Senior Director, Applied Forest Research

Key Outputs:

• Annual forest research schedule developed; 
• Reliable research conducted; 
• Standards and guidelines for monitoring various tasks in biodiversity, conservation and genecology research in place; 
• Analytical methods developed; 
• New improved technology for field operation recommended; 
• Improvement in conservation activities conducted/implemented; 
• REDD+ strategies developed; 
• Qualitative and quantitative reports generated; 
• Forest Research Technical Reports and papers developed and submitted;
• Appropriately skilled and highly motivated staff in place; 
• Performance evaluations submitted; 
• Performance targets clearly articulated and agreed; 

Key Responsibility Areas:

Management/Administrative Responsibilities 

• Participates in the development of operational plans and the setting of priorities;
• Represents the Agency at local, regional and international meetings, conferences and other functions as required; 
• Addresses technical and administrative problems arising out of the work of the Branch;
• Provides managerial and technical leadership to the country’s UN-REDD+ programme in collaboration with national, regional and international organizations, partners and donors;
• Provides leadership, and ability to negotiate sensitive and complex issues through initiative, imagination, resourcefulness, and diplomacy; 
• Strengthens the capacity of the Agency in developing REDD+ strategies and in forest Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) for REDD+ under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in addition to recommending and approving other training programmes for staff under his/her direction; 
• Coordinates and harmonizes international, national and sub-national efforts to develop and implement national/sub-national REDD+ strategies, including the development and implementation of forest monitoring and MRV systems for REDD+; 
• Prepares, monitors, and controls annual budget for the Forest Research & Development Branch in accordance with primary goals; 
• Plans, implements, monitors, reports and allocate resources, on technical, operational and financial delivery of Branch results of the UN-REDD country programme;
• Fosters, strengthens and manages strategic partnerships with stakeholders dealing with matters related to the functions of the UN-REDD country programme; 
• Plans and coordinates the preparation of meetings, seminars, and publications related to the Country’s REDD+ program;
• Develops and implements a procurement plan for the branch to ensure timely acquisition of equipment, instruments and materials required by the Branch to undertake the applied forest research program; 
• Conducts regular meetings and ensures that proper records of all Forest Research Operations are kept in readiness for use by relevant personnel; 
• Submits special and periodic (monthly, quarterly and annual) analytical reports to the Principal Director, Forest Science and Technological Services; 

Human Resource Responsibilities 

• Participates in the recruitment of staff for the Branch and ensures that they are aware of and adhere to the policies and procedures of the Agency; 
• Conducts periodic reviews of supervisees in accordance with work plans; Completes final performance assessments and recommends appropriate training and development programmes as necessary; 
• Provides leadership and guidance to the staff through objective goal setting, coaching, mentoring and training; providing assistance and support when needed; 
• Develops and maintains effective cooperative working relationships with staff; Initiates and participates in disciplinary proceedings relating to staff members within the Branch and implements corrective measures; 

Technical/Professional Responsibilities 

• Collaborates with the Forest Resource Information Management Branch to build a National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) for forest and land monitoring, using remote sensing, field-based forest inventory, and national greenhouse gases inventory; 
• Collaborates with the Forest Resource Information Management Branch to report on carbon stocks for the different pools through forest-area change assessments from national forest inventory analysis; 
• Monitors forest-area change to produce national forest inventories and to report on carbon stocks for the different pools; 
• Reports on historical and current greenhouse gas emissions in the forest sector, and to build a benchmark for assessing mitigation; 
• Develops and implement REDD+ actions to mitigate climate change in order to address the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Jamaica, as well as opportunities for enhancement of forest carbon stocks; 
• Develops REDD+ strategic documents which may include Readiness Preparation Proposals (R-PP), REDD+ national strategies or action plans and REDD+ national investment plans;
• Maintains an awareness of the latest developments in the field of Applied Forest Research by: 
  • Continuing review literature in relevant fields of research 
  • Maintaining communication with researchers (local and overseas) working in related fields of Forest Research 
  • Attending seminars, conferences and study tours where appropriate 
  • Preparing and submitting technical reports and papers for publication, for dissemination to the general public 
• Plans, executes and monitors Branch’s work by: 
  • Designing forest research programs to answer specific research related questions
  • Writing experiment plans 
  • Interpreting and reporting of scientific research results and information;
  • Selecting sites for the establishment of research plots and obtaining any necessary approvals; 
  • Arranging for soil samples to be collected and analysed as necessary; 
  • Monitoring research data collection, recording, processing, assessment and storage;
  • Deciding on any modification to original research plans occasioned by unforeseen circumstances; 
  • Undertaking statistical analyses of data collected and ensuring data validation;
  • Advising the Agency on new techniques and measures for improving biodiversity and conservation practices through written reports, papers, experimental results, lectures locally, regionally and internationally; 
  • Developing and evaluating a wide range of research systems (even-aged and multi aged) to meet diverse management goals;
  • Investigating the effects of forest operations and management activities on long-term site productivity including nutrient cycling, changes in soil conditions, and vegetation responses; 
  • Developing tree- and stand-level growth models that characterize stand dynamics for a wide range of research practices and regimes; 
  • Developing and adapting advanced technologies that allow better design, implementation, and monitoring of forest operations and their impacts; 
  • Developing the relevant procedures, manual and guidelines as they relate to forest research; 
  • Developing nursery research to generate scientific information to improve nursery production; 
  • Liaising with the Silviculture Branch on matters of forest research policy, programmes and plans; 
• Ensures the collection of forestry research data and information by: 
  • Updating/developing analytical methods to assess quality; 
  • Providing structural information both qualitative and quantitative; 
  • Determining the methodology to control weeds and undergrowth in regenerating stands; 
  • Ensuring that the regeneration potential of the natural forest and of the dynamics of stand development and growth rate are assessed and determined; 
  • Ensuring the gathering of plantation information is made available for future analysis to determine the suitability and potential of artificial regeneration methodology;
  • Interpreting spectral responses and calibration of experiments; 
• Participates in the development of reforestation and management plans in accordance with procedures, prescriptions and operational standards; 
• Organises, attends and facilitates public awareness sessions such as workshops, seminars and fields days in collaboration with the CC&M Division; 
• Keeps abreast of developments and changes that may have significant impact on initiatives being undertaken to achieve sustainable forestry management and preservation;
• Ensures that staff is aware of and adhere to policies procedures and regulations of the Branch and the Agency; 

Required Competencies:

Technical 

• Excellent knowledge of research and development; 
• Knowledge of equipment for use in operations; 
• Sound analytical and strategic thinking skills; 
• Good statistical software skills; 
• Excellent knowledge of forestry science; 
• Competence in computer applications for data processing and management; Behavioural 
• Excellent time management skills; 
• Good problem-solving skills & tenacity; 
• Sound personal and professional integrity; 
• Excellent customer orientation skills; 
• Ability to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders; 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication (spoken, written and presentational) skills, including ability to present complex issues and positions with clarity; 
• Ability to build partnerships in achieving operational goals; 

Minimum Required Education and Experience

• Post Graduate Degree in Environmental/Natural Resource Management, Applied Forest/Applied Earth Sciences, Climate Change or related area 
• Certificate in Supervisory Management
• Four (4) years’ experience in Sustainable Forest Management/Silviculture/Applied Forest Research 
• Knowledgeable in Forest related Climate Change matters 
• Experience in experiment designs and statistics 

In addition to:

• Experience working on REDD+ Safeguards and Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) 
• Knowledge of REDD+ program development 

OR 

• Any other acceptable combination of academic qualifications and experience 

We thank all persons who express an interest; however, only short-listed applicants will be contacted.