Senior Researcher / Researcher - Jahez Project Leader

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center is seeking a critical thinker and innovative researcher to join as a Senior Researcher / Researcher* - Jahez Project Leader.

This is an internationally recruited position; therefore, individuals with relevant abilities from diverse locations around the world are encouraged to apply. Please disregard the preferred geographic location indicated above, as this is a technical limitation of the Workable software. The successful candidate may be based in Jordan or another IWMI Office; however, remote working may be considered if telecommuting from a time zone within a 4-hour difference from Jordan.

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the availability of this position is contingent upon the receipt of donor funding.

“The Jahez (Ready) project: Building resilience for refugees and their host communities in Jordan" aims to enhance anticipatory action and climate change adaptation to build the resilience of refugees and their host communities in Jordan. This project will be implemented by IWMI and the Met Office in partnership with other development and humanitarian agencies, under the supervision of the Government of Jordan.

The incumbent is responsible for spearheading the design and implementation of the Jahez project, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), considered a flagship project aimed at piloting inclusive and integrated early warning, community-based disaster risk management, and climate adaptation solutions which will incorporate nature-based solutions (NbS) to mitigate climate stress within both refugee and hosting communities.

As a Senior Researcher / Researcher, the role will also entail participating in designing and delivering high-quality research outputs as pertaining to the program. As the Project Leader, the incumbent will be expected to leverage their considerable project management and coordination skills to successfully work with IWMI staff, consultants, and partner organizations, as well as high-level government representatives and technical staff to deliver targeted support to the countries participating in this pilot project.

The person will be responsible for external representation and engagement with the donor (FCDO), and other key stakeholders at various levels as an essential element of scaling and implementing the solutions provided by the project.

As the Project Leader,

• Lead the delivery of agreed activities on time and in line with FCDO's agreed planning and budget calendar and processes.
• Provide strategic leadership and, together with the project team, partners, and stakeholders, build a shared vision for the project, its goals, and how it will deliver impact.
• Oversee the planning and implementation of project activities.
• Oversee, manage and support the work of other project team members, including project partners and consultants.
• Facilitate the delivery of project outputs and contribute towards outcomes and impacts across the project.
• Sign off on key project deliverables and the release of funding as approved in the project proposal, work plan, and budget.
• Optimize financial resources, making decisions that maximize value for money, impact, and drive efficiencies.
• Be the internal and external "face" of the project, including interactions with FCDO, national focal points, project oversight bodies, as well as at events, project management and stakeholder meetings, etc.
• Liaise regularly with FCDO Project Management Unit for guidance and support.
• Coordinate to achieve synergies with other IWMI projects in the focal countries of implementation.
• Oversee project reporting processes and manage risks proactively and in line with the project risk register.
• Ensure implementation of the project's communication strategy and gender action plan.
• Support a work environment that promotes a culture of collaboration, learning, effective knowledge sharing, knowledge transfer, and interdisciplinary teamwork.

As the Domain Expert,

• Analyse existing vulnerability and disaster risk information to identify risks to food, land, water systems, and other priority areas such as agriculture, livelihoods, and food security.
• Collaborate with in-country stakeholders to consolidate information on early warning data, decision-support systems, and priority risks.
• Develop disaster risk reduction strategies in partnership with local and national stakeholders, incorporating early warning/early action (EW/EA) and longer-term adaptation strategies.
• Define and establish early warning triggers with stakeholders, such as risk level thresholds for rapid allocation of financial resources to prevent and mitigate the impact of forecasted hazards on agriculture and food security.
• Formulate crisis timelines, overlaying seasonality and livelihood impact information to identify timings for early warning and anticipatory action.
• Define and establish protocols and standard operating procedures in collaboration with stakeholders for linking early warning to anticipatory action (early action as well as longer-term adaptation), clarifying roles and responsibilities for risk monitoring and early action implementation.
• Support the operational and timely implementation of anticipatory action at the country level, by conducting field missions, advising on appropriate actions, operational arrangements, and accessing the Early Action Fund.
• Strengthen partnerships and inter-agency efforts on locally driven disaster risk reduction (including EW/EA and climate adaptation strategies) at the country level, fostering collaboration on early warning and coordinated anticipatory action implementation.
• Assist in institutionalizing locally driven disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies with key government partners.
• Support capacity building activities at the country level, including delivering the CGIAR-Anticipatory Action learning program.
• Represent and advocate for locally driven disaster risk reduction with donors, technical partners, and UN Agencies.
• Support communication efforts through tailored products using various channels such as the web, photo/video, social media, press releases, and other means.
• Lead proposal development and resource mobilization in key research areas relevant to the subject matter of the post.