Reports to: Research Team Leader – Soil, Water, and Agronomy (SWA)

Location: Cairo, Egypt/Rabat, Morocco

Main Purpose of the Position

The ICARDA Soil, Water, and Agronomy (SWA) Team implements several joint research activities for building resilience and improving water productivity of rainfed and irrigated production systems. This is achieved by combining soil health management techniques, water-saving technologies, and agronomic practices into contextualized solutions for impact at scale. The purpose of this position is to conduct research and capacity building in hydrology/water resources in cooperation with researchers in developing countries and advanced institutions in the dry areas and the world. To contribute to the improvement of the sustainable and productive use of water resources in agriculture to have a direct impact on the livelihoods of resource-poor rural communities.

About ICARDA

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR.

ICARDA’s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development, and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organizations, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org.

All CGIAR Centers are currently engaged into a reform process (“One CGIAR’”) that will help ICARDA and CGIAR achieve better impact through more strategically integrated research, unified governance, an integrated structure, and new research modalities across participating Research Centers. This transformation is supported by CGIAR donors who have committed to increased funding as a result of these reforms.

Main responsibilities

The incumbent will:

• Cooperate in the multi-locational research of ICARDA with national and international scientists in the dry areas to improve sustainable agricultural production in arid, semi-arid, rainfed areas through the efficient and sustainable utilization of water supplies from rainfall, groundwater, and surface sources.

• Conduct relevant research and provide expertise to the national programs in the assessment of climate, surface water and groundwater resources, and their improved use.

• Collaborate with other ICARDA scientists to improve the impact of problem-solving and integrated natural resource management research.

• Work in interdisciplinary teams with water management, irrigation, agronomy, soil, crop, socio economic, and rangeland scientists on strategic and applied research problems.

• Contribute to the definition and achievement of Team and Center objectives.

• Apply and develop new tools and technologies (watershed hydrologic models, GIS, RS).

• Provide training in all aspects and applications of agricultural hydrology for national programs in dry areas. Develop and contribute to training courses and workshops/conferences.

• Keep up to date with relevant technical developments and publications.

• Publish research results in ISI refereed journals, prepare reports, training materials, and other documentation as required.

• Represent ICARDA in the regional and international areas.

Requirements

Education, qualifications, and experience:

• PhD degree in hydrology, water resource engineering or another relevant subject.

• 10 years post PhD experience in conducting research, preferably in dry area hydrology.

• Excellent verbal and written English, Arabic, and French language skills.

• Proven expertise in monitoring and modeling of surface water and groundwater systems and in using watershed models.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams in a multicultural, international environment.

• A strong publication record including ISI-refereed journals, in surface and groundwater and especially watershed research, modeling and stochastic analysis.

• Demonstrated capacity for producing high quality scientific outputs.

• Application of watershed hydrologic models, GIS and remotely sensed data to problems of water resources development and management.

• Capability to work collaboratively with international and national scientists in multidisciplinary teams.

• High level of competence in written and oral communication in English, report writing, and presentations.

Benefits

This is an internationally recruited position for which ICARDA offers an attractive compensation package, including a competitive salary, housing allowance, non-contributory retirement plan, medical insurance and leave provisions. All benefits are denominated and paid in US Dollars.

The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract of 3 years, renewable subject to continued need for the position, availability of funds and satisfactory performance. The first year will be a probationary period.

ICARDA is committed to increasing women representation in its workforce and strongly encourages applications from women.

Applications will be acknowledged, but we apologize in advance as due to the large number of applications only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.