Job Description

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) is seeking an exceptional Scientific Program Director (SPD) to provide leadership over research programs that are developed in partnership with industry, government, academia and non-profits. FFAR, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is focused on catalyzing innovation to solve pressing food and agriculture challenges that affect the lives of all Americans. Leveraging public and private resources, FFAR will increase the scientific and technological research, innovation, and partnerships critical to enhancing sustainable production of nutritious food for a growing global population.

FFAR has six Challenge Areas:

• Soil Health

• Sustainable Water Management

• Next Generation Crops

• Advanced Animal Systems

• Health-Agriculture Nexus

• Urban Food Systems

This position will focus on the Health-Agriculture Nexuschallenge area, which includes increasing access to nutritious foods, reducing food loss & waste, breeding better nutrition and advancing food production systems. This SPD will also provide expertise in food production systems and nutrition across all Challenge Areas.

The SPD will develop and manage a variety of research programs and work with Foundation staff (e.g., grants management, development, communications) and multi-stakeholder teams. The SPD will develop projects and/or programs that can be realized through prize and grant competitions, through the development of consortia, or through direct funding. A significant part of the position is to identify the gaps and innovation space within the Health-Agriculture Nexus Challenge Area and translate those opportunities into research projects or programs. As such, an SPD must be able to network and create relationships with organizations and individuals who work in research areas related to the Health-Agriculture Nexus and/or could become funding partners.

The SPD will oversee the evaluation of research applications and proposals; design, promote, and monitor the progress of FFAR-funded projects and be responsible for the day-to-day management of specific research initiatives, including managing project meetings, logistics, timelines, budgets, and associated grants and contracts. The SPD will develop and lead scientific conferences and other workshops as necessary to develop consensus on the critical research questions in the area of the Health-Agriculture Nexus that FFAR and its partners should pursue.

This is a science administration and management position that requires scientific and research knowledge, excellent interpersonal and writing skills, a high level of organization, diplomacy and focus, ability to work under tight deadlines, and familiarity with the food and agriculture research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing requests for applications/proposals based on FFAR priorities;

• Developing, and facilitating multi-disciplinary, public-private partnerships;

• Overseeing the evaluation process of research projects;

• Managing grants and/or contracts to see them through a successful conclusion;

• Coordinating and managing cross-functional scientific or project team meetings;

• Developing and managing  Health-Agriculture Nexus Challenge Area’s budget;

• Managing priority setting processes and relationships among diverse scientific and

administrative partners from different sectors (government, nonprofits, academia, and/or

private sector).

Qualifications

• Deep familiarity with research and scientific issues in the Health-Agriculture Nexus Challenge Area, specifically  agriculture, food production and processing, nutrition and human health;

• A graduate degree in a relevant agricultural or related field (doctoral degree preferred);

• Familiarity with research and grants administration;

• Experience working with the academic, private sectors, and/or the agriculture stakeholder community;

• Ability to discover and cultivate professional relationships and networks to further development of public private partnerships;

• Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a team;

• Ability to multitask, including working across multiple complex projects in different agricultural research areas;

• Ability to learn quickly, and make difficult decisions independently to meet tight deadlines;

• Attention to detail and strong analytical and organizational skills;

• Ability to demonstrate tact, diplomacy and initiative when collaborating with others;

• Ability to communicate complex business and scientific issues succinctly and effectively;

• Highest levels of personal and professional integrity, along with a sense of humor.

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