SEI Oxford is seeking a highly experienced and motivated Senior Researcher to take a leading role in shaping our work on climate vulnerability, risk and just adaptation. This is an opportunity for a senior professional with a strong research record and proven policy and fundraising success to influence global practice and policy.
You will lead research and innovation on climate vulnerability, risk and just adaptation, working closely with governments, local partners and international organizations. Your work will help strengthen the evidence base for inclusive, locally led adaptation and advance practical solutions that place people, justice and equity at the centre of climate action.
Key duties and responsibilities
In this senior position, you will drive high-impact research agendas, provide intellectual leadership, promote the use of knowledge to influence policy and practice, and play a central role in securing new funding to expand SEI’s portfolio. You will lead the development of competitive proposals for major funders and research funders, strengthen partnerships across least-developed countries (LDCs), and ensure SEI remains at the forefront of climate adaptation thought leadership.
Research activities:
• Lead the design, development and delivery of major research programs advancing understanding of climate vulnerability, risk and equitable adaptation.
• Lead high-quality research that results in high-impact publications, proposals, policy engagement and digital knowledge products.
• Shape and grow SEI’s and specifically SEI Oxford’s strategic research portfolio and contribute to thought leadership in key policy and academic arenas, driving new thinking on structural and systemic drivers of climate vulnerability and risk.
• Guide the development of research frameworks and tools that reflect the social, ecological and political complexity of climate adaptation.
• Expand SEI Oxford’s portfolio in research in low- and middle-income countries, Small Island Developing States, and other regions that should be the focus of adaptation action.
Organizational activities
• Expand SEI’s and SEI Oxford’s funding base by cultivating strong funder and partner relationships, identifying opportunities, and driving successful fundraising strategies to grow SEI’s and SEI Oxford’s project and funding portfolio.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with research institutions, governments, UN bodies, non-governmental organizations and practitioners, particularly in climate-vulnerable countries, to translate evidence into policy and action.
• Contribute to the co-production of knowledge and capacity strengthening with partners and communities.
• Provide mentorship and supervision to junior researchers, and contribute to a supportive and collaborative learning environment within the centre.