Purpose of job: In order to assist policymakers, development practitioners and international businesses to avoid the policy failures that could accompany climate-related and resource-driven poverty and insecurity, Chatham House is undertaking an exciting programme of work that will highlight the most important trends concerning the uses of and trade in the resources that are central to human development – specifically food, water, energy and minerals. The Research Fellow will have the opportunity to manage and contribute to the work streams within the new Forging Sustainable Resource Futures project along with coordinating other research projects across the department to deliver high quality activities and outputs.
Requirements: The Research Fellow will have an excellent reputation and proven experience in the field of natural resources, trade and emerging economies. He/she will have demonstrable skills in analytical writing and coordinating high-level and complex activities including periodical publications. He/she will also hold excellent communication skills, both written and spoken and will be able to think strategically.
Reporting Line: Rob Bailey, Research Director for Energy, Environment and Resource Department.
Person Specification:
The ideal candidate will be a dynamic and self-motivated individual with some or all of the following:
- A background in the field of commodity trade in natural resources and emerging economies.
- Expertise in metals, minerals and energy.
- Expertise in database management.
- Experience managing a wide range of tasks and delivering to tight deadlines
- Excellent networking, communication and presentation skills
- The ability to work well as part of a diverse team
- A higher degree in relevant discipline
- A demonstrable record of publications
Principal Responsibilities:
Project Management
- Assist in the definition of objectives, goals and outputs, setting of timelines for the project activities (including research, events and publications).
- Co-coordinating work of other project participants and partners (internal or external) and liaison with other departments within Chatham House, as relevant.
Communications/Publications
- Support a major communications and outreach strategy to maximize the impact of the research and its outputs.
- Coordinate production of agreed research outputs, liaising closely with the Senior Research Fellow and relevant internal staff and external publishers.
- In addition to project specific publications, contributing to op-eds, journal articles and the Programme’s promotional material, including web pages and monthly update reports.
- Represent EER at internal and external meetings and discussions, promoting the project as appropriate.
Funding and Financial Management
The post holder shares responsibility with the Senior Research Fellow, the Research Director and Department Manager for ensuring the project meets its financial requirements, by:
- Help to maintain relationships with funders, involving them in relevant meetings and providing special briefings.
- Monitor of the project budgets.
- Prepare and submission of progress reports
Research management
- Coordinate the development and execution of the Resources Futures project and all its activities
- Maintain partnerships, including coordinating a steering committee and organizing high-level panels and consultation workshops connected with the research project
Conduct of Research
- Research and analyze international regimes and trends relating to natural resources and their threats, producing written research of superior standard
- Support the effective interaction of different strands and areas of research within the project and leading on producing the annual publication of a high-profile report on changing resource trends
- Help to establish and maintain links with key individuals, businesses, and institutions around the world working on relevant issues
Supervision of Staff
Supervision of project interns as appropriate
