Agricultural/Food Scntst III

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

The Agricultural/Food Scientist III provides technical coordination and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) support for SAFE research and capacity-building activities. The role tracks activities against approved annual workplans, supports faculty and subrecipients on research design and implementation, liaises with country coordination teams, and coordinates program events, knowledge-sharing, open data management, and management of the research and scaling project portfolio in the Piestar platform. The position adapts and manages SAFE’s results framework and performance monitoring plans, supports evaluation studies using participatory quantitative and qualitative methods, strengthens data collection and reporting protocols, and coordinates implementation of SAFE’s Environmental Monitoring Plan. It trains and supports subrecipients in MEL and environmental compliance, coordinates indicator-data compilation and verification to Feed the Future and Department of State standards, manages the Piestar monitoring and reporting portal, and develops visualizations and learning tools to inform decision-making. Travel and other innovation lab support tasks may also be assigned. This is a time-limited position contingent on funding availability.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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 externally funded international projects, and field research and/or development work with smallholder farmers.
Self-motivation, multitasking, and facilitation skills.
Flexibility and willingness to travel internationally to SAFE target countries, including the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Nepal, and the Philippines.
Strong commitment to client satisfaction, excellent mediation and motivation skills, and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
Excellent attention to detail.
Ability to meet tight deadlines and produce high-quality outputs while balancing multiple responsibilities.
Proficiency in Spanish or another language spoken in SAFE target countries, such as Nepali, Filipino, Amharic, or Swahili.
Experience involving multidisciplinary and international teams.

Responsibilities

Track research and capacity-building activities against approved annual workplans and follow up on late reports or implementation challenges.
Provide technical support to SAFE faculty and subrecipients, particularly in SAFE’s Areas of Inquiry, and help resolve research design and implementation issues.
Liaise with SAFE and country coordination teams to support planning and implementation of in-country research activities.
Plan and organize meetings, stakeholder consultations, workshops, and other program events in Gainesville, Florida, and SAFE focus countries.
Coordinate knowledge-sharing and open data management, including analysis and dissemination of research results, and support subrecipients’ knowledge-sharing activities.
Coordinate management of SAFE’s research and scaling project portfolio in the Piestar platform and provide training on its use.
Adaptively manage SAFE’s 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 project-specific MEL plans.
Coordinate implementation of SAFE’s Environmental Monitoring Plan, develop supporting tools and protocols, and help subrecipients strengthen project-specific environmental plans.
Train and support subrecipients in MEL and environmental compliance remotely or in the field.
Prepare and submit quarterly and annual indicator-data compilations and verifications in line with Feed the Future and Department of State standards, using data quality checks, triangulation, and field visits.
Support country coordination teams with in-country monitoring of research performance and prepare internal quarterly performance overviews.
Manage the Piestar monitoring and reporting portal and provide training on its use.
Develop data visualizations and learning tools, present findings, and facilitate learning-focused discussions with in-country platforms.
Travel and perform other tasks in support of the innovation lab as assigned.
Perform other program coordination and MEL tasks as assigned.