You will work within a large portfolio of oil palm projects mainly on bringing about smallholder livelihood issues in relation to ISPO and MSPO certification, yield, income and ecosystem services. In addition a focus is on intercropping and crop livestock interactions as a means to increase smallholders resilience. Furthermore we are interested to understand why which farmers choose for expansion or intensification of oil palm. The work will use blended methodologies so you must be ready to expand your skill set by learning some new ones. The work will certainly include design, steering of execution and analysis of two surveys on these issues in Indonesia and Malaysia as well as design of more in-depth in farm livelihood strategies and household choices in monoculture and intercropping systems. Survey work will be done with local students or enumerators whereas the in-depth work can be done by candidate and/or through supervision of master students. Reporting in different forms will be part of the job: working papers, science for policy briefs, joint publications, conference contributions. When desired some teaching in PPS courses can be included.

You have a PhD in Social Sciences with a proven interest in farmers livelihoods and ample experience in working in Indonesia or Malaysia on households in oil palm landscapes. You have skills in qualitatively assessing smallholder livelihood choices. You have experience in convening sessions in workshops. You have proven publication skills. You wish to work closely with others in a team and are willing to learn to work with ODK. You have good communication skills. You have some knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia or else the wish to learn it. You must be ready to travel regularly for short trips to Indonesia /Malaysia for initiation and supervision of the work.

The following competences are important: analytical capacity, intercultural communication, collaboration, wish to learn a variety of methods, individual motivation.

We offer a full-time position (38 hours), initially for 1 year. Gross salary per month (scale 10.4 CAO, WU) is € 3173,- for a fulltime appointment. Part time appointments will have proportional salary.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With approximately 30 locations, 5,000 employees, and 10,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the unique approach of Wageningen.

For further information about working at Wageningen University & Research, take a look at thespecial career site.

Plant Production Systems is one of the 17 chair groups of the Department of Plant Sciences of Wageningen University. Plant Production Systems integrates biological knowledge to analyse and design sustainable production systems for crops (including integration with livestock), focused on resource use efficiency and equitable management of natural resources. Using concepts of systems analysis, we develop methods that allow integrated analysis and design of alternative futures at local (farm), regional, national, international and global scales. Through doing so we contribute to a mission that strives to provide grounded quantitative analysis that can underpin responses to urgent societal issues such as global food security, agricultural and environmental policies, competition for natural resources, food-feed-fuel interactions and global environmental change. The Plant Production Systems group is responsible for a wide range of courses, from introductory courses to advanced postgraduate specialist subjects. All courses have a modular set-up and use a variety of teaching methods: lectures, practicals, computer-based tools, discussion groups, etc. For this position the systems analysis courses are particularly relevant. The group has a strong international profile and collaborates with many partners across the world. Our website provides a good overview of activities: www.wageningenur.nl/en/expertise-services/Chair-groups/Plant-Sciences/Plant-Production-Systems-Group.htm. The Plant Production Systems group is part of the Wageningen Centre for Agro-ecology and Systems Analysis, together with the group Animal Production Systems (www.wacasa.wur.nl/).