Reports to: Program Manager \u2013 C4RPWC as direct supervisor, and Program Director for technical matters.
Location: Ajman, UAE
Purpose of the position
The Technical Lead serves as the scientific and operational focal point for all technical workstreams of the C4RPWC program and links the research components to the overall Consortium and Program Coordination. This role ensures cross-workstream integration, scientific rigor, and alignment with the program\u2019s strategic goals. The Technical Lead directly manages Workstream Leads and Co-leads, ensuring coordinated delivery of outputs, technical quality, and alignment with the overall program workplan. In addition to serving as the overall Technical Lead, the incumbent will also serve as Lead of Workstream 5, Lead of Work Package 3 within Workstream 5, Co-lead of Workstream 4, and Co-lead of Workstream 1. These roles involve direct responsibility for scientific leadership, coordination, and delivery of thematic outputs within each respective workstream.
About ICARDAย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR.ย ย
ICARDA\u2019s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organization, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org.
Main responsibilitiesย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Technical Leadership & Management
Provide direct technical oversight and performance management of all Workstream Leads and Co-leads.Ensure workstream objectives, deliverables, and milestones are aligned with the overall program strategy.Facilitate cross-workstream collaboration, integration, and synergy.Chair Consortium Management Team meetings jointly with the Program Manager.
Scientific Coordination & Governance
Management of Workstream Leads & Co-leads
Workstream-Specific Leadership
Workplan & Delivery Oversight
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Communication & Knowledge Translation
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Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Support
Facilitate technical-policy dialogues with national counterparts in UAE, Egypt, Morocco, and other Low- and Medium-Income Countries (LIMC).Lead field-level demonstrations and regulatory engagement to support uptake pathways.Support alignment with MOCCAE, ADAFSA, other UAE-based institutions, and LIMC-based institutions.ย
Capacity Building & Innovation Scaling
Lead capacity development activities across workstreams.Support the design and implementation of Farmer Field Schools and training modules.Promote adaptive experimentation and field validation.Resource Mobilization
Collaborate with workstream leads and co-leads to identify funding opportunities.Contribute to concept notes and proposals for Phase II of the program.
Requirements
Education, qualifications, and experience
PhD in Entomology, Integrated Pest Management, or related field. Minimum 10 years of experience in RPW and date palm pest management, including in GCC countries. Proven leadership in multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary projects. Strong knowledge of RPW biology, control technologies (pheromones, biocontrol, digital tools). Strategic thinking with hands-on problem-solving ability.Experience with remote sensing, GIS, and data-driven pest surveillance. Ability to work under pressure and in multicultural environments.Strong organizational and coordination skills.Commitment to scientific excellence and ICARDA\u2019s mission.Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic. Demonstrated experience in fundraising and proposal development.Benefits
Terms of appointment, salary, and benefits
This is an internationally recruited staff position for which ICARDA offers an attractive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, five months\u2019 maternity leave, 15 days\u2019 paternity leave. The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract of 3 years, renewable subject to continued need for the position, availability of funds and satisfactory performance. The first year will be probationary period.
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Please be advised that ICARDA accepts applications only in English, as per the organization's standard communication language. Applications in other languages will not be considered.
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Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.