[ES_JOBS_NET] Applied climate scientist position near Cali, Colombia

[TRACEY HOLLOWAY]

> Applied Climate Scientist
> 
> The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (www.ciat.cgiar.org <http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/>)
> works to reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human nutrition in the
> tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of
> agriculture. CIAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org <http://www.cgiar.org/>),
> a global research partnership working many partners for a food secure
> future.  The Center’s research focuses on increasing productivity of
> key crops (cassava, common bean, rice, and tropical forages);
> reversing soil and land degradation; and using information to foster
> better decisions about issues such as climate change and environmental
> management. Headquartered near Cali, Colombia, CIAT has regional
> offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Hanoi, Vietnam, with staff posted in
> other developing countries as well.
> 
> The DAPA group is a growing research area of CIAT that works towards
> CIAT’s mission of eco-efficient agriculture for the tropics by
> ensuring improved decision making by a range of stakeholders on the
> themes of climate change, linking farmers to markets and ecosystem
> services. See https://ciat.cgiar.org/dapa <https://ciat.cgiar.org/dapa> for more details on DAPA.
> 
> We are looking for a climate scientist with special emphasis on
> seasonal climate forecasting for agricultural applications.  This
> person will lead research and operational activities related to
> seasonal agro-climatic forecasting in Colombia and other Central and
> South American countries at the International Center for Tropical
> Agriculture (CIAT), Decision and Policy Analysis division. Specific
> projects where substantial contribution is expected include the CGIAR
> Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
> (CCAFS) funded “Tailored agro-climatic services for decision making”,
> any activities related to the Partnership between CIAT and the
> Ministry of Agriculture of Colombia, as well as the USAID-funded
> Climate Services project in Colombia.
> 
> Responsibilities
> 
>    - Provide intellectual leadership in the area of seasonal climate
> forecasting for Colombia and other Latin American countries, with the
> specific tasks to improve their performance for agricultural
> applications, and clearly evaluate and communicate that performance to
> end-users.  Incorporate enhanced physical understanding of regional
> climate dynamics into the models. Investigate how to appropriately
> translate forecast information into useful products for agricultural
> applications. Publish results in peer-reviewed literature.
>   - Identify current limitations and knowledge gaps in ongoing
> climate forecasting projects for the areas under study, and develop
> and implement methods to address these.
>   - Coordinate research activities of about 5-7 researchers working
> with weather data, climate model output, and seasonal climate
> forecasting tools and models.
>   - Ensure that the automation of operational processes is in place
> to update weather data, generate forecasts, and update evaluation
> metrics on a monthly basis.  Help communicate evaluation metrics,
> methodological limitations and research needs to internal and external
> users of the information in an understandable manner.
>   - Interface with meteorological agencies in Colombia and other
> partner countries in Latin America to share best practices, and
> maintain and develop relationships with other research institutions
> working on seasonal climate forecasting in the region (e.g. Columbia
> University International Research Institute for Climate & Society and
> climate modeling institutions, e.g. NOAA-GFDL).  Help to strengthen
> CIAT’s connection with the *Observatorio Latinoamericano de Eventos
> Extraordinarios* (OLE2).
>   - Build strong links with other CIAT and CIAT-DAPA research teams
> to enhance the potential for the use of forecasts in a variety of
> contexts and agricultural production systems.
>   - Write and/or participate in fund-raising activities to develop a
> funding stream at CIAT for basic and applied science research in
> seasonal climate forecasting in the Andean region.
> 
> Technical Competencies
> 
>    - Ph.D. in climate science (atmospheric science, oceanography,
> meteorology or related fields), focusing on atmosphere-ocean
> circulation dynamics and sources of inter-annual and decadal climate
> variability.
>   - Minimum 2-3 years of experience with seasonal climate
> forecasting, global and/ or regional climate models and the El
> Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon
>   - Experience in the practical applications of forecasts is desirable
>   - Demonstrated knowledge of statistical methods in atmospheric sciences
>   - Some experience managing research teams
>   - *Desirable:* particular knowledge of climate dynamics in the
> Andean region of South America
>   - *Desirable:*  experience in or exposure to agricultural
> meteorology and climate impacts modeling (agriculture, hydrology);
> familiarity with agricultural sciences
>   - *Desirable:*  familiarity with climate model downscaling and
> bias-correction methodologies
>   - *Desirable:* written and verbal communication skills in Spanish
> 
> Role Competencies
> 
>    - Dealing with ambiguity/ complexity
>   - Ability to motivate others
>   - Scientific communication skills: ability to break down complex
> scientific subjects
>   - Process Management
> 
> Terms of employment
> 
> The position is internationally recruited. The contract in the
> Scientist category will be for two (2) years subject to a probation
> period of six (6) months, and is renewable depending on performance
> and availability of resources. This person will report directly to the
> DAPA Research Area Director and to the Modeling Scientists in the
> projects in question. CIAT offers a multicultural, collegial research
> environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits; we believe
> that the diversity of our staff contributes to excellence. CIAT is an
> equal opportunity employer, and strives for staff diversity in gender
> and nationality.
> 
> Applications
> 
> Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their
> suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications,
> competencies, skills together with a detailed curriculum vitae,
> including names and addresses of three referees knowledgeable about
> the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. All
> correspondence should be addressed to the CIAT Human Resources Office
> to Ms. Andrea Linares (z.a.linares at cgiar.org <mailto:z.a.linares at cgiar.org>) and should clearly
> indicate “Applied Climate Scientist”.
> 
> Closing date for applications: July 29th, 2016
> 
> 
> 
> We invite you to learn more about us at: http://www.ciat.cgiar.org <http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/>
> 

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