Director

A new Director for the TSBF Institute of CIAT is being sought due to the upcoming retirement of the incumbent. The Director of the TSBF Institute will be responsible for providing a strategic vision for research on tropical soil biology to benefit land-users, especially resource poor farmers. The Director will orient the design and implementation of an integrated natural resource management research program carried out in collaboration with national research institutes, development projects and universities. The Director has direct day-by-day responsibility for leadership and management of the TSBF scientists based in Africa with headquarters in Kenya. The Director will also oversee CIAT scientists conducting soils research in South America and Southeast Asia. In Addition to managing the soils biology research team, the Director will ensure effective collaboration with research partners and will be in charge of donor relations and resource mobilization to secure the financial support needed to implement the program.

Requirements:
The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. and ten years or more of experience in tropical agricultural research with a strong background in soil management. Demonstrated achievement in leading multi-disciplinary research, in inter-institutional collaboration, and a track record in fund raising are essential. The Director must have outstanding team leadership skills, an appreciation for intellectual and other forms of diversity, the capacity to link a research vision to applied problems, and a commitment to agricultural development in tropics. High verbal and written communication skills in English are essential, while skills in French and Spanish would be a very great advantage. Vigorous health, a willingness to travel extensively, and a high degree of entrepreneurial initiative are required.

The Director will oversee the management of the TSBF budget and staff. The Director of TSBF is a member of the CIAT Management Team with global responsibility for CIAT soils research and development activities including oversight of the CGIAR System-Wide Program on Soil Water and Nutrient Management. The TSBF Director reports to the Director General and to the Director of Research for research priority setting and coordination.

The Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF) is the outcome of a merger between the TSBF Program and CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical) in December 2001. The Institute operates as an integral part of the CIAT research program although the Institute retains a considerable autonomy in its research agenda and funding. The TSBF research program is guided by a Scientific Advisory Committee of the CIAT Board of Trustees, derived in part from the former Board of Management of the TSBF Program. The Institute is housed on the ICRAF campus in Nairobi.

The Institute is committed to "developing improved practices for sustaining tropical soil fertility through the management of biological processes and organic resources in combination with judicious use of inorganic inputs".

TSBF research is implemented through collaboration with national scientists.

The African network for Soil Biology and Fertility (AfNet) now has about 110 members from Universities and NARIs in about fifteen countries. There is also a small network in India (TSBF South Asian Regional Network, SARNet), coordinated from the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. TSBF has four major research priorities for the next five years:

- Empowering Farmers through knowledge and strengthened capacities for decision making.

- Managing Nutrient Cycles by optimizing the use of organic inputs for integrated soil fertility management through manipulation of decomposition and other soil biological processes.

- Managing Below-Ground Biodiversity by manipulating the soil biota for sustainable agricultural production.

- Managing Ecosystem Services through the environmental benefits of a healthy and active soil biological community.

The appointment will be based in Nairobi, Kenya for an initial contract of three years and with competitive salary and benefits. CIAT, based in Cali, Colombia is a non-profit organization with more than 80 internationally recruited scientists. As an international and equal opportunity employer, CIAT believes that the diversity of its staff contributes to excellence, and encourages applications particularly from both women and developing country professionals.

Please send electronically to CIAT-jobs@cgiar.org a letter of application including curriculum vita, and names, fax/email and addresses of three referees to International Recruitment Officer with hard copy to CIAT AA 67-13 Cali, Colombia. Fax (57-2) 445-0073, tel. (57-2) 445-0000.

Applications received until April 26 or until the position is filled. When applying, please say you saw this announcement on Green Dream Jobs.