Young Professional Officer (Community-Driven Innovation)

Location: hirify.global headquarters, Rome, Italy

Company

hirify.global is a specialized United Nations agency supporting the transformation of agrifood systems to improve production, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and livelihoods.

What you will do

• Identify, document, and analyze grassroots, farmer-led, and community-driven innovations in agrifood systems and agroecology.
• Support the design and implementation of community-driven, grassroots, and frugal innovation activities, including through Farmer Field Schools.
• Contribute to the Global Farmer Field School Platform through coordination, knowledge management, and communication of emerging innovations.
• Facilitate multi-actor learning and innovation processes involving Living Labs, Innovation Think Labs, and communities of practice.
• Develop evidence, knowledge products, learning outputs, training materials, and methodologies on innovation in agrifood systems.
• Analyze challenges related to scaling, governance, policy engagement, innovation ecosystems, and the implementation of the OIN Learning Agenda.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in agricultural innovation, systems agronomy, agricultural economics, or a related field.
• At least one year of relevant experience in international development focused on agrifood systems, rural development, and innovation.
• Working knowledge of English and intermediate knowledge of another hirify.global official language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish.
• Knowledge of agrifood systems, rural development, innovation systems, grassroots and farmer-led innovation, and multi-actor learning.
• Experience with participatory methods, co-design, participatory research, monitoring and evaluation, food security metrics, value chain analysis, and gender and social inclusion analysis.
• Candidates must be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.

Nice to have

• Experience with Farmer Field Schools or similar farmer-participatory approaches.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Field experience in developing-country contexts.

Culture & Benefits

• Fixed-term appointment for two years with the possibility of extension, subject to performance and funding.
• International health insurance, pension fund entitlements, disability protection, and optional life insurance.
• Dependency allowances, rental subsidy, education grant, and home-leave travel may be available subject to eligibility.
• 30 working days of annual leave per year and family-friendly and flexible working arrangements.
• Inclusive, diverse, and international working environment governed by hirify.global standards of integrity and professional conduct.

Hiring process

• Submit a complete online profile, academic and employment records, language skills, and a letter of motivation through the hirify.global recruitment portal.
• Applications may include performance assessments and verification of employment, education, character, and security information.
• Selected candidates undergo medical, residency or visa, security, reference, and background checks.