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Head of Research Global Canopy Programme Oxford, United Kingdom

JOB POSTING: HEAD OF RESEARCH

Location: Oxford, UK

Type: Full time, (one year contract, with a view to extension)

Salary: 35-38k, depending on experience

Other Benefits: Pension after 3 months; 25 days annual leave

Applications: Send CV and cover letter to jobs@globalcanopy.org by 20th August 2012

THE GLOBAL CANOPY PROGRAMME

The Global Canopy Programme is a growing and dynamic tropical forest think-tank based in Oxford, acting through our global networks of experts in science, policy, business, finance and forest communities. We gather their tropical forest intelligence to spark insight, convene research and design projects that can help leverage future large-scale systemic change. Our projects seek cutting-edge solutions to halt forest loss, reform the drivers of deforestation, and improve human livelihoods dependent on forests. We demonstrate the value of forests as natural capital and communicate it to the world. GCP was founded in 2001 and we are funded through charitable grants from foundations and governments.

THE ROLE

The Global Canopy Programme is seeking a Head of Research to guide our strategic research agenda, and manage research-led projects across a range of critical themes focused on valuing rainforests as natural capital in the 21st century economy. We are looking for an innovator to integrate our funded research initiatives across GCP Programmes in science, community development, policy, business and finance and to identify critical gaps for new research to help meet

GCP’s mission. We require someone with excellent project management skills to manage our workstream on ecosystem services and climate security in Amazonia, and lead future major research-led projects of this nature.

This is an excellent opportunity to work with an Oxf0rd based, mid-sized international NGO at the cutting edge of new thinking related to maintaining tropical forests and their ecosystem services. We are looking for someone who can gather the evidence base for policy change by drawing on our networks of science, policy, business, and finance and to be able to communicate solutions in simple and creative ways, to audiences of decision makers. (Please see our recent Think PINC report, The Little Book Series and the Understanding Series for examples). Our scope is worldwide, but currently we have a focus on Amazonia.

You will help drive GCP’s efforts to transfer scientific knowledge and build capacity among national and international policy makers, communities monitoring their forests, corporations greening their supply chains and investors accounting for natural capital. You will have excellent knowledge of tropical forests and their related ecosystem services, climate change risks, REDD+ policies, and global corporate drivers of deforestation.

As Head of Research, you will be expected to represent GCP at international meetings and conferences and contribute to GCP’s internal strategic discussions and decisions. You will strengthen existing networks, especially in Amazonia and build new collaborations with researchers and practitioners in other tropical forest regions in Africa and Asia. A published research track record, ideally at PhD level, in tropical forest ecology or related rural economy is required and experience with forest policy and communications is highly desirable. Research rigour, project and team management skills are important requirements for the position plus an ability to work in a flexible and fast moving environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• RESEARCH AGENDA – In close collaboration with GCP programme heads, identify strategic research gaps and opportunities across our priority themes, and develop and manage new research agendas accordingly. Key themes currently include: links between ecosystem services and security; REDD+ policy and finance; risks and dependencies related to forests in corporate supply chains; and impacts on natural capital in lending and investments by the finance sector.

• PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION – Directly manage or coordinate the implementation of major research-led projects (such as our recent joint Amazon Security project) within limited budgets and tight deadlines, engaging and managing collaborating organisations and consultants to provide input as required.

• INTEGRATED RESEARCH METHODOLOGY – Motivate and integrate research staff across GCP programmes to foster an innovative environment for multidisciplinary research. Systematise research methodologies to ensure efficiency and rigour across our programmes.

• CREATIVE INSIGHTS – Develop novel solutions for the different problems identified in the priority themes and communicate them in an accessible language appropriate to different target audiences.

• PUBLISHING – write collaborative reports and papers to publish to target audiences or in relevant high level journals.

• NETWORKS – Engage with, follow up and maintain close contact with GCP’s science and other research networks. Attend seminars and conferences worldwide relevant to GCP themes and strategies.

• FUNDRAISING – Contribute and/or lead submission of research related fundraising proposals identified as priorities to GCP and report to donors when required.

• TEAM CAPACITY BUILDING – Assess and undertake actions to increase our research team’s capacity and promote learning and sharing process across the organisation.

KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• PhD level education in environment, economy and/or development.

• Deep knowledge on one or more of the priority themes such as ecosystem services, climate change, drivers of deforestation, REDD+, accounting for natural capital and forest finance.

• Experience in policy engagement and advocacy and/or economy and finance.

• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

• Experience of working in tropical forest regions.

• Languages an advantage, especially Portuguese and Spanish.

For more information on GCP Programmes and Projects please see:

www.globalcanopy.org
www.theREDDdesk.org
www.forestdisclosure.org
www.thenaturalcapitaldeclaration.org