You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Senior Food Security Analyst

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Early Warning Team (EWT) seeks a full-time senior food security analyst (SFSA) based in Washington, D.C. This position is part of the Decision Support Group (DSG), a unit within the Washington DC-based FEWS NET team. The SFSA works closely with other FEWS NET EWT colleagues in the corporate, regional, and project offices to accomplish the DSG’s two primary objectives: 1) facilitate development and communication of timely, high-quality, actionable decision support at the country, regional, and global levels and 2) build FEWS NET staff and partners' food security analysis and strategic communications capacity. In addition to contributing to the two primary objectives noted above, the senior FSA will also take on leadership roles in the DSG, serving as lead analysts for select geographic regions and/or specified thematic areas.

FEWS NET is an integrated set of activities funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is intended to provide timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent food security early warning information and analysis. Chemonics International (Chemonics) implements the FEWS NET EWT, a team charged with integrated emergency food security analysis through a Washington-based technical office and more than 20 field offices.

Responsibilities:

· Integrate market and trade, nutrition, livelihoods, and other food-security analysis for the development of regular, high-quality, integrated early warning information products

· Technically and editorially review field-authored regular and ad hoc food security reporting

· Contribute to the development of the monthly Food Assistance Outlook Brief for USAID/Washington staff

· Develop and present technical briefings to USG staff and other partners, as requested

· Lead or otherwise support the development of special technical reports

· Conduct field visits to support assessments and technical analysis

· Respond to ad hoc requests for food security and response planning analysis and other support for response and contingency planning processes

· Play a lead role in developing analytical and decision-support strategies to effectively develop and communicate pertinent information to decision-makers when potential or ongoing food security crises are identified

· Provide technical assistance on complex subject matter to strengthen data collection, analysis, and information dissemination capacities

· Provide relevant technical and geographic guidance in their areas of expertise (e.g., agricultural economics, livelihoods, nutrition, pastoralism/ livestock)

· Lead/contribute to the development and implementation of guidance materials in the areas of early warning, decision support, and reporting

· Support activities to enhance project representatives’ and partners’ understanding of food security early warning and decision support processes

In addition to the above, senior FSAs will take on a leadership role and act as either a regional lead within a geographic region or as a thematic lead within the DSG

· As a regional lead, senior FSAs will carry out the following illustrative tasks related to their region of focus:

· Regular collaboration with regional technical managers and regional specialists for coordination of regional activities

· Taking the lead in developing regional reports and presentations

· Coordinating cross-border analyses

· Serving as a focal point for special and ad hoc requests

· As a thematic lead, senior FSAs will carry out the following illustrative tasks related to their sector of focus:

· Serving as a thematic focal point within the DSG

· Assisting with the development and implementation of guidance and training

· Collaborating with sector specialists on joint activities

· All senior FSAs will carry out the following additional illustrative tasks:

· Leading technical training or otherwise providing lead technical support on best practices in integrated food security analysis, including efforts to enhance forecast consistency and accuracy

· Delivering integrated analysis briefings and other high-level, public-facing integrated decision support

· Liaising directly with external partners on select topics of relevance to the integrated analysis of, and early warning for, acute food insecurity

Minimum qualifications for this position include:

· Bachelor’s degree in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as economics, agricultural economics, agronomy, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, or social geography is required; an advanced university degree (Master's degree or higher) in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as economics, agricultural economics, agronomy, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, or social geography is desirable

· At least two years of relevant experience (with PhD), four years of relevant experience (with Master’s degree), or six years of relevant experience (with Bachelor’s degree) is required. Relevant experience includes working on food security information systems, food security analysis, early warning, or other related fields; experience working with UN agencies and/or NGOs is desirable.

· At least two years of work experience that is directly relevant to the senior food security analyst position (e.g., supporting acute food insecurity or other humanitarian assessment, integrated analysis, and associated decision support across multiple geographies) is required

· Previous experience working on donor-funded activities, preferably USAID-funded, is desirable

· Previous experience living and working in a region or country in which FEWS NET project staff work is desirable

· Previous experience supervising staff is desirable

· Experience using large datasets to analyze trends through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is required

· Familiarity with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and/or Cadre Harmonisé (CH) protocols, analytical tools, and processes is required

· Substantive knowledge of the humanitarian landscape and policy trends as they relate to food security information systems, food security analysis, early warning and/or other areas relevant to the work of the EWT is required

· Household-level food security analysis skills is strongly preferred

· Experience with the Household Economy Approach is strongly preferred

· Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with field-based, local staff via telephone, e-mail, and other remote means is required

· Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills are required

· Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft office suite, are required; Adobe Creative suite and database management skills are desirable

· Familiarity with ESRI ArcGIS mapping and statistical software is desirable

· Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity

· Ability to travel domestically and internationally, security permitting

Fluency in English is required; French and/or Spanish language skills are highly preferred