Job from North-South
Institute:
Country: Canada
City: Ottawa
Organization: North-South Institute
Theme: Climate Change and Environment
Other
Closing date: 28 Feb
2013
Job years of
experience: 5-10 years
Job type: Job Home
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About the North-South
Institute
The North-South Institute (NSI) is Canada’s premier,
non-profit, independent think tank, dedicated to research that reduces poverty,
enhances social justice and promotes economic progress in the developing world.
Since its establishment in 1976, NSI has partnered with Southern researchers to
produce knowledge that addresses global challenges and provides policymakers
with timely, relevant information. NSI’s current work focuses on three thematic
areas: Fragile and Conflict-Affected
States, Governance for
Equitable Growth, and Governance of Natural Resources. In acknowledgment of the
impact that our work is having on international development, NSI was, for the
second year in a row, ranked the world’s top small think tank (operating budget
under $5 million) by the Global Go to Think Tank Index.
About the Governance
of Natural Resources Program
Natural resource governance is emerging as an important
global policy issue, with implications for developing countries which are
heavily dependent on natural resources. To this end, NSI is continuing to build
on over a decade of research and policy lessons learned on natural resource
decision-making. Our work in this area has primarily addressed the mining
sector in the Americas.
Now we are switching our attention largely to Africa.
In Africa, abundant natural
resources could be the key to inclusive growth and poverty reduction. However
many resource-rich African countries are grappling with a “resource curse,” and
have been unable to manage their natural resource wealth for economic
development and prosperity. NSI’s GNR program is a multi-year initiative that
seeks to improve natural resource governance in Africa
by promoting co-operative solutions for appropriately shared socio-economic
benefits between local and external stakeholders. These stakeholders include
African governments, the private sector, foreign investors, the Canadian
government and host communities in Africa. The
program is designed to be policy-oriented and to address existing gaps in the
policy framework and institutional setting. It consists of five interrelated
areas:
• The role and impact of emerging economies (BRICS)
• The private sector and economic growth
• Going beyond Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Governance in the context of conflict and fragile states
• Transnational initiatives for governing natural resources
NSI is the only Canadian institution currently engaging with
the main global initiatives on governance and resource extraction: the African
Union (AU) Mining Vision, the World Bank Institute, and the Natural Resource
Charter. We are a strategic partner of the newly established Canadian
International Institute for Extractives Industries and Development. The
Governance of Natural Resources program has also established a wide range of
partnerships with the leading think-tanks and regional development institutions
in Africa.
Candidates
We have an immediate vacancy for an experienced researcher
and analyst with expertise in natural resource governance, proven leadership
and managerial skills, an innovative approach to research and policy analysis,
a credible record in writing for policy and practice, and experience engaging
with stakeholders in government, the private sector and civil society,
particularly in Africa.
Responsibilities:
In this job you will be expected to:
• Identify relevant and important research issues in the field
of natural resource governance, and design timely, feasible, and current
research methodologies, work plans, and funding strategies (often through
competitive bids) to lead the research.
• Lead or manage large projects or research programs.
• Undertake high quality applied research and write clear
research and project reports drawing pertinent and persuasive practical
implications and policy recommendations from the research.
• Raise funds for research projects, with guidance and help
from senior management and support staff.
• Supervise NSI and project research teams and guide and
mentor team members and other junior researchers.
• Effectively present research work and reports and policy
recommendations to stakeholders, media, and the general public
.
• Write policy briefs, opinion pieces, and other
communications to disseminate research findings.
• Monitor events, trends, and literature related to natural
resource governance, and engage with relevant outside people and networks,
including NSI’s Distinguished Research Associates.
• Organize and host research workshops, roundtables, and
conferences, and otherwise support policy dialogue in relevant areas of work
and expertise.
• Initiate and build NSI partnerships in Canada and the developed world, and in
developing countries, particularly regions of interest to the GNR program (Africa).
• Represent NSI with external stakeholders in areas related
to NSI work and your expertise.
• Lead and participate in NSI corporate committees and
activities
Qualifications:
Required:
• Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management,
Development Economics, Law, Public Policy, Political Science or other relevant
discipline with above average academic standing, or an equivalent combination
of education, training and work experience. • Five or more years of experience
(three years minimum with a PhD) designing and conducting policy-relevant
research, managing complex projects or events, establishing research networks,
and engaging with stakeholders.
• Familiarity with academic scholarship and policy issues in
natural resource governance, and evidence of high-quality research and
analytical skills.
• Record of applied research or policy-relevant publications
or reports in the field of natural resource governance.
• Record of successfully obtaining funding for research
projects or programs in the field of natural resource governance.
• Experience assembling and leading multidisciplinary and
inter-cultural teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation
skills.
• Ability to nurture networks of colleagues and
stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively independently and within
multidisciplinary and inter-cultural teams.
• Ability to work well and professionally under pressure and
to tight deadlines.
• Excellent skills in either English or French and a working
knowledge of the other.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, Outlook) and statistical and analytical software (e.g. SPSS, STATA,
Eviews, RATS, etc.).
• Willingness to travel both nationally and internationally.
• Legal ability to work in Canada (citizen, permanent
resident, work permit, etc.)
Desirable
• PhD in a relevant discipline.
• Bilingual (French and English); working knowledge of other
languages.
• Experience living and working in developing countries (Africa experience).
What we offer
This is a full-time, permanent position. The salary will be
between $65,720 and $79,720, depending on your qualifications. We are not able
to provide a re-location package.
NSI’s work environment is highly collegial and
multidisciplinary. We are an equal opportunity organization and do not
discriminate on the basis of gender, race, disability or sexual orientation.
How to apply:
Qualified candidates should send the following documents to
dguevremont@nsi-ins.ca (attention Ms Diane Guevremont) before 5.00 p.m. EST
February 28, 2013:
• A Letter of Interest (no more than two pages), stating
your motivation and suitability for applying for this position;
• An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (no more than four pages);
and
• Contact details for three work-related references (please
state your relationship with the reference).
Due to the large number of applications we expect to
receive, we will only respond to short-listed candidates. We will ask
short-listed candidates to provide samples of their written analytical work and
will contact references before extending invitations to an interview. Writing
samples must be relevant to the field of natural resource governance and must
not be co-authored.
We expect to interview candidates in the week of 11 March
2013. We may ask some interviewed candidates to present their work to our
research staff on a separate occasion.
To find out more about the NSI, visit our website http://www.nsi-ins.ca/,
and for more information on the governance of natural resources program, go to
http://www.nsi-ins.ca/governance-of-natural-resources/