Senior Expert for Forest Risk management

The European Forest Institute (EFI) is an international organization established by European States. EFI is actively enhancing its ability to respond to European and regional research and policy needs.

European forests have always been exposed to various disturbances which can be of abiotic or biotic nature. When being of more ‘catastrophic’ nature affecting whole landscapes and habitats, they can strongly disrupt targeted forests management goals, have severe conse-quences to wood production and timber markets and may jeopardize the economic base of forest owners. Observations across Europe show that forest disturbance regimes have intensified in the last decades as has vulnerability.

As a result, EFI is preparing options for establishing a facilitation platform – ‘a European Forest Risk Facilility’ and is seeking a Senior Expert for the Start-Up Project for a ‘European Forest Risk Facility’ (FRISK-GO).

The main aim of the FRISK-GO start-up project is to define and elaborate in detail the core work pillars of a European Forest Risk Facility, and develop a corresponding operational business plan and structural framework for the implementation of such a facility.

FRISK-GO will interact with potential supporters for an operational ‘European Forest Risk Facility’, map their expectations and needs, and build those into the business plan. FRISK-GO aims to establish a platform that simplifies communication and information flow in order to allow a timely transfer of recent research results into practice. Draft guidelines, standards and showcase examples will be produced to demonstrate the role, actions and added value of a future European Forest Risk Facility.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

The Senior Expert will be responsible for:

• Design and development of pilot structures for information provision.
• Development of a framework for the facilitation of communication, cooperation and coordination of forest risk management activities including the mutual exchange between the future European Forest Risk Facility members at national, regional and European levels.
• Review of operational procedures and development of standards for international cooperation and exchange in areas of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in selected disturbances.

Qualifications:

• PhD/MSc or equivalent in the field of science related to forests and risks.
• At least 15 years of working experience as a practitioner in the field of forest risks, of which 10 years of experience in managing and coordinating operations in practice.
• Strong communication and project management skills for conducting and presenting the project. 
• In-depth knowledge on operational procedures related to forest risks in Europe. 
• Experience in coordinating input from external experts/expert networks to the project. 
• Strong skills on how to coordinate various stakeholders, for example practitioners, Experts and policy makers. 
• Experience in coordinating events.
• Strong practical experience in international accredited crisis management systems, e.g. the Incident Command System (ICS) or similar.
• Skills in transferring scientific results to operational application and vice versa.
• Proven track of record of publications in the field of forest risks.

In addition, the candidate should have the ability to work and communicate with a broad variety of different stakeholders, Experts and policy makers at the national, European and international scale. Fluency in English is required, knowledge of any other language such as Spanish, French and/or German is an asset. The candidate should have strong management and communication skills and show a track record of working as a practitioner in the field of forest risks and being able to deal with Experts at the same time.

Duty station:

The Senior Expert will be based at the EFICENT-OEF Office in Freiburg, Germany.

Employment conditions:

The Senior Expert will be an EFI staff member. The successful candidate will be expected to take up the post in January 2014. The initial duration of employment will be one year with a possibility of extension. EFI offers an inspiring, dynamic international and multicultural working environment, varying duties and opportunities to learn new skills.

Interested candidates are requested to apply online by 15 September 2013. If it is not possible for you to apply online please send your application to: Human Resources Office, EFI, email: efi.hr@efi.int.

Further information on the position can be obtained from: Andreas Schuck, Head of Office; email: andreas.schuck@efi.int.