Job Research Program Manager, Livestock, Canberra

ACIAR is a small agency with a domestic and international focus. It comprises three branches: Research, Partnerships and Corporate.

The Livestock Research Program Manager (RPM) reports to the Research Director and will have responsibility for the design, delivery and monitoring of ACIAR research investments and collaborating in the design and review of other Research Programs. The Livestock program seeks to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of livestock production in developing countries, fostering innovations that will help people to transform the way they manage livestock and contribute to addressing the global challenges set out in the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Program is diverse and includes projects addressing production in a changing climate, managing intensification of small-scale livestock systems, tools and strategies for disease prevention and control, approaches to the delivery of goods and services to small-scale livestock farmers, improving planning and decision-making by smallholder livestock farmers to increase productivity, meeting market demands and improving household income and understanding and promoting the contribution of livestock to human nutrition, health and total societal wellbeing.

The Research Program Manager is responsible for commissioning and managing, on behalf of ACIAR, a coherent portfolio of livestock research-for-development projects, closely aligned with the priorities of Australia's official development assistance program and contributing to ACIAR's strategy and thematic priorities. Projects typically involve partnerships that link the innovation systems in Australia and ACIAR's partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region, bringing together partners in universities, public research and development agencies, and the private sector. We are seeking an experienced research leader who can further develop a substantial research program, while also contributing to ACIAR's broader research portfolio management including peer review of ACIAR projects in other programs, contribution to scientific submissions and reviews, and membership of internal committees.

The position is based at our headquarters in Canberra with international travel required approximately six (6) times per year.



The key duties of the position include
Under general direction of the Research Director, manage ACIAR's Livestock program and contribute to ACIAR corporate activities through the following duties:

1. Contribute to the future strategic direction of ACIAR's research through learning from current and past investments, in-country partnership insights and Australia's comparative advantage in international agricultural research;
2. Maximise the potential contribution of project findings to development outcomes through effective and innovative impact pathways by identifying next and end-users of the research results and facilitating the appropriate communication of the outputs of ACIAR projects. As appropriate, represent ACIAR at international conferences, seminars and workshops to promote research findings;
3. Contribute guidance and expertise to cross-cutting research initiatives and projects across other parts of the ACIAR research portfolio including through peer review of other ACIAR investments, seeking performance improvements in collaboration with other areas of ACIAR, such as Corporate and Partnerships, input to submissions and reviews, and participation on internal committees.
4. Develop and maintain a robust programmatic Theory of Change and associated Monitoring and Evaluation activities aligned with the ACIAR 10-Year Strategy and reporting framework; and
5. Ensure high quality and consistent adherence to ACIAR policies, procedures and systems, operating within the legislative framework and the requirements of the Australian Public Service. Provide expertise and support in market scanning for research and capacity development related procurement activities.
6. Support the process of prioritisation and development of investment opportunities based upon partner country priorities, strategic research needs, and comparative advantage to deliver on ACIAR's Strategic Plan and Investment Framework, and Australia's International Development Policy.
7. Establish, evolve and maintain robust networks with research institutions within Australia and in partner countries and their innovation partners across value chains and in local communities that support research initiatives.
8. In response to investment priorities allocated to the Program, facilitate the development, review, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of a program of activities including:

• Identify and conceive original, innovative and high-quality research projects that effectively respond to partner country priorities and involve research, development and capacity building;
• Broker research partnerships and manage the preparation and assessment of research proposals;
• Ensure the scientific and technical basis of contracts for approved projects is robust;
• Coordinate and monitor implementation of the projects through, inter alia, systematic review of annual and final reports and mid-term and final project reviews; and
• Analyse and evaluate the results of research in programs and projects and working in collaboration with others in Research and Capacity Development and with the Partnership Branch of ACIAR to identify opportunities for capacity development, extension and outreach initiatives.