Scientific Program Associate

Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

22h

About The Position

FFAR seeks two scientific program associates (SPAs) to provide support to the following Priority Area Teams: Cultivating Thriving Production Systems Teamwhich supportsresearchthat helps animal and crop systems by increasing productivity, combatingpestand diseases, supporting animal welfare and safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods. Bolstering Healthy Food SystemsTeamwhich supports research thatpromotestheavailability of nutritious foods, improves human health, develops novel food processes andproductsand advances the U.S. food systems’ functionality. The SPA position(s) fill a critical internal coordination and communication role while supporting engagement with partners and other stakeholders. The SPA(s) will report directly to the Program Directors over each Priority Area identified above and will often work closely with external stakeholders as well as FFAR colleagues on the Communications & Legislative Affairs, Grants, Partnerships & Development, Impacts and Finance Teams. This science administration position requires a desire to learn more about innovative food and agriculture research, excellent interpersonal and writing skills, a high level of organization and an ability to work under tight deadlines. This is an opportunity to engage across several technical areas in support of a broad food and agriculture research portfolio.

Requirements

High attention to detail,strong organizationalskillsand the ability to meet deadlines
Demonstrated time and project management skills, including the ability to meet multiple deadlines;ability to set priorities;ability to create and use spreadsheets to track project deliverables
Ability to work professionally and collegially within a creative, fast-paced culture that emphasizes excellence and teamwork
Ability to work independently with limited supervision; flexible and able to routinely juggle multiple competing priorities and work incross-departmentalteamscomprisedof both support and senior staff to meet project goals
Ability to write clearly and cogently for technical and non-technical audiences
Ability to synthesize and summarizelarge amountsof information and to focus quickly on the essence of an issue, as well as toidentify, understand and synthesize different perspectives
Strong systems skills including MicrosoftOffice products required; database and online research applications preferred
Highest levels of initiative and integrity
Bachelor’sdegree
At leasttwo yearsof relevant professional experience
Experience working in a collaborative and team-oriented environment
Experience communicatingcomplextopicssuccinctly and effectively
Experience multitasking, including working across multiple complex projects in differentfoodandagriculturalresearch areas

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of agriculture preferred
Experience working with academia, the private sector and/or thefood andagriculturalstakeholder community preferred

Responsibilities

Organize and manageteamfiles and materials
Coordinate internal and external meetings, including development of meeting agendas, meeting minutes and follow-up on action items
Support the development, coordination and on-site execution of events and meetings related to the development ofnew programs, implementation of existingprogramsor other team needs. These may include offsite convening events,webinarsor meetings between external stakeholder groups such as advisory or executive groups
Support tracking of metrics related toteamgoals/performance
Support research program monitoring and evaluation (M&E) efforts;This may include facilitating partners’ data entry into FFAR’s M&E system, uncovering and collating impact stories or other related tasks
Utilize and manage project management tools
Co-develop and manage standard operating procedures
Develop internal communication materials, including slide decks
Support external communication to stakeholders and potential funders, including slide decks, save the date and pre-event materials
Support outreach strategies by preparingor reviewingmaterials for the FFAR website,teamnewslettersand publications
Coordinatevirtual and in-personmeetings with advisory groups or stakeholders to support concept development fornew programs
Provide internal research support, including analysis of award data and other information to gain efficiency, ensure equity and make other improvements to FFAR processes