Job Opportunity at SEI

SEI Asia is looking for an experienced social science researcher with a strong interest and proven track record in designing and implementing successful research projects in the area of gender equality and social equity. You have excellent skills in research design through to analysis, interpretation and writing.

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 students, post–graduate supervision and examination and CU-SEI employee links.

The role

The Gender, Environment and Development (GED) Research Fellow will contribute to developing and carrying out rigorous research at the intersection of gender equality, social equity, environment and development. This exciting position will involve spearheading high-quality applied research from design through to policy influence as well as contributing to effective intersectional gender and human rights integration in a range of SEI research projects. The position also offers the opportunity to engage in conceptualizing, securing funding for and leading the development of future research projects in this area.

The Research Fellow will work across disciplines, collaborating with colleagues from other SEI teams, including those working on water, urban, climate change and disaster issues. The position also has opportunities to mentor early-career researchers and regularly contribute to capacity building with civil society, government or private sector actors. Additionally, a key part of the position is generating and communicating interdisciplinary research insights for a range of audiences, including high quality peer-review publications, policy briefs and blog posts or podcasts.

The Research Fellow will join the SEI Asia GED cluster as well as contribute to SEI’s global program on gender equality, social equity and poverty. Both of these established SEI teams have a strong focus on bridging science and policy in relation to gender equality, social equity, justice, human rights and associated transitions to a sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for all. The Research Fellow will also collaborate with other SEI teams and activities on an ongoing basis.

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

Key duties and responsibilities

Main responsibilities

Research and informing policy and practice

• Conceptualize, design and lead, as well as contribute, to gender, environment and development-focused applied research projects.
• Spearhead cutting-edge intersectional gender integration, such as within natural resource management, agroecology, air quality, migration, climate adaptation and resilience, and disaster risk reduction.
• Generate high quality peer-reviewed science publications from research, as well as communications for policy and public audiences.
• Contribute to shifting agendas and improved policy and decision-making through collaboration and sharing research insights and recommendations in various forms and fora from local to national, regional and global levels.
• Support capacity-building processes, particularly around intersectional gender integration, with policy, private sector, research and civil society actors.

Centre development

• Provide guidance, mentoring and supervision for diverse junior staff in research development and implementation, support professional development of junior research staff and contribute to SEI staff capacity development initiatives.
• Contribute to quality assurance processes in SEI to ensure scientific rigor in SEI and partner research as well as in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL).
• In collaboration with the SEI communications team, facilitate and support internal and external communications and outreach activities, including presentations, dialogues and media articles.
• Identify funding sources, lead and contribute to fund mobilization for GED and other SEI Asia projects aligned to SEI mandates and priorities.

Broader SEI responsibilities

• Promote the aims and objectives of SEI as set out in its mission and aligned to its 2020–2024 strategy. This includes participating in and contributing to the development of SEI Asia and the 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 SEI Asia.
• Ensure constructive 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 gender equality and social equity. You have excellent skills in research design through to analysis, interpretation and writing. You are able to communicate effectively with a variety of actors. As a foundation of your success, you are an outstanding team player who has great listening skills, empathy and capacity for collaboration in a diverse and dynamic setting.

Formal qualifications and knowledge

• Preference is for a doctoral degree holder with work experience or exceptionally, a master’s degree with a minimum of 6 years of professional research experience in the GED field.
• Knowledge of current and cutting-edge intersectional gender theory and approaches, including gender-transformative approaches.
• Successful track record of applied research, involving multistakeholder engagement and informing policy or development agendas or decision-making.
• A solid and growing science publication track record, as well as capacities in writing for general or practitioner audiences.
• Proven ability to successfully design research projects, secure funding, implement and manage quality research projects and deliver effectively in a timely manner.
• Competent in quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods approaches, including rigorous design, collection and data analysis.
• Excellent fluency in spoken and written English.

Desirable competencies

• Expertise in gender in relation to human rights-based approaches, natural resource governance, agriculture or agroecology, air quality, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction and/or migration.
• Successful contributions to proposal writing and fundraising.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly and effectively with a range of partners (government, civil society, private sector).
• Experience with successful design and facilitation of variety of public forums (webinars, workshops, dialogues, round table discussions) and/or strategies for intersectional gender mainstreaming and capacity building.
• Experience working in Asia.

Personal skills

• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills.
• Strong motivation, personal initiative and commitment to excellence in and influence through scientific research.
• Proven capacity in people management skills.
• Outstanding analytical, problem solving and critical thinking skills.
• Robust planning, organizational and time management skills.
• Convey core values of SEI in daily work, including the importance of high-calibre outputs, as well as respect and trust.

Additional information

With a team comprising over 20 nationalities, SEI Asia 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.