Apologies for cross-posting...Please pass on to anyone that might be interested.

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SEI OXFORD IS EXPANDING OUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY SOCIAL SCIENCE GROUP:
* Actor-oriented analysis
* Climate adaptation and social learning

* Interns on water scarcity, climate adaptation, decision analysis, computer programming


The Oxford office of the Stockholm Environment Institute has openings for the right individuals to join a dynamic and multidisciplinary team. These are key positions in our expanding group, contributing to and leading ambitious, flagship projects.

The SEI is a multidisciplinary, independent research organisation, with offices in Stockholm, Oxford, York, Boston, Tallinn, Bangkok and Cape Town. The Oxford office focuses on adaptive resource management, particularly related to climatic risks, with expertise in water, food security and livelihoods.  We contribute to the SEI-wide programmes on climate and energy, water resources, and risk, livelihoods and vulnerability, under the over-arching mission to promote sustainable development.  Our mission is to support organisational change to achieve sustainable development, through research, risk communication, decision support, and participatory approaches.  The Oxford office comprises ten staff, co-located with Oxford Climate Policy (which lead the European Capacity Building Initiative) in Oxford and including two people located in the University of Cape Town.

For both positions, we are looking for dynamic individuals who wish to make a career in independent research and policy advice.  We seek to link an understanding of action at the local scale to the drivers and institutions that shape global policy.  Methodologically, we focus on the boundaries between local interviews and participation and formal systems modelling. Ability to work with an interdisciplinary social science research team, and to represent our work to other disciplines and to our clients is essential.  Field work, conducting case studies in England, Europe and Africa, and analysis of local information are required for both positions.  Fluency in English is essential; competence in French or Spanish would be a bonus.

1.Actor-oriented analysis of coupled socio-ecological systems

Roles: This person will contribute to three EC projects that focus on various aspects of understanding coupled socio-ecological systems.  The CAVES project (Complexity, Agents, Volatility, Evidence and Scale, http://cfpm.org/caves/CAVESWiki/Summary?from=Main.HomePage ) is using agent-based modelling to explore the complex interactions between climate change, water management, food security and health (HIV/AIDS) in a case study in South Africa.  The NeWater project (New Approaches to Adaptive Water Management under Uncertainty, www.newater.info/everyone) has case studies in Lesotho and Spain, with a focus on linking participatory methods, knowledge elicitation, a water planning model (WEAP) and agent based modelling to evaluate links between vulnerable groups and resilience of water management systems.   The ADAM (Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies, http://www.adamproject.eu/) project focuses on climate mitigation and adaptation, with case studies of water scarcity in England and Spain, heat waves and health in London, urban planning and financial investment.

Qualifications: The position could be at either the Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow grade in the SEI Oxford office.  For a Senior appointment, a PhD in a relevant field is required, or an equivalent amount of experience. Skills in actor-oriented methods and knowledge elicitation are essential; competence in agent based modelling is desirable (we use RePast and Jess (Java Expert Systems Shell)).

Specific job requirements:

· Willingness and ability to travel: Project coordination and field work will necessitate travel at least once per month and often for a week or longer at a time. Our priority research areas are sub-Saharan Africa, south-east Asia, and Europe, although projects are also underway in Latin America and East Asia and we have strong collaboration with the SEI offices in the United States.

· Familiarity with resource management tools and a willingness to learn applications such as the SEI's WEAP model (www.weap21.org) will help in applying actor-oriented methods in diverse contexts, from more or less academic research to applications with stakeholders faced with immediate constraints and long term challenges.

2.Climate adaptation in Africa

Roles: This position is primarily to support development of a collaborative programme on climate adaptation with the United Nations Environment Programme.  The first year is devoted to a scoping process, including interviews with key stakeholders, identifying and working with regional partners in Africa (our first priority), building an effective network to address policy and methodological issues, and leading the initial platform of programmes.  The priority initial activity is development of a platform for adaptation risk screening using climate envelopes (called ClEAR).  This is at an early stage and the position will contribute to and manage various modules.  The position supports training activities in the SEI, particularly with UNITAR and the Netherlands Climate Assistance Project.

Qualifications: The position could be at either the Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow grade in the SEI Oxford office.  For a Senior appointment, a PhD in a relevant field is required, or an equivalent amount of experience.  This position requires knowledge and experience in African development and resource management, since a major task is supporting African networks in adapting to climate change.  Skills in working with partners and stakeholders, using an array of participatory methods, is essential.  We approach climate adaptation as a process of social learning; knowledge and skills to contribute to our understanding are desirable. Skill and experience in project management are essential.  We use a variety of computer-based knowledge management tools; ability and willingness to develop such resources is helpful.

Specific job requirements:

· A portion of the position may be based with one of our African partners, including the University of Cape Town and the UN Environment Programme in Nairobi.  Hence, a willingness and ability to travel is essential.  Project coordination and field work will necessitate travel at least once per month and often for a week or longer at a time.

3.Interns

We try to recruit 2-3 interns each year, generally students on a Masters course in Oxford or students needing a work-placement for a post-graduate degree elsewhere.  The interns work on a variety of topics, from low level collection, collation and analysis of data to taking the lead in reports and representing the SEI at meetings.  Much depends on the match between the interns (and their academic requirements), our projects, and the availability of staff to work closely with the intern.  If based in Oxford, interns are not expected to work in the office; but we encourage close contact between our staff and the interns in an atmosphere of cooperation.  In general we do not pay interns, but may offer an honorarium and some expenses depending on the nature of the work. 

To apply to either position or for an internship, send an email to our Office Manager, Izabela Ratajczak ([log in to unmask]).  Kindly include:

· A covering note or letter explaining which position you are applying for, why this position would be attractive to you, level of appointment desired (Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow), expectations of salary (or present salary and recent history)

· Curriculum Vitae including the names of three references (indicate if we should contact you first before asking for a reference)

· You may wish to send us an example of a publication or web-based material you have worked on

Further information on the SEI can be found at www.sei.se; the web site is in the process of being updated.

Applications received by 16 February 2007 will be guaranteed consideration.

The SEI Oxford has recently adopted job definitions including performance criteria: Funding and project management, Staff development and working together, Publishing our work, and Reaching our target audiences. The  Research Fellow grade is in the range of £ 28,100 – £ 36,500 (gross salary) while the Senior Research Fellow grade covers £ 33,500 – £ 49,500.  It may be that we would appoint a less experienced person at the Research Associate grade, from £ 25,600 – £ 29,500.


-- 
Sukaina Bharwani
Research Fellow
Stockholm Environment Institute
http://www.sei.se/

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Oxford OX2 7DL
Tel: +44 1865 426316
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