Job Description

Classification Title:

Agricultural/Food Scntst III

Classification Minimum Requirements

Doctoral degree in agricultural science, biology, or a closely related field and two years of relevant experience; or a master's degree in agricultural science, biology, or a closely related field and five years of relevant experience; or a bachelor's degree in agricultural science, biology, or a closely related field and seven years of relevant experience.

Job Description:

Technical coordination

• Track research and capacity-building activities against approved annual workplans. Ensure subrecipients submit quarterly and final progress reports on time and follow up on delays or implementation challenges.
• Provide technical support to SAFE faculty and subrecipients, with particular focus on SAFE’s Areas of Inquiry. Help resolve technical issues in research design and implementation.
• Serve as a liaison between SAFE and country coordination teams, supporting the effective planning and implementation of in-country research activities.
• Plan and organize meetings, stakeholder consultations, workshops, and other programmatic events in Gainesville, Florida, and SAFE’s focus countries.
• Coordinate SAFE’s knowledge-sharing and open data management efforts, including analysis and dissemination of research results. Support subrecipients in carrying out their own knowledge-sharing activities.
• Coordinate and support SAFE in managing research and scaling portfolio of projects in Piestar platform. Provide training on Piestar use.
• Perform other program coordination tasks as assigned.

Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) coordination

• Adaptively manage the results framework and performance monitoring plans for SAFE and its research projects.
• Contribute to data collection and assessment of SAFE evaluation studies using participatory quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Revise and strengthen data collection and reporting protocols for subrecipients and UF researchers and help subrecipients refine their project-specific MEL plans.
• Coordinate implementation of SAFE’s Environmental Monitoring Plan, develop supporting tools and protocols, and help subrecipients strengthen their project-specific environmental plans.
• Train and support subrecipients in MEL and environmental compliance, remotely or in the field.
• Prepare and submit quarterly and annual compilation and verification of indicator data in line with Feed the Future and Department of State standards, using data quality checks, triangulation, and field visits. Support country coordination teams in in-country monitoring of research performance and prepare internal quarterly performance overviews.
• Manage Piestar monitoring and reporting portal. Provide training on Piestar use.
• Develop data visualizations and learning tools that help SAFE subrecipients, and partners apply results to decision-making. Present findings and facilitate learning-focused discussions with in-country platforms.
• Perform other MEL tasks as assigned.

Travel and other tasks in support of the innovation lab, as assigned

This is a time-limited position contingent on funding availability.

Expected Salary:

Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Required Qualifications

Doctoral degree in agricultural science, biology, or a closely related field and two years of relevant experience; or a master's degree in agricultural science, biology, or a closely related field and five years of relevant experience; or a bachelor's degree in agricultural science, biology, or a closely related field and seven years of relevant experience.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in agricultural science, biology, or a closely related field and five years of experience in the field or in a related area.
• Experience in project work, preferably on Research for Development-funded projects.
• Strong analytical, oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Previous experience in program coordination, managing external funded international projects, and field research and/or development experience working with smallholder farmers.
• Self-motivation, multitasking, and facilitation skills.
• Flexibility to travel to target countries, including Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Nepal, and the Philippines.
• Strong commitment to client satisfaction, excellent mediation and motivation skills and the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and generate high-quality outputs while balancing multiple responsibilities.
• Proficiency in Spanish or another language spoken in SAFE’s target countries, such as Nepali, Filipino, Amharic, or Swahili, is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel internationally to SAFE’s target countries.
• Experience involving multidisciplinary and international teams will be an asset.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

This is a time-limited position contingent on funding availability.

Health Assessment Required: No