Researcher – Natural Resources Integration Systems Specialist

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Description

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The incumbent will be responsible for performing a variety of natural resources assessment (land, climate, and water resources) tasks under FCDO’s funded Water Resources Accountability Programme (WRAP): Component 1 (Climate Resilient Solutions for Improving Water Governance (CRS-IWaG)) in Punjab and KP provinces.

This position involves integrating data and geospatial techniques to conduct research for development related to agricultural water management and irrigated agriculture using approaches that combine methodologies and technical knowledge of irrigation, land suitability, water management, farming systems, data management, and spatial analysis.

The incumbent will lead in conceptualizing and leading Integration Research for Development (R4D) portfolios on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus and IWMI’s Strategic Programs by building and managing partnerships needed to achieve outcomes and impacts that could be applied in the field. The person will contribute to the development of innovative solutions, strategies, and technologies aimed at better management of natural resources (land and water resources) in which multinational and interdisciplinary teams are engaged to achieve the organizational mission.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategize, develop, and manage the research for development portfolios on the integration of natural resources (land and water) and geospatial modeling in the context of climate-resilient agriculture and irrigation systems.
• Lead in developing geospatial methodologies to assess the impacts of climate change, land use/land cover changes, and other factors (such as floods and droughts) on water resources and agriculture that enhance resilience at the local and basin scales.
• Lead in developing  and implementing novel methodologies for extracting and analyzing water-related information from spatial data sources to address water-related challenges such as water scarcity, governance, and climate resilience.
• Perform geospatial mapping of irrigated areas in Punjab and KP provinces to assess the current state and changes in the irrigated areas and potential land suitability for the future expansion of irrigation water.
• Lead the development and validation of remote sensing-based models to assess crop water demand and utilization across various landscapes and timescales.
• Act as a focal point for the coordination of all technical activities relevant to natural resources management and report to the Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader of the WRAP project.
• Develop approaches to assess the current state of irrigation systems in Pakistan and propose improvements to meet irrigated agriculture requirements.
• Engage in relevant scientific, policy, and development practitioner networks, and communities of practice of water professionals to foster the uptake of research results and knowledge for improving water productivity.
• Lead stakeholder engagements with relevant government departments and partners, promoting strategies, policies, and technological solutions aimed at optimizing water usage and improving agricultural water productivity.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity-building initiatives with policymakers, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations on best practices for water modeling, irrigation efficiency, and integrated water resource management.
• Contribute to the overall direction of IWMI’s research agenda under One CGIAR and provide support in project development and implementation, and information dissemination activities to programs and partner organizations within the new One CGIAR structure.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams comprising IWMI staff, consultants, partner organizations, and government representatives to deliver actionable recommendations for enhancing the performance of key water institutions.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential,

• A PhD in hydrology, water resources engineering, agricultural engineering, or a closely related field, coupled with a minimum of 05 years of relevant post-doctoral experience, OR; Master’s degree in aforementioned fields, or a closely related field, coupled with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
• At least 05 years of extensive field experience in designing, monitoring, and analyzing water management interventions in agricultural systems with farmers and multi-stakeholders.
• Strong project management experience in handling geospatial data in natural resources modeling, irrigation, water productivity, hydrological, and groundwater on a diverse range of scales (farm, river basin, and national).
• Experience engaging with regional and international professional networks and building strong partnerships with different categories of stakeholders.
• Experience working on consultancy, research, and development of donor-funded projects that promote, plan, design, and implement integrated water resources management techniques.
• Experience managing and navigating partner and stakeholder relationships with governmental, private sector, and community counterparts.
• Sound experience in leading, managing, and/or providing technical contributions to complex donor-funded research projects in Asia and other developing regions of the world.
• Experience in organizing, developing, and delivering capacity-building workshops and training programs for diverse participants.

Desirable,

• Prior experience working with internationally leading development organizations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Essential,

• Excellent skills and knowledge of water resources (both surface and groundwater) assessment, climate change impact and resilience, hydrological analysis tools/models, and the WEFE nexus concept.
• Excellent understanding of challenges and opportunities in developing countries and emerging economies related to sustainable water, land, and agricultural development in the face of a changing climate.
• Strong ability to interpret, summarize, synthesize, present, and utilize outputs of hydrological models to support planning, and/or to inform decision-making processes at local, watershed, and basin scales.
• Possesses strong analytical and numerical skills to process large datasets for modeling integrated water resources and communicate the relevance of analyses to various audiences and stakeholders.
• Excellent spatial analysis skills using market-leading software such as ArcGIS, and statistical analysis software, including the ability to develop Python scripts.
• Independent and critical scientific thought, including a sound understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of spatial tools for hydrological modeling and water resource assessments at different spatial scales.
• Good understanding of instrumentation techniques and knowledge of data logging systems, with proficiency in handling large datasets collected from field instruments.
• Good management and leadership skills along with personal attributes, including high standards of conduct, respect, flexibility, diplomacy, and sound work ethics.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask effectively, prioritize work, manage time, and adapt to new procedures quickly.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, managers, project partners, focal points, community members, and other stakeholders.
• Persuasive written and oral communication skills in English, including report development, writing, editing, and strong presentation skills for addressing diverse audiences.

Source: https://apply.workable.com/international-water-management-institute/j/981357BF0C/

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