Earthwatch Institute is an international environmental organization that engages people in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment

Earthwatch Institute is seeking for a Research Manger (engaged as a consultant) in India.

Please send your application to indiaprogramme@earthwatch.org.in latest by 1 April 2011.

Earthwatch Institute supports around 60 field research projects in over 35 countries. Earthwatch engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Sustainable agriculture and ecosystems services are important areas for development of new research within the Earthwatch portfolio. 

Earthwatch aims to develop new scientific research in India (and elsewhere) using a common research framework.  The research may include, for example, the identification of best practices to enhance ecosystem services and conserve biodiversity through on-farm and landscape management strategies or treatments including habitat enrichments, and assessment of the benefit of these management strategies to the farmer and local community.   For these strategies to be scaled-up effectively, they need to be put in the context of key enablers: trade, distribution and policy.  This information can then be made available to inform future planning and policy. 

Earthwatch works with a number of corporate partners who support research on sustainability within agricultural landscapes. There is significant opportunity to develop new research around these themes.

Currently, Earthwatch is seeking to develop a new research on BES in agricultural landscapes at Western Ghats and at another site, possibly in Western Himalaya region.  We are also exploring the potential to work on cocoa agro-forestry in Tamil Nadu. The new research in various locations will focus on the ecosystem health, productivity and sustainability of the complex agroforestry systems in the area.  Research at the  Western Himalaya will focus on maintaining and enhancing BES in agricultural landscapes and the wider ecosystems on which they depend.  There is potential to develop additional research with support from other funders and corporate partners.

Summary of role

A research manager may be required to recruit and supervise researchers, oversee and establish the experimental design at new research sites, and ensure effective data collection and processing, data analysis, and preparation of manuscripts for the scientific and popular literature.  The Research Manager will have a strong track record of their own research in this field, and a high ability to present research results at scientific meetings and public events, and provide scientific knowledge expertise to corporate partners and other departments within Earthwatch.

The Research Manager should have an affiliation with a university or academic institution, allowing access to University libraries, and strong academic networks.  The Research Manager will be expected to continue strong partnerships with relevant scientific and conservation working groups and organizations (e.g. IUCN). Furthermore, it is expected that the Research Manager will look to develop significant funded initiatives, as well as use these opportunities for personal development of scientific interests as they fit in with the existing Initiatives and projects.

The position will be based at multiple project locations (such as Delhi NCR and project sites at Western Ghats, Western Himalaya -  as required). The position will report to the Country Director, Earthwatch Institute.  There will also be regular liaison with the International Director of Research, the Research Director Ecosystems Services and the relevant corporate partnerships managers involved in the programme. 

SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

The Research Manger will lead the overall strategic development of Earthwatch Institute’s sustainable agriculture programme in India, drawing on their own research background and networks; and articulate and disseminate outcomes from the sustainable agriculture research portfolio nationally and internationally.  They will spend most of their time developing and overseeing new research, including identification of research sites and themes, building institutional partnerships (e.g. with universities and conservation NGOs), recruitment of researchers, preparing publications and presenting results, including presentations to teams of participants on projects. They will have significant global responsibilities to represent Earthwatch in roundtables and workshops about agriculture. They will also assist the Country Director in development of new funded work. These activities will include: 

Research development

• Lead and oversee development of new research on biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes at Western Ghats, Western Himalaya and Tamil Nadu etc
• Lead and oversee development of new field research on biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes in one other priority region in India
• Liaise with the Research Director, Ecosystem Services who heads the Earthwatch Sustainable Agriculture Initiative to ensure that the research is peer reviewed; delivers high quality outcomes; contributes to conservation agendas, management plans, and local communities; contributes to Earthwatch Measures of Success, and to the overall Sustainable Agriculture Initiative and Ecosystems Services research area.
• Ensure that effective evaluation processes are in place.
• With the Country Director, recruit, supervise and where necessary train researchers within this programme.

Research communication

• Prepare publications, summaries, posters and presentations on results from Earthwatch sustainable agriculture research.
• Present in at least one major agriculture/conservation forum per year on outcomes and perspectives, from the Earthwatch sustainable agriculture research project portfolio.
• Liaise with the Research Director, Ecosystems Services with regard to representing Earthwatch internationally in roundtables and workshops about agriculture
• Support general communication with Earthwatch scientists and partners, including input for Research web pages, public events, and input to specific position papers relevant to the Initiative.
• Contribute to developing curricula for learning and engagement activities related to sustainable agriculture, and make presentations to non-specialist participants on Earthwatch projects.
• Provide an annual research progress report in December each year.
• Support Earthwatch internationally in the production and dissemination of relevant information and communications about sustainable agriculture research.

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Earthwatch Institute programme development

• Support the Country Director in developing new funding opportunities for research in this field from other corporate partners and funders, and lead on developing the new research.
• Support the Earthwatch Development and Corporate Partnerships departments in securing additional funding for projects and programs as needed in this field.
• Maintain and develop strong academic and sustainable agriculture networks to inform the development of the Earthwatch India research programme.

Person Specification

• Appropriate scientific/environmental doctorate is required.  
• Strong background in conducting own research, preferably at landscape level and ecosystems services.
• Experience of leading and managing applied research and conservation programs.
•  Professional and academic association with national conservation or agricultural institutions and / or research programmes on sustainable agriculture and ecosystem services related issues will be of added advantage.
• Significant scientific publication record.
• Experience in preparing scientific manuscripts, literature reviews, and scientific documents for a general audience.
• Experience in giving presentations at high level forums, public lectures and communicating science to a diverse audience.
• Excellent communication skills including public speaking and science writing.

APPLICATION

Submit a CV and covering letter to Indiaprogramme@earthwatch.org.in

Deadline 1 April 2011