Research Specialist – Climate Resilience Platform at Bioversity International

About the position

• The Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT is seeking a Research Specialist to contribute to the development and success of the open Climate Resilience Platform.
• The Climate Resilience Platform was created with the vision of enabling access to climate change information, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and supporting agricultural producers facing climate adaptation challenges. The platform is in the process of evolving from a centrally managed model to a community-built platform that can be modified and improved by its users and other data contributors. To support in this transition, we are seeking a dedicated Research Specialist who will help define its features, prioritize tasks, ensure it meets user needs and helps achieve goals of driving climate change adaptation.
• The Research Specialist for the Climate Resilience Platform will play a critical role in shaping the platform's evolution, and we look forward to welcoming an enthusiastic and skilled individual to participate in this exciting endeavor.
• The position’s responsibilities include user and donor engagement, roadmap planning, and continuous improvement to maximize the product's value and impact. The ideal candidate should be collaborative, proactive, and experienced in working with a globally distributed team. This document outlines the terms of reference for this pivotal role.

Key Responsibilities:

Stakeholder Engagement: The Research Specialist will be responsible for engaging stakeholders to understand their needs for the platform, including with but not limited to:

• Agricultural businesses and industry platforms.
• Climate data contributors and scientists.
• Community based organizations supporting agricultural adaptation programs.
• End-users and the general public.
• Partnership development: Actively seek and establish partnerships with donors, research institutions, private sector partners, and community entities to enhance platform capabilities and reach.
• Platform Strategy: Provide input to develop and execute a strategy for the platform's transformation from a centralized model to a community-driven, open platform. This includes defining the roadmap, prioritizing features, and setting objectives that align with the broader vision of climate resilience and public engagement.
• Platform Governance structure: Help define and document the governance structure that is self-sustaining and maintains focus on achieving the core purpose of the Climate Resilience Platform.
• Fund-raising: Contribute to the preparation of research proposals and related fundraising activities.
• User-Centric Approach: Identify core target user group and ensure that the platform's design and functionality are aligned with the needs and expectations of its diverse user base. Collect and analyze user feedback to drive continuous improvement and innovation.
• Team Coordination: Coordinate with a global team of developers, designers, climate and social scientists to deliver the platform's objectives. Foster a collaborative and proactive working environment.
• Data Integration Support: Support and guide the integration of climate data from various sources into the platform, reviewing for accuracy, reliability, and up-to-date documentation.
• Community and Communication Development: Promote and support the growth of the platform's user and contributor community. Encourage active participation and contribution by users and data contributors.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuously measure the platform's impact and effectiveness, using key performance indicators (KPIs) to inform improvements.
• Reporting: Prepare and present regular reports to management and donors on platform progress, challenges, and outreach.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that the platform adheres to relevant data privacy, environmental, and other regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Key requirements and experience:

• PhD or Masters degree in a related field.
• Global Team Experience: Demonstrated ability to effectively work as part of a distributed global team, fostering collaboration and productivity across time zones.
• Track Record for Driving Action: Strong evidence from prior positions for being able to mobilize people to make the jump from analysis to action.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Proven track record of successfully engaging and building relationships with diverse stakeholders, from commercial partners to non-profit organizations.
• User-Centric Mindset: An understanding of user needs and a commitment to designing and maintaining a platform that serves those needs effectively.
• Innovation Experience: Passion for staying updated with the latest developments in climate resilience and data sharing.
• Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to identify and address challenges proactively, finding creative solutions to complex problems.
• Strategic thinking: Demonstrated strategic thinking and planning skills with the ability to set and guide the achievement of long-term objectives.
• Adaptability: Flexibility and adaptability to navigate the evolving landscape of climate resilience and public engagement.
• Experience in climate resilience: While not required, experience in the field of climate resilience, climate change adaptation, or related sectors would be highly desirable.