-level appointment, a minimum of 3 years post-doctoral relevant research experience would be expected.
  • Experience conducting community and household level social research in a developing country context.
  • Experience in the application of contemporary gender sensitive and transformative research approaches and methodologies.
  • Proven ability to work in remote locations for extended periods of time with minimal supervision.
  • A strong team-player willing to dedicate time to building capacity among junior and national scientists, partners and students.
  • Experience in stakeholder participation and community engagement, including an understanding of the role of social norms/cultural beliefs and gender.
  • Strong publication track record for stage of career in relevant international journals.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

  • Commensurate with being a key member of a small team conducting diverse research, willingness and adaptability to engage in diverse field activities as part of the broader program of research.
  • Language skills in Tetum, Portuguese or Bahasa Indonesia a distinct advantage.
  • Experience developing information and education materials for government and community stakeholders.

Salary and Benefits

This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position and WorldFish offers a competitive remuneration package including comprehensive benefits including (but not limited to) housing allowance***,** relocation and repatriation assistance*, dependent education allowance*, home leave entitlement*, comprehensive insurance coverage for staff and eligible dependents, and pension/provident fund contribution.

Note: Items marked * are not applicable to staff recruited as Home Country Internationals (nationals of the country of posting). All benefits are subject to terms and conditions.

Recruitment Process

The position will be based in Dili, Timor Leste. Interviews are expected to be held in September 2021 and only shortlisted candidates will be notified and expected to attend the interview. The successful candidate should be available to commence as soon as possible for an initial one (1) year fixed-term contract, with a high probability of contract renewal depending on performance and funding situation. Due to the high volume of applicants for WorldFish positions, we appreciate all interest, but only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

This vacancy is archived.

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