Future Earth vacancy: Deputy Director (Paris, France)

The Future Earth Secretariat is seeking a Deputy Director, to lead Partnerships globally and for its Global Hub in Paris.

Location

Paris (France)

The Future Earth initiative

The challenges facing the planet and its people today are vast and complex. Coral reefs and rainforests are disappearing, global temperatures are rising and in societies around the globe, inequality is soaring. At Future Earth, we are convinced that the only way to accelerate transformations to a more sustainable and equitable planet is for the world to draw on its collective knowledge. We build on our global network of thousands of researchers to spark and guide scientific inquiry on the planet’s land, air, and water – and the people and biodiversity that depend on them for their survival. We also recognize that the research community on its own cannot adequately address these challenges. That is why we also collaborate with innovators in policy, business and civil society to generate research that meets society’s needs. We believe that only by working together can science and society shape and harness knowledge that is more than just the sum of its parts – knowledge that can empower people around the world to transform their communities and environment in sustainable and equitable ways.

A globally distributed Secretariat

Under the leadership of the Governing Council, Future Earth has completed its start-up phase with an Advisory Committee, and a fully operational Secretariat. The architecture of the Secretariat is unusual in its global distribution. It encompasses five global hubs located in five different countries: the US (Colorado), Canada (Montreal), Japan (Tokyo), Sweden (Stockholm) and France (Paris), connected through a dynamic network that includes regional centres and partner organisations. While distributed on three continents, the Secretariat operates as a single entity under the direction of an Executive Team (composed of the Hub Directors and the Executive Director).

Future Earth’s mission is to accelerate transformations to global sustainability through research and innovation. To achieve this mission, the Secretariat fosters and coordinates activities that aim to facilitate and amplify research, convene and mobilise networks, spark and promote innovation, and turn knowledge into action.  

The Paris Hub

The French funding consortium for Future Earth is composed of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESRI), the French National Alliance for Research on Environment (AllEnvi), the French National Funding Agency (ANR), and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).

The Paris Hub is administered by CNRS and hosted on the Campus of the University Pierre et Marie Curie. It is currently composed of a Global Hub Director, 3 Scientific Officers, and an Administrative Officer.

The Paris Hub is currently involved particularly in four Knowledge-Action Networks, which focus on the nexus between water food and energy, on natural assets, on risks, and on ocean sustainability. In addition, it is instrumental in facilitating the interactions between the Future Earth community and WCRP, IPCC and UNFCCC.

Role and responsibilities

The Deputy Director works in close interaction with the Global Hub Director. His/her main role is to build tighter links between Future Earth and the European and international research organisations and funders, aid agencies, the main environmental and humanitarian NGOs, and big companies, in particular in France.

We are seeking an experienced leader with a strong international profile, who will:

• Raise the profile of the organisation among international, European and French key stakeholders, including the private sector
• Strengthen the links of the organisation with the European Research Area (European Commission and Joint Programming Initiatives of the European Union) with the goal to reinforce synergies between research agendas
• Strengthen the links between the Paris Hub and the French main stakeholders: companies, public institutions and local governments with the goal to raise funds for the Secretariat and to build new partnerships
• Develop and grow key partnerships and relationships with big companies, aid agencies and NGOs to develop new funding streams and collaborative projects.

Candidate qualifications

• University degree (Master or equivalent)
• Understanding of global environmental change and sustainability issues;
• 5+ years of experience in leadership positions in an international organisation or in the international department of a national organisation
• Proven track record in fundraising
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders in a multicultural environment
• Excellent communications and presentation skills
• Full command of written and spoken English; working knowledge of French and/or other languages is considered an advantage

Conditions

The position is a 3-year appointment, commencing on 1st January, 2019 with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance. The contracting mechanism will be discussed with the selected candidate. Salary will be commensurate with the skills and experience of the successful candidate according to French salary scales.

Application procedure

Recruitment is carried out on behalf of the French funding consortium for Future Earth. Applicants for the position of Deputy Director of the Paris Global Hub are requested to submit a curriculum vitae, together with a cover letter describing how their skills and experience would help them meet the requirements of the role. Please also include the name and contact details of three referees and details of current salary.  Applications (preferably in one combined PDF file) should be sent via email with ‘Paris Global Hub Deputy Director’ in the subject line to Sandrine.paillard@futureearth.org. The closing date for applications is 30th September, 2018, 23.59 CET. Interviews will be held in Paris or online. Further details on the Future Earth secretariat and the position are available on request.