Job Opportunity at SEI

Position Available:

Research Fellow: Gender, Social Equity, Justice and Climate Financing

Background

Based in Bangkok, SEI Asia has a diverse team of multinational experts that integrates scientific research with participatory approaches to co-develop and share knowledge, build partnerships, and influence policy for resilient development. It focuses on gender and social equity, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, water insecurity and integrated water resources management, transitional agriculture, renewable energy and urbanization.

SEI Asia is an affiliate of Chulalongkorn University (CU), Thailand. SEI and CU have inked a long-term agreement to foster innovative scientific research combined with effective policy engagement on development and environmental challenges in Asia.
The key areas of collaboration are: intellectual engagement for joint research applications and fund mobilization; lecturing and seminars for CU’s students; post–graduate supervision and examination; and, CU-SEI employee linkages.

The role

The Research Fellow will contribute to developing and carrying out rigorous research on gender, social equity and climate with a particular focus on innovative approaches to inclusive climate financing. This exciting position will involve working with diverse partners to spearhead high-quality applied research from design through to policy influence and monitoring and evaluation, as well as securing funding for and leading the development of future research projects in this area. The role will have a strong focus on bridging science and policy in relation to gender, social equity, justice, human rights and climate change and associated transitions to a sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for all.

The Research Fellow will work across disciplines, mentor early-career researchers and build capacity for key stakeholders. This will involve collaboration with colleagues from other teams at SEI Asia, including water resources, urban, policy and climate change, disaster and development, in developing cross-cutting programs of work, as well as SEI colleagues internationally. A key part of the position is generating and making interdisciplinary research insights available to a range of audiences, including both producing high-quality peer-reviewed publications and engaging with policy and other decision makers.

The Research Fellow will also contribute to other SEI-wide activities and projects as appropriate.

The position is based at SEI Asia in Bangkok, Thailand. The Research Fellow will report to the leader of the Gender, Environment and Development (GED) cluster under the overall supervision of the SEI Asia Centre Director.

Key duties and responsibilities

Research, policy engagement and fundraising

• Lead and contribute to gender, environment and development-focused research projects, especially those relating to inclusive climate financing.
• Spearhead gender and social inclusion within SEI projects in Asia in agroecology, bioeconomy, energy transitions and natural resource management.
• Generate high-quality peer-reviewed science publications, as well as communications for non-scientific audiences.
• Advance SEI’s mandate to bridge science and policy through collaboration and sharing research insights and recommendations with policy decision makers, as well as supporting intersectional gender mainstreaming through capacity building and/or advisory services with a range of public, private, research and civil society boundary partners.
• Engage and collaborate strategically with policy and development actors in order to contribute to evidence-informed agenda setting and more gender- and socially responsive decision-making in relation to priority areas.
• Identify funding sources, lead and contribute to fundraising and secure funding for GED and other SEI Asia projects.

Centre development

• Provide guidance, mentor and supervise junior research staff in research development and implementation, support professional and career development of junior research staff and contribute to SEI’s staff capacity development initiatives.
• Contribute to scientific rigor in SEI and partner research and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL).
• In collaboration with the SEI communications team, facilitate and support internal communications and external outreach activities, including presentations, speeches, dialogues and media articles.

Broader SEI responsibilities

• Promote the aims and objectives of SEI as set out in its mission and aligned to the strategic plan. This includes participating in and contributing to the development of the SEI Asia Centre and GED Research Theme.
• Implement projects in a timely way according to the work plans and available budget, cooperating equitably and effectively with partners and support teams.
• Be a proactive team member, cooperating with and supporting colleagues in the GED cluster and collaborating with other groups within the centre.
• Ensure exchange of ideas with relevant institutes, scientists and experts, including other SEI centres.

Who you are

You are an experienced social science researcher with a strong interest and proven track record in designing and implementing successful research projects in the area of inclusive climate financing. Gender and social equity are key areas of your expertise. You also have excellent research and writing skills and are able to communicate with a variety of actors. You are an outstanding team player who has good listening skills, empathy and capacity for collaboration in diverse and dynamic setting.

Required qualifications and competencies

• Doctoral degree with a minimum of 3 years or a master’s degree with a minimum of 6 years of professional research experience in the field of gender, environment and development.
• Knowledge of current and cutting edge intersectional gender theory and approaches, including gender transformative approaches.Expertise in climate finance or climate justice.
• Successful track record of applied research, involving multi-stakeholder engagement and influencing policy or development agendas or decision-making.
• A solid and growing science publication track record, as well as capacity to write for general or practitioner audiences.
• Proven ability to successfully design research projects, secure funding, implement and manage quality research projects and deliver effectively in timely manner.
• Competent in quantitative, qualitative or ideally mixed methods approaches, including design, collection and data analysis.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong motivation, personal initiative and commitment to excellence and results and enthusiasm for scientific research.
• Proven capacity in task leadership and/or people management skills.
• Excellent planning, organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Convey the core values of SEI in daily work, including the importance of high-calibre work, as well as respect and trust.Excellent fluency in spoken and written English

Desirable competencies

• Expertise in relation to gender and private sector, human and environmental rights, migration and/or natural resource governance.
• Successful contributions to proposal writing and fundraising.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly yet effectively with a range of partners, including government, civil society and private sector.
• Experience with successful design and facilitation of variety of public forums, including webinars, workshops, dialogues and round-table discussions, and strategies for intersectional gender mainstreaming and capacity building.
• Experience working in Asia and knowledge of at least one Asian language and culture.

Personal skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong motivation, personal initiative and commitment to excellence and results and enthusiasm for scientific research.
• Proven capacity in task leadership and/or people management skills.
• Excellent planning, organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Convey the core values of SEI in daily work, including the importance of high-calibre work, as well as respect and trust.

Additional information

With a team comprising over 20 nationalities, SEI welcomes global applicants for all posts and provides an internationally competitive level NGO salary and benefits package, with all employee contracts under Thai labour law.