Senior Scientist – Silviculture

About the role

The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) seeks a senior scientist to lead silviculture research in Nairobi. The role combines scientific leadership, project management, and stakeholder engagement to advance forest governance and sustainable natural‑resource management.

Key responsibilities

• Provide scientific guidance ensuring research concepts and methods meet the highest scientific standards.
• Collaborate with CIFOR theme coordinators to define and implement emerging research activities.
• Supervise and mentor junior scientists, students, and staff; oversee publications and scientific communications.
• Represent CIFOR in national, regional, and global forums on forest governance.
• Build and maintain partnerships with stakeholders and donors; lead fundraising and proposal development.
• Plan, monitor, and report on research activities, including budgeting and donor reporting.
• Coordinate capacity‑building initiatives and contribute to fieldwork across multiple countries.

Required profile

• PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g., forestry, ecology, natural‑resource management, or social sciences).
• Proven experience in collaborative natural‑resource management or social‑science research.
• Strong record of peer‑reviewed publications.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and secure donor funding for research projects.
• Experience working with multicultural, multidisciplinary teams in developing‑country contexts.
• Fluent written and spoken English; additional international language(s) advantageous.

Required skills

• Budget management.
• Fundraising and resource mobilization.
• Proposal development and scientific writing.
• Project coordination across regions.