Home

JOBS - Programme Assistant for Nodes (GBIF, Copenhagen)

Wed, 03/18/2009 - 08:02 — dsiweb-admin

1. Introduction

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is a growing international initiative with a current membership of 50 countries and 40 international organizations. GBIF’s mission is to mobilise the world’s biodiversity primary data via the Internet to underpin sustainable development. As a globally decentralised mega-science infrastructure, GBIF promotes and facilitates the establishment of biodiversity information facilities among its members (Participant BIFs, also known as Participant Nodes). The primary role of these Participant BIFs is to help GBIF members to address their own information needs and priorities, while contributing to the overall mission and goals of the GBIF. A list of current GBIF Participant Nodes is available at: http://www.gbif.org/nodes/nodes.

The GBIF Secretariat has the overall role of executing the GBIF Work Programme as approved by the GBIF Governing Board. It is located in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a total staff of 22 (comprising over a dozen of different nationalities, which makes it a very multi-cultural and dynamic work environment).

The Secretariat (GBIFS) is seeking a motivated professional with experience in areas related to biodiversity informatics, to support the implementation plans and activities of the Nodes Work Programme (see the GBIF Work Programme 2009-2010 available at http://www2.gbif.org/WP2009-10.pdf for details).

The Programme Assistant for Nodes will be part of the GBIFS Participation team, and will work under the supervision of the Senior Programme Officer for Nodes. Please note that fluency in French and English is a requirement indispensable for this post.

The successful candidate is expected to take up residence in Copenhagen, Denmark. The initial contract will be up to December 2011. The Programme Assistant for Nodes position offers a competitive salary benefiting from the diplomatic status of the Secretariat (e.g., tax-free salary and additional tax-exemption benefits for non-Danish staff members).

2. Responsibilities

The Programme Assistant for Nodes is a new post created to provide additional support to a growing network of Participant BIFs (or Participant Nodes) worldwide. The Programme Assistant for Nodes is expected to:

  1. Support the successful implementation and delivery of the Nodes Work Programme
  2. Support the preparation of communications, training materials, concept papers, presentations, and other Secretariat documentation related to Participant Nodes
  3. Help with the organisation and maintenance of the Online Resource Centre for Nodes (currently under development), particularly concerning the integration and update of relevant contents (including the Nodes component within the GBIFS’ Information Management System)
  4. Provide helpdesk to GBIF Participant Nodes, supporting the role of the Senior Programme Officer as a liaison between Nodes and the Secretariat
  5. Support the implementation of the Capacity Enhancement Programme for Developing Countries (CEPDEC), in particular concerning communications and follow up activities with the CEPDEC projects partners (currently there are two CEPDEC projects being implemented: one in Tanzania funded by the Danish government, and another one involving 22 Francophone countries in Africa and Asia funded by France).
  6. Assist with the coordination and organisation of regional and global meetings of the Participant Node Managers Committee
  7. Assist with the compilation, processing, and analysis of the information from the Nodes Reports
  8. Representing GBIF at relevant scientific meetings and conferences.
  9. Support the administrative tasks involved in the execution of the Nodes Work Programme
  10. Actively contribute and participate to other GBIF Secretariat activities

3. Requirements
Successful candidates for the Programme Assistant for Nodes position must:

  1. Have at least 3 years of professional experience in activities related to biodiversity informatics (such as digitisation of biodiversity data; establishment or coordination of biodiversity information networks; management, processing and analysis of large amounts of biodiversity data; development of information products and services, etc.)
  2. Have general knowledge about GBIF, including its Work Programme and the role of GBIF Participant Nodes
  3. Have excellent French and English language skills; fluency in other UN languages is highly desirable.
  4. Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, especially concerning the use of Internet and electronic means to effectively communicate and provide support to GBIF Participant Nodes from all over the world.
  5. Have experience in writing technical documents, preferably within the field of biodiversity informatics
  6. Have expertise using office software packages (word processors, spreadsheets, presentations, emailing, etc.)
  7. Have availability to take up on this position by 15th May 2009 (or earlier).

The following experience will be highly desirable:

  1. Project management and documentation
  2. Use and implementation of social networking platforms, or about Internet communication or collaboration tools such as Wikis, Blogs, Forums, etc.
  3. Information Management Systems
  4. Data processing and analysis
  5. Capacity building activities in developing countries and in different languages (such as French, Spanish, etc.)

.
Personal attributes include that an applicant must:

  1. Be service oriented
  2. Have excellent organisation and documentation skills
  3. Be able to manage multiple tasks and to deal with pressing deadlines
  4. Be self-motivated, innovative, able to work in multi-cultural environments and ready to be a team-player
  5. Be efficient and comfortable in email, online, and telephone communications with people from different nationalities, languages, cultural and professional backgrounds, etc.
  6. Have a strong interest in developing a career in the field of biodiversity informatics

.

4. Applications

Further enquiries and applications should be addressed to the Senior Programme Officer for Nodes, Mr. Juan Bello at jbello@gbif.org.

Applications should include a comprehensive CV, with a cover-letter detailing your motivation and suitability for taking on this position, plus one reference letter from a previous employer or supervisor. Include at least one document serving as an exemplar of your written communication skills in English and French (e.g. a technical document, scientific paper, project report, brochure, etc.).

5. Closing date

Deadline for applications is 5th April March 2009.