TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE POSITION OF PREZODE GENERAL SECRETARY

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Work environment, missions and activities

PREZODE (Preventing ZOonotic Disease Emergence) is an international collaborative initiative aiming to provide a scientific framework for pandemic prevention. With a global multi-actors dynamic, PREZODE brings together a broad community of members (260 member organizations, including 29 governments, from more than 80 countries) with shared research and academic institutes and universities, governments, decision-makers, civil society organizations, foundations, and private companies. PREZODE aims at enhancing prevention, early detection, and resilience to avoid or rapidly respond to emerging infectious diseases of animal origin that can turn into pandemics.

Its Governance is organised around 3 main bodies: a Steering Committee (SC) proposing the strategic orientations to the General Assembly (GA); the GA with all members validating the strategy of the initiative; and the Secretariat managing the daily functioning of the initiative under the responsibility of the General Secretary.

The overarching goal of the Secretariat is to support the development, implementation and success of the Initiative by managing operational activities associated with the annual work-plan defined, with the SC and validated by the GA. The Secretariat is composed by 11 staff members, allocating 10% to 100% of their time to Prezode.  This Secretariat provides substantive support to the other governance bodies, including liaising with the governance bodies (SC, GA, regional groups, partners and stakeholders of the Initiative). The Secretariat will also organize the GA and SC meetings and follow-up activities.

Three Research Performing Organisations (RPOs), Cirad, INRAE and IRD, which have launched the PREZODE initiative, provide administrative management and financial support to the Secretariat. The decision body of this cooperation agreement, called the Executive Committee, includes representatives of the 3 RPOs and is focused on the efficient running of the Secretariat and the resources associated to this functioning. In application of the cooperation agreement linking the 3RPOs, the General Secretary is recruited by one of the 3 RPOs, INRAE, on behalf of the Executive Committee.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY

Governance & Representation

The General Secretary will be at the heart of relationships between the various bodies of the Initiative and its partners; therefore s/he will:

• Report and provide support to the President and vice-President of the GA and to the Chair and co-chair of the SC including in their functions of representation
• Build and sustain relationships with stakeholders, advocate with funding partners with the SC chair
• Develop and implement a strategy for the sustainability of PREZODE including fundraising
• Support the institutional strategic partnerships
• Represent the initiative in discussions with potential new members
• Interact with the Executive Committee and report to the Executive Committee regarding the execution of the budget provided within the framework of the cooperation agreement.
  Coordination

The General Secretary will be the head of the PREZODE Secretariat and as such will:

• Ensure coordination and leadership on the Secretariat’s team
• Liaise with the Executive Committee for the functioning and support of the Secretariat activities
• Ensure the application of the orientations decided by the SC and validated by the GA
• Propose operational plans and budgets for the Secretariat based on the SC action plan
• Coordinate activities related to budget and funding of the Initiative
• Ensure the efficient management of the Secretariat resources
• Ensure the efficient day to day conducting of activities
• Ensure leadership with regard to the production of concrete deliverables from the Initiative, review and propose them to the SC for validation by the GA.

Training and skills

SKILLS

• Accountability Professionalism:

Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or concerns; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and promoting the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; shows high integrity and develops a strategic vision and good/independent judgement; supports collaborators; has high standards of ethical behaviour and ability to reinforce them in others; represents the Initiative in an honest, ethical and professional way

• Teamwork:

Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits inputs by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced university degree at least at Master level or equivalent
• Demonstrate a track record of fundraising and applying for diverse funding for international multistakeholder projects
• Experience in project implementation / international development programs
• Experience in project coordination with several partners from different domains
• Demonstrated strategic planning and management abilities, including capacity to administer extensive programs and financial resources
• Strong knowledge in national and international policy making and in diplomatic procedures
• Demonstrate training and experience in promoting and implementing One Health approaches and/or health prevention strategies
• Preferably a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience, with 5 years in a managerial position
• Good understanding of the scientific issues in the Initiative
• Interest in, knowledge of, and commitment to PREZODE vision, core mission, priorities and activities.
• Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to monitor, address and resolve team and/or individual performance
• Ability to coordinate and interact with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams
• Proficiency with common software such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills
• Full proficiency in English - Proficiency in French or Spanish would be an asset

OTHER COMPETENCIES

• Good understanding of the scientific issues in the Initiative
• Interest in, knowledge of, and commitment to PREZODE vision, core mission, priorities and activities.
• Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to monitor, address and resolve team and/or individual performance
• Ability to coordinate and interact with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams
• Proficiency with common software such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills
• Full proficiency in English - Proficiency in French or Spanish would be an asset

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):

- up to 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter