Research Assistant Event Coordinator - Benguerir

We are seeking a skilled, polyvalent, dedicated individual to join the Chair in Soil Science at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) as a Research Assistant & Event Coordinator.

The Research Assistant duties (40%) involve studying the soil microbial and biochemical responses to water limitation and other abiotic stresses in soil-plant systems. The successful candidate will be responsible primarily for retrieving and organizing biological data from global databases for synthesis and interpretation, with the support of the research team. This will also involve organizing numerical data, extracting values from graphs, and storing the relevant scientific literature in a data archive. In collaboration with the research team, they will sometimes assist in the preparation of research materials for controlled environment experiments, apply treatments and record observations.  

The Event Coordinator duties (60%) relate to organization of the prestigious "9th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter," scheduled for May 26-31, 2024. This conference, renowned for showcasing cutting-edge global research on soil organic matter, has previously been held in France, the USA, the UK, Germany, and other international venues. The Chair of Soil Science and their partners are hosting the upcoming edition in Africa for the first time, and expect approximately 1,000 participants to attend. The successful candidate will assume responsibility for coordinating conference activities with the co-hosts and local organizing committee at UM6P, including venue logistics, catering, exhibits, sponsorships, registrations, advertising, local tours, managing the conference website and responding to email inquiries from the participants.

Principal responsibilities:

• Gather the data from peer-reviewed articles, reports and technical bulletins, as defined by the research team.
• Organize the data for optimal retrieval in structured and unstructured analyses.
• Make updates as required to add missing data and correct errors.
• Gather, prepare and treat experimental materials according to protocols, as defined by the research team.
• Record observations and measurements in a well-organized laboratory notebook.
• Follow the safe and hygienic laboratory practices, under the guidance of the laboratory technician and other members of the research team.
• Work with the conference co-hosts and local organizing committee at UM6P to coordinate all conference activities, encompassing venue setup, speaker and exhibitor arrangements, social events, audio-visual requirements, and event communications.
• Cultivate relationships with event venues, agencies, service providers, and university departments.
• Coordinate with service providers offering accommodation, transportation and other support for conference participants.
• Participate in training for the conference website and mobile application, to make updates and corrections as needed.
• Ensure the conference facility meets all catering, signage, display, exhibitor, audio-visual, printing, and security requirements.
• Interact with exhibitors and sponsors to coordinate their contributions.
• Manage the conference email inbox, respond in a timely and professional manner to all inquiries.
• Assist in generating travel visa letters and perform other administrative tasks for participants when necessary.
• Coordinate with UM6P communication teams to develop and distribute promotional materials for the event.
• Ensure compliance with required by-laws.
• Keep a record of all financial transactions, monitor the conference budget, handle invoice payments, and coordinate final billing.
• Conduct a post-event follow-up survey with participants.
• Be on-site full-time during the conference week to ensure the smooth running of all aspects of the conference and troubleshoot any issues.

This position offers:

• Competitive salary.
• Life & medical insurance.
• Retirement benefits.
• Maternity leave, paid vacations.
• Participation in a historic international symposium on soil organic matter on the occasion of its first edition in Africa.
• Work in teams with internationally prominent professors, communications and financial specialists.
• Pathway to developing a professional research career.

 Contract Type:                Full-time CDD contract for 12 months

Desired start date:         As soon as possible.

Requirements:

• Minimum Bachelors degree (+4). A Masters degree (+5/6) is a plus for this position.
• Exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills. Knowledge of, and willingness to become proficient in the use of scheduling software.
• Ability to work independently and with diverse teams.
• Strong multitasking and prioritization skills.
• Courteous and professional in email and other communications.
• Strong interpersonal skills, patient and calm.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of, and willingness to become proficient in database software such as Excel or SQL.
• Knowledge of, and willingness to become proficient in website and mobile application software.
• Mastery of English (reading, writing, oral), as well as either Darija or French.
• Background knowledge and interest in soil organic matter, agronomy, agri-biologicals and fertilizer technology.