Livelihoods & Institutions

Location:      Medway campus
Salary:      £59,828 to £71,406
Contract Type:      Permanent
Closing Date:      Wednesday 02 October 2019
Interview Date:      To be confirmed

Do you have what it takes to make an impact on global food and nutrition security? We are looking for exceptional candidates to help drive forward our work to improve the lives of poor people.

The Natural Resources Institute (NRI – https://www.nri.org/) of the University of Greenwich carries out specialised research, teaching, training and consultancy with a focus on food, agriculture, environment and sustainable livelihoods.

NRI is currently expanding its interdisciplinary research excellence to address food and nutrition security, especially in Africa. This expansion is funded by UKRI’s Research England under the ‘Expanding Excellence in England’ scheme. Elements of this new investment include new staff, PhD studentships, infrastructure and partnerships (see www.nri.org/FanSI). Investment will be across four specific areas:

• Climate Change, Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Sustainable Agricultural Intensification
• Food Loss and Waste
• Food Systems for Improved Nutrition

NRI’s work is globally respected and has won many awards including a recent Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education. The Institute is located at the University’s vibrant Medway Campus in Chatham Maritime, Kent.

NRI is looking to appoint a Professor of Food and Agriculture Policy. An appointment may be made at the Associate Professor level for a suitably qualified candidate. The focus on the role will be on high quality research, with a possible contribution to teaching activities of up to 10%. There will also be opportunities to supervise postgraduate MPhil/PhD students.

This particular role is intended to expand NRI’s capacity for research on food and agricultural policies at global, regional and local levels. The post-holder may have a main disciplinary background in agricultural science, nutrition, economics or other relevant science or social science discipline but will be interdisciplinary in orientation and international in outlook and experience. Candidates are expected to have an in-depth understanding of smallholder agriculture, especially in Africa, and familiarity with evidence-based approaches for identifying agricultural policies that strengthen the sustainability and resilience of (smallholder) agriculture to long and short term shocks such as climate change, conflict and increased urbanisation. This role cuts across the four programme areas of NRI’s FaNSI i.e. climate change, sustainable agricultural intensification, food loss and waste and food systems for improved nutrition.

Candidates should also have experience with analyses of the links between food production and consumption and the role of food policies for improving diets and nutrition in low-income and other settings. Research on the impacts of food production patterns and diets on the climate would be an advantage.

As an authority and leading international scholar, the successful candidate is expected to provide strategic leadership across the university. The candidate should have a proven record of attracting external research and other grants and the ability to add value to the NRI’s Food and Nutrition Security Initiative. The post holder is expected to have, and maintain strong stakeholder relationships at regional, national and international levels, across his/her research disciplines. An outstanding record of publication at the highest level is expected.

This exciting new role will seek to strengthen our capacity and provide leadership in a strategically important area linking food systems and policy analysis, in developing long-term strategies and policies to tackle both undernutrition (including micronutrient deficiencies) and overnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa contexts including those in post conflict situations. The role will bring together diverse aspects of food systems including, environment, nutrition, governance and social inclusion (and others) with a focus on maximising the impact of science and innovation on the lives and wellbeing of the poor and food insecure.

The post holder is expected to have, and maintain strong stakeholder relationships at regional, national and international levels, across his/her research disciplines and a strong record of publication at the highest level. It is anticipated that work will focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Previous experience in this region would be an advantage. International travel is an expectation of this role

Further information will be provided with respect to this appointment.

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.