Job opportunity at SEI
Position Title: Research Fellow: Migration, Climate Change, Disasters, and Development
Position Grade: RF1
Unit: Climate Change, Disasters and Development Cluster
Type: Full–time, Fixed–term, two–year contract with possibility of extension depending on funding
availability and performance
Centre and location: SEI Asia, Bangkok, Thailand
Purpose: New hire
Reporting to: Sara Vigil, Research Fellow, Lead of the Migration and Mobility Hub
Albert Salamanca, Senior Research Fellow and Cluster Lead, Climate Change,
Disasters and Development Cluster
Posting date: 14 November 2022
Last application date: 14 December 2022
Starting date: As soon as possible
Organizational Context
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) is an independent, international research institute founded in 1989. Its mission is to support decision–making and catalyse and enable change towards sustainable development around the world by providing integrative knowledge that bridges science and policy in the field of environment and development. SEI was ranked among the world’s top think tank on environmental policy issues in the Global Go To Think Tanks Index compiled by the University of
Pennsylvania’s Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program.
SEI has around 320 employees working at research centres in seven countries around the world. SEI’s headquarters are located in Stockholm, Sweden. Additional SEI research centres are located in Kenya (SEI Africa); Estonia (SEI Tallinn); United Kingdom (SEI York and SEI Oxford); the United States (SEI US); Thailand (SEI Asia); and Colombia (SEI Latin America).
SEI Asia, based in Bangkok, 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 until 2023 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
SEI Asia is recruiting a highly motivated Research Fellow with a strong background in migration, climate change, and disasters research. The successful candidate will be based at SEI’s Asia Centre in Bangkok, Thailand to develop and execute research on the linkages between climate change, disasters, and development with migration and mobility. This exciting position will involve spearheading high–quality research from design to policy influence. The Research Fellow will join the Migration and Mobility Hub
and SEI’s global initiative on climate change adaptation, as well as contributing to the work of the Climate Change, Disasters and Development and other research clusters as appropriate.
The Research Fellow may also work across disciplines, sectors and teams including those working on gender, water, urban, and disaster issues. The position also has opportunities to mentor early–career researchers and regularly contribute to capacity building of multiple actors. A key part of the position is generating and communicating interdisciplinary research insights to a range of audiences, including high quality peer–review publications, policy briefs, and blogposts or podcasts.
The position is based in the SEI’s Asia Centre in Bangkok, Thailand and will report to the lead of the Migration and Mobility Hub, in coordination with the Climate Change, Disasters and Development cluster lead and the SEI Asia Centre Director.
Main responsibilities:
Research and policy influence
• Identify, formulate, develop, lead and implement research and policy dialogue on migration, climate change, disasters, and development projects that further the aims and objectives of SEI;
• Ensure high quality research processes that will lead to peer–reviewed articles and strategic knowledge products, like discussion and policy briefs for different audiences including policymakers and media;
• Identify funding sources, lead or contribute to fundraising, and seek to secure funding for projects;
• 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; and
• Support capacity building processes, in particular 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’s 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 SEI–Asia projects aligned to SEI mandates and priorities.
• 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 the SEI Asia Centre and the climate and migration 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 team and collaborating with other groups within the Centre.
• 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 migration, climate change disasters, and adaptation. You also have excellent writing skills and are able to communicate with a variety of actors. You are an outstanding team player who has good listening skills and capacity for collaboration in diverse and dynamic settings.
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 experienceon migration, disasters, climate change and development
•Knowledge of current and cutting–edge migration theories and approaches
•Successful track record ofapplied research, involving multistakeholderengagement and
informingpolicyor development agendas ordecision–making as well as in leading research
activities
• Asolid and growingtrackrecordin scientific publications as well as capacities in writing for
general orpractitioneraudiences
•Proven ability to successfullydesign research projects, secure funding, implement and manage
qualityresearchprojects and deliver effectively in a timely manner
• Proven experience in proposal writing and fundraising
•Competent inquantitative,qualitative or mixed methods approaches, including rigorous
design, collection and data analysis
• Strong motivation, personal initiative and commitment to excellence and results, as well as
enthusiasm for doing scientific research
• Excellent fluency in spoken and written English
Desirable competencies:
• Experience in working in the Asian region
•Demonstrated ability to work flexibly yet effectively with a range of partners (government,
civil society, private sector)
•Recent or current involvement in migration–related research
• Demonstrated understanding on the migration and mobility dynamics in Southeast Asia, or
any country in the region, in the context of disasters and climate change and how these affect
climate change adaptation
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Personal skills required in the position:
• 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
• Conveying the core values of SEI in their everyday work, including the importance of high
calibre work as well as respect and trust
SEI’s required competencies
Core Values: These are the shared principles and beliefs that underpin the work of the organization
and guide the actions and behaviours of all employees.
• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
Core Competencies: Skills, attributes and behaviours which are considered important for all
employees, regardless of their function or level.
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Accountability
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Communication
• Client and Results Oriented
• Organizational Awareness
• Entrepreneurship
Managerial Competencies: Skills, attributes, and behaviours which are considered essential for all
employees with managerial or supervisory responsibilities.
• Empowering and Building Trust
• Managing Performance
• Judgement and Decision Making
• Strategic Planning and Vision
• Leadership
• Managing Resources
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Additional Information
With a team comprising over 17 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 laws. For this post we expect candidates of Middle levels to apply.
About SEI
SEI is an independent, international research institute founded in 1989. Its mission is to support decision–making and induce change towards sustainable development around the world by providing integrative knowledge that bridges science and policy in the field of environment and development. SEI is ranked as the top environment policy think tank in the world in the Global Go
To Think Tank Report 2019, compiled by the University of Pennsylvania’s Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program.
SEI has about 300 employees working at research centres in seven countries around the world. Our Headquarters are located in Stockholm, Sweden with other centres in Estonia (SEI Tallinn); the United Kingdom (SEI York and SEI Oxford); the United States (office in Boston, Seattle and Davis); Thailand (SEI Asia Centre); and Kenya (SEI Africa Centre).