Vacancy - Glacio-Hydrologist, ICIMOD

ICIMOD is a regional knowledge development and learning centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKH) – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. The centre is working to develop an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem to improve the living standards of mountain populations -– now, and for the future.

The Integrated Water and Hazard Management (IWHM) programme has as its main goal developing and achieving recognition of ICIMOD as a competent reference centre for regional knowledge, information, and skills related to water and hazards. In this regard, ICIMOD, in collaboration with partners from Nepal and regional and international institutions and with support from Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nepal, is implementing a project entitled `Monitoring and Assessment of Changes in Glaciers, Snow, and Glacio-hydrology in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas – with special focus on strengthening the capacity of Nepalese organisations’ (the HKH Cryopshere Monitoring Project, CMP).  The project now seeks to recruit a

Glacio-Hydrologist

Under the overall guidance of the Programme Manager, IWHM, and the direct supervision of the Coordinator Cryosphere Monitoring Project, the Glacio-hydrologist will perform the following main tasks:

·      Contribute to the design and implementation of national and regional training courses, workshops, and seminars related to the project; contribute in establishing hydrological and meteorological observatories in the study sites, operate those observatories, and manage the observational data

·      Design and participate in field missions and research programmes as and when necessary, most often in collaboration with national partners for hydro-meteorological stations establishment, maintenance and operation; support application of hydrological models for the study sites using snow and glacier melt runoff models, downscale climate change scenarios, and apply the scenarios to assess water availability at the sub-basin scale

·      Provide insight on the effects of climate changes on the cryosphere, their implications for downstream water availability, and what such changes may mean to society in general and people’s livelihoods in particular; and assist on analysis of water availability scenarios on the sub-basin scale

Minimum Qualifications, experience and skills

·      Postgraduate academic degree, M.Sc. or Ph.D., in glacio-hydrology with a minimum of 5 years of varied experience in glacio-hydrology, snow and glacier melt modelling

·      Good knowledge on establishing, operating, and maintaining hydrological and meteorological instruments in a high-altitude environment and on managing and analysing hydro-meteorological data; knowledge of geographic information systems and remote sensing

·      Knowledge of Global Circulation Model (GCM) outputs applicable for the HKH region and of downscaling of climate scenarios; good insight on progresses, methodologies, tools, techniques, and findings related to climate change and glacio-hydrology in the region and globally

·      Ability to prepare project proposals, progress reports, etc. for submission to ICIMOD’s sponsors; skills in project planning, negotiation and assessment

·      Experience and ease in working with multidisciplinary teams, particularly with international or regional agencies, and in working with colleagues and collaborators of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Duty Station: The duty station is Kathmandu; frequent travelling in the region may be required.

Remuneration: Salaries and benefits are competitive at International level and commensurate with experience and qualifications

Duration: 3 years, of which the first 6 months are probation, and subject to future funding levels of ICIMOD

Gender and Equity Policy: Qualified and eligible women candidates and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply. ICIMOD implements a gender-fair policy and is supportive of working women. It operates a Day-Care Centre at the campus and is committed to gender mainstreaming at the organizational and programmatic levels.

For more information on ICIMOD, please visit to our website www.icimod.org. For more information about the position, go to www.icimod.org/vacancies. Applicants are requested to apply before 8 July 2011 through ICIMOD’s Online Application System: www.icimod.org/vacancies. Only short- listed candidates will be notified.