Research Associate (Project Manager) – Sustainability Projects (CIAT)

Job Description

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Grade: BG6 level
Salary: VND 24,487,062
Contract: 1 year, subject to a probation period of 2 months, and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.
Applications closing date: 4^th December 2023

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

About the position

The Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT is seeking a passionate, flexible and qualified professional with the technical skills required for leading projects in the growing portfolio of Data Driven Sustainability projects. The Research Associate (Project Manager) will assist in delivering high-impact projects for major international brands and producers that translate emerging research on climate and environment into practical processes and services. The Data Driven Sustainability team is leading several multi-year projects in the land use sector that seek to prepare low-income farmers for more climate change resilience and zero-deforestation production. We work with sustainability-minded companies buying primarily in Southeast Asia and West Africa regions, who know the practices needed to adapt to climate change and protect the environment but need support learning how to improve sustainable adoption of those practices.

The ideal candidate is passionate about social and environmental sustainability issues. They will also have highly developed spoken and written communication skills in English and be an avid writer. Experience in consulting or managing demanding external stakeholders such as clients or donors is essential.

Key duties & responsibilities

Act as a point of contact between external stakeholders and the CIAT team for 2-3 specific projects, facilitating collaborative partnerships, and positioning CIAT favorably for opportunities with new donors by ensuring clear communication and understanding of project objectives and expectations.

Regularly review project progress against milestones and deliverables, making necessary adjustments to keep the project on track;
Liaise with external partners, suppliers, or consultants as necessary, ensuring their timely and qualitative contributions to the project;
Evaluate the project's performance post-completion, gathering feedback and insights to inform future initiatives and best practices;
Support proposal development and literature review or related tasks when required.

Internal support to CIAT team members on various planning, coordination and reporting tasks related delivery of sustainability focused projects, including:

Monitor and report on risks associated with the project, putting in place mitigation strategies and escalating when necessary;
Facilitate regular project status meetings and updates, ensuring all team members are informed and aligned;
Establish and maintain a documentation system for all project-related materials, ensuring ease of access and organization;
Collaborate with the finance department to manage project finances, including tracking of expenditures and budget forecasting;
Monitor adherence to all organizational and external regulations, standards, and best practices in project execution.

Contribute to the cohesion and development of the team, identifying ways to increase engagement and capacity

Provide mentorship and coaching to less experienced team members, aiding in their professional development;
Foster a positive and inclusive team culture, promoting collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.

Required qualifications and experience

BSc degree in a relevant field, including business, communications, social sciences, international development, public health, public policy, marketing, political science, anthropology or psychology;
Demonstrated interest in social and environmental sustainability issues affecting rural communities and our planet;
Awareness of the motivations and drivers related to sustainable sourcing strategies and more resilient production in international agriculture and land use;
Highly developed organizational and interpersonal skills;
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English;
Working knowledge of Vietnamese or another Southeast Asian language is a strong point;
Prior experience in a consulting or client services role with demanding external clients will be viewed favorably;
Strong drive to learn new topics and skills and to see research and ideas having positive impact in practice. Strong sense of professional pride and curiosity;
Willing to travel domestically and internationally and enjoy working in an international environment.

Terms of employment

This position is a national recruited position based in Hanoi, Vietnam. The initial contract will be for 1 year, subject to a probation period of 2 months, and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

This position is graded at BG6 level, with a minimum basic salary of VND 24,487,062, in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to monthly allowances, insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.

The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply

Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number 103335 as the position applied for. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting (Cover letter should illustrate your motivation to apply and suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications and work responsibilities. Detailed curriculum vitae should include the names and email addresses of three professional referees who are knowledgeable about your skills and professional abilities). The Alliance collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.