Senior Policy Researcher — Seattle, WA

Organization: Stockholm Environment Institute

Job Title: Senior Policy Researcher – Climate Change Mitigation in Forestry, Land Use, and Agriculture Sectors

Location: Seattle, WA

Hours and Compensation: Full Time — competitive salary based on experience

Application Deadline: open until filled

Position Dates: Start in Fall 2012

Organization Overview

SEI is an independent international research organization working on sustainable development issues at local, national, and global policy levels.  One of seven centers that span four continents, SEI’s U.S. Center maintains offices in Somerville (MA), Davis (CA), and Seattle (WA).  This position will be located at the Seattle office, which focuses on climate change policy with a particular interest in the role of energy, land use, and consumption in mitigating global GHG emissions.  SEI’s Seattle staff works closely with government agencies, policy makers, and research organizations in the U.S. Pacific Northwest region as well as nationally and internationally.  They also regularly collaborate with colleagues at SEI’s centers throughout the world.

Description

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) seeks a senior level researcher to build upon and expand SEI’s climate change mitigation research in the forestry, land use and agriculture sectors.

The Senior Policy Researcher will join SEI’s Seattle team and lead research activities that assess and advance the contribution of forestry, agriculture, and other land use to climate change mitigation.  Areas of focus will depend in part on the successful applicant’s particular strengths and are likely to include several of the following topics:  terrestrial carbon cycling, bioenergy and biocarbon potentials, life-cycle assessment, emissions accounting frameworks, AFOLU policies, REDD+, and carbon markets.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop and implement innovative research projects addressing policies and actions to enhance biological carbon sequestration and reduce GHG emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use management.
• Maintain and build relationships with existing funders and partners; find and secure new funding opportunities.
• Manage, mentor, and collaborate with staff researchers, provide regular guidance and feedback to colleagues, and monitor the quality of the research process.
• Explore joint research opportunities and collaborate with colleagues at other SEI centers.
• Review and manage project outputs from the research team, including publications and other materials to ensure they meet the project objectives and SEI quality standards.
• Present externally and raise the profile of SEI research.

Qualifications

The applicant should possess outstanding leadership, management, organizational, interpersonal, and networking abilities. She/he should have both a strong interdisciplinary inclination in research efforts and a strong commitment to protecting the natural environment and improving human well-being.

The position requires:

• An advanced degree and significant work experience, a Ph.D plus 4 years of work experience or M.S. degree plus 8 years of work experience, and a publication record in related field such as forestry and agriculture mitigation, biocarbon policy, natural resource economics, bioenergy systems, land use or terrestrial carbon cycling.
• Substantial knowledge of and networks and contacts in one or more of the following policy arenas: REDD+, carbon markets, bioenergy LCA and related policies (e.g. LCFS), terrestrial carbon cycling, sustainability requirements for bioenergy, and integrated approaches to water, energy, food/feed/fiber, and land use.
• Solid, demonstrated experience applying quantitative analysis to policy applications and emissions accounting, including the use of modeling tools or interpretation of modeling results to develop estimates of carbon flux from land use and land use change.
• Demonstrated strong writing and presentation skills (for both technical and public audiences)
• A strong record of research project design and management, securing external funding, and publications.
• Good communications skills and ability and desire to work as a team player.
• Proven success in work relations with a wide range of partners, including research institutes, governments, and other non-profit organizations.

How to Apply

Please send your application and supporting documents to [email protected]. Please include the following:

• Cover letter highlighting relevant qualifications and experience and how you envision your work at SEI.
• Curriculum vitae, including major projects led, publications, and three professional references.  References will be contacted if you are short-listed.
• Samples of (or links to) publications that you have written, including at least one addressing a policy audience and one intended for a more academic audience.