SEI is looking for a Research Fellow to join our Trase team

Research Fellow: The role of China in deforestation-free supply chains (Trase)
SEI HQ is recruiting a highly motivated Research Fellow to lead an emerging area of research and impact within the Trase initiative on the key roles Chinese actors must play to promote sustainable supply chains. The successful applicant will be fluent in Mandarin Chinese and knowledgeable about China’s policy environment on agricultural supply chains.
SEI HQ is a dynamic expanding workplace that employs around 110 people from 28 different nationalities in an activity-based office in central Stockholm (Garnisonen), with an additional 200 employees in centres around the world.
Trase (Transparency for Sustainable Economies) is a pioneering sustainability data and intelligence initiative that reveals the connections between consumers, producers and investors, as well as the environmental and social impacts linked to global supply chains.
Trase is jointly led by SEI and Global Canopy with many additional partners and close collaborators. The Trase team is made up of over 40 individuals located in nine countries, brought together by enthusiasm, curiosity and drive.
The role
SEI HQ is recruiting a highly motivated Research Fellow to lead an emerging area of research and impact within the Trase initiative on the key roles Chinese actors must play to promote sustainable supply chains. China is responsible for the largest overall share of imports in forest-risk commodities such as soy, beef, palm oil and wood pulp. Chinese actors such as commodity traders are increasingly present in production landscapes and the systemic changes needed to place commodity production and trade on a more sustainable footing are not possible without Chinese leadership.
The successful applicant will be fluent in Mandarin Chinese and knowledgeable about China’s policy environment on agricultural supply chains. Background in environmental or agricultural policy issues (preferably in relation to land-use change in the tropics) is desirable, as is proven experience in leading research work or in collaborating with stakeholders such as government actors or the private sector in China.
The Research Fellow will work in collaboration with experts across Trase, as well as in-country experts and partners in commodity producing countries across the world. There will be many opportunities to connect the work in China with developments in other consumer markets (especially Europe) and with key producer markets for China in South America and Southeast Asia.
Main responsibilities
Interpreting Trase data and analyses for greater uptake and use by Chinese actors with a view to meeting China’s concerns, priorities, sensitivities and supply-chain sustainability agendas. This includes not only informing but also exchanging with leading actors to help unlock the potential of the Chinese market to drive sector-wide change on the production and trade of key forest-risk commodities such as soy, beef and palm oil.
Contributing to Trase’s science-based thought-leadership on supply-chain sustainability as related to China-led policies and initiatives. This includes identifying entry points for influencing current agendas, including strengthening of the strategic case for action and challenges that need to be overcome.
Lead work by Trase to build strong research and practice partnerships with Chinese organizations, including Chinese research institutions, government agencies and companies. That includes liaising with our existing partners as well as helping to identify and develop new partnerships. A key part of the role will be to support such partners in their understanding of Trase and independent analysis of Trase data to be able to carry out their own research using Trase.
Participating and presenting in policy processes and initiatives linked to the roles of China for greater agricultural supply chain sustainability and ending tropical deforestation.
Helping to develop partnerships with leading experts and practitioners outside of China to establish Trase as a leader in such a network of actors and experts dealing with the increasing role of China on the globe and in this field.
Presenting research and project results in meetings and international conferences.
Leading the publication of communication pieces, including blog posts, insights, policy briefs and peer-reviewed articles.

Who you are
You should have a strong interest in agri-food sustainability and land-use issues, ideally linked to agricultural expansion in the tropics, deforestation and commodity trade.
You are an independent thinker driven by the importance of building strong bonds of trust and respect with your co-workers. You are also passionate about working to help understand some of the major environmental and sustainability challenges the world is facing in the 21st century. You will work independently and as part of a team in a highly flexible and exciting research- and innovation environment.
Formal qualifications and knowledge
PhD or MSc (or comparable degree) or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field related to one or more of the following: agricultural commodity production and trade, environmental governance or land-use change dynamics
Proven ability to independently process, analyse and interpret data related to land-use change, trade and environmental impacts
Proven ability to apply your research to policy and practice in finding solutions to sustainability issues in either public and/pr private sector
Proven publication record in areas of expertise
Fluency in written and spoken English
Fluency in written and spoken Mandarin Chinese (native speaker preferred)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Merits
Prior experience engaging with supply-chain or agri-food system stakeholders in the People’s Republic of China
Prior experience working on ecosystem conversion due to commodity expansion, especially regarding soy, pasture, palm oil or pulp
Open to learn new skills
Additional language skills, especially Portuguese, Spanish or Bahasa Indonesian
Experience working in multicultural and multilingual teams.

Personal skills
Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to build good working relationships with colleagues and partners
Highly structured and organized
Accuracy and attention to detail
Able to work in fast-paced environment
Eager to learn and develop
Timely and efficient, and able to prioritize deliverables.



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