(RFP500292) Research Associate, Multifunctional Landscapes (Montpellier, France)

Bioversity International is hiring a Research Associate in Montpellier, France, to support multi-disciplinary research on sustainable food systems. The role involves analyzing agricultural practices in cocoa, coffee, and banana supply chains, contributing to systematic reviews, and producing scientific outputs to inform decision-making. Ideal candidates should have strong data analysis skills and a keen interest in sustainability at the food-biodiversity-climate nexus.
(RFP500292) Research Associate, Multifunctional Landscapes (Montpellier, France)

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Alliance BI-CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives. Alliance solutions seek to address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.

The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

https://alliancebioversityciat.org/ www.cgiar.org

About the position

The Alliance is seeking to recruit a Research Associate in the Multifunctional Landscapes Lever to support multi-disciplinary research projects, teams, and activities, working to co-develop and implement pathways to sustainable food systems.

The position is well-suited to a motivated graduate with excellent data analysis skills, a curious, positive and collaborative attitude, and a strong interest in sustainability issues at the food-biodiversity-climate nexus.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of a Scientist, the Research Associate will be part of the Multifunctional Landscapes lever and will coordinate, monitor and follow up on delegated tasks and deadlines.

Specifically, the Research Associate will:

Contribute to a systematic review to identify biodiversity-friendly and climate-resilient practices in cocoa, coffee and banana supply chains in three focal countries (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guatemala).

Lead the analysis of the effects of various agricultural practices in coffee, cocoa and banana systems on biodiversity, yield and climate variables to identify the most promising practices in each system.

Systematically collate and support the analysis of various agrobiodiversity datasets and knowledge synthesis products, including data collected from farm-household surveys and field experiments

Contribute to producing high quality scientific outputs that can inform government, farmer, civil society organization, and/or company decisions of how to achieve sustainable, climate-resilient cocoa, coffee and banana value chains.

Actively participate in developing new and applying existing methodologies, outreach, and collaborations to advance research on effective use and conservation of agrobiodiversity in healthy, sustainable, and just food systems.

Contribute to other multi-disciplinary research projects on use and conservation of biodiversity in healthy, sustainable, and just food systems.

Collaborate with CGIAR and external researchers to gather unpublished datasets, share research findings, and promote the adoption of multifunctional farming practices.

Occasionally travel to represent the Alliance at project meetings and support fieldwork activities at project sites

Contribute positively to the function, team spirit and mission of the Alliance as an institution including through actively encouraging and seeking collaborations within and across internal research teams, and with external research and development partners

Help secure funding to continue project activities by contributing to proposals

Communicate scientific research findings to a wide audience through writing blogs, peer-reviewed articles and representation at international conferences

Perform other related duties as required

Requirements
Requirements

A Bachelor's degree (Master's degree is desirable) in geography, agronomy, ecology, food systems, or related disciplines, with a strong focus on systems approaches

Previous relevant work experience working on international, multi-disciplinary research projects (preferably at least 1 year)

Experience applying multi-objective food and land use system models, such as the FABLE Calculator, InVEST, Co$tingNature or similar

Experience in statistical analysis using R or another statistical package

Experience with systematic literature reviews and other literature-based data collection

Good communication and interpersonal skills

Experience designing, implementing, and analysing data using qualitative and quantitative research methodologies

Experience or interest in learning spatial data processing and analysis using ArcGIS, QGIS, R or another cartographic package

Ability to contribute to a positive, collaborative team spirit in a transdisciplinary and multi-cultural team

Excellent organization, priority setting and problem-solving skills

Conscientious with high attention to detail

Willingness to travel occasionally (up to 6 weeks per year) to support project activities

Excellent command of the English, Spanish and French languages, both written and spoken

Benefits
Terms of employment

This is a locally recruited position. All benefits are denominated and paid in EURO. The salary is level 6, on a scale of 14 levels, with level 14 being the highest. The salary range starts from Euro 33,680 per annum. The remuneration package includes a competitive salary, leave provisions, medical and life insurance, and non-contributory retirement plan. The salary is exempt from French income tax (an internal taxation is applied). The contract will be for a period of 1 year, subject to a probationary period of 6 months. Please note this position is only open to citizens and residents of the European Union.

Applications

Please apply online through the website ( https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers ) attaching a curriculum vitae, motivation letter, both in English, and contact information (e.g. names, email address) of at least three references.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Closing date for applications: 27 May 2025