Food and Markets

Location:  Medway campus
Salary:  £51,034 to £66,538
Contract Type:  Permanent
Closing Date:  Sunday 10 November 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 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-based Systems for Nutrition.  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.

Increased productivity of agricultural systems has contributed to economic growth and improved livelihoods, but has not effectively addressed the diverse nutritional challenges in low and medium-income countries.  Sustainable improvements in human nutrition require efficient and equitable food systems, which enable access to safe and nutritious food for all.  This position is a key role and seeks to develop food-based strategies to support nutritionally vulnerable populations including infants and young children, adolescent girls and women of reproductive age.

The post holder will have a proven track record in food-based strategies for nutrition, developing food-based strategies for vulnerable population groups particularly for improving micronutrient status, and extensive knowledge of nutritional assessment methodologies. Experience in the development and use of decision-making tools for food-based strategies would be an advantage. 

As an authority and lead figure in the international academic community, the successful candidate is expected to provide strategic leadership across the university in achieving a complex set of outcomes for research funders, academics, students and employers. 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 (FaNSI).

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.

For informal enquiries, please contact the Director of NRI (Professor Andrew Westby (a.westby@gre.ac.uk) or the Head of Department (Dr Andy Frost (A.I.Frost@gre.ac.uk)).

For further details on the role, please visit www.minervasearch.com/greenwich. To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to greenwich@minervasearch.com .

The closing date for applications is 10 November 2019.