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The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), a non-profit international research center with staff from 45 countries, has an opening for Head of Genetic Resources Unit, to be based at the headquarters in Aleppo, Syria

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a non-profit international research center with staff from 45 countries. We have an opening for a Head of Genetic Resources Unit, to be based at the headquarters in Aleppo, Syria.

The Position:
ICARDA has a modern Gene Bank facility holding more than 130,000 accessions of mandate crops and their relatives. It has an active program of plant collection, preservation, documentation and genetic characterization linking closely with teams engaged with the exploitation of these crops. It has also a program of in situ conservation. The Center is located in a region considered the cradle of temperate zone agriculture. The head of the Genetic Resources Unit (GRU) reports to the Director of the Integrated Gene Management Program.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Develop unit strategies and research plans and ensure effective implementation of approved program of work;
• Supervise the quality of research and research staff in GRU;
• Provide reports and documentation as requested by ICARDA senior management;
• Prepare proposals for the projects related to the development of the unit;
• Coordinate with the assistance of staff members all training activities of the unit;
• Disseminate with the assistance of other ICARDA staff research in international publications and technology developed by the unit;
• Establish linkage and coordinate collaboration with relevant research institutions in both the developing and developed world;
• Represent ICARDA at the Intercenter Working Group on Genetic Resources (ICWG GR), international networks and other genetic resources fora as required.

Qualifications and Experience:
The successful candidate should have an earned PhD degree in plant genetics with a minimum of 10 years experience on research and training, preferably with some work experience in developing countries. Experience in managing research teams highly desirable. Experience in molecular characterization desirable.
The ideal candidate should be able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary and multi-national environment and to establish good working relationships with scientists in national programs. Fluency and the ability to communicate well in written and spoken English are essential, knowledge of Arabic and/or French would be an advantage. The position requires considerable international travel.

Applications:
Qualified applicants may download and complete the application form (MS Word or PDF) from ICARDA’s website (www.icarda.org) and send the completed form together with a recent photograph and any other relevant supporting documents (non-returnable) to:
Personnel Services, ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Telephone: (963-21) 2213477, 2225112, or 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105, or 5744622
E-mail: ICARDA-JOBS@CGIAR.ORG

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20 December 2007

Associated websites:

• http://www.icarda.org