Senior Researcher, Climate Change and Risk Programme

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is seeking an experienced Senior Researcher with a focus on conflict and peacebuilding for its Climate Change and Risk (CCR) Programme. The post provides a unique opportunity to engage with both policy and academia.

The Senior Researcher will lead and develop high quality research to better understand the security implications of climate change, and opportunities for peace in regions highly exposed to climate change. This includes research on how climate-related security risks emerge, evolve, and interlink with different social, political and economic processes, including violent conflict. The cutting-edge, policy-relevant research is geared to supporting organizations’ responses to such risks.

The Senior Researcher position
The primary responsibility of the position is to design, lead and deliver high quality research on climate-related security risks. This includes conducting research, developing and helping others develop research ideas, managing staff and  research projects, disseminating research, partner engagement and fundraising.

Within the CCR Programme, the Senior Researcher will play a critical role in maintaining the high quality and relevance of SIPRI's research, and is expected to develop their own research agenda oriented towards:


• when, why and for whom climate-related security risks arise (in a specific geography/geographies)
• how organizations are able to efficiently respond to risks and proactively promote peace through implementation

While working independently, they will collaborate closely with the Programme Director and other researchers to carry out research including, but not limited to, climate security risk assessments, environmental peacebuilding, ecological security, food insecurity and conflict prevention.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Senior Researcher will collaborate to fulfil the following responsibilities:


• Research, analysis, fundraising and advice: with the Programme Director, and other programmes and researchers
• Fundraising: with the Programme Director, the Director of Studies for Peace and Development, other Senior Researchers and the Grants Manager
• Outreach: with the Head of Communications and the Head of Editorial

The main tasks are:


• Leading the design and successful implementation of high quality research
• Communicating research findings through peer-reviewed journal articles, research reports, policy briefs and other outlets both written and oral
• Preparing well-presented, effectively argued and properly budgeted research proposals to secure future funding both for their own research and for other research carried out within the programme and the Peace and Development research area
• Collaborating with the Programme Director on budgeting and financial management within the CCR Programme
• Collaborating on issues related to climate-related security risks with other SIPRI authors and external researchers when relevant
• Networking with relevant researchers, policy makers and civil society actors in Sweden and internationally, in close collaboration with the Programme Director
• Managing and mentoring junior staff, including promoting and disseminating their research
• Contributing to the collective life of the Institute by participating in seminars, meetings and other activities

Requirements

The Senior Researcher will have profound knowledge of climate-related security risks and a commitment to policy-relevant analysis. They can work both independently and in a team, and are a born communicator. They contribute to a positive work environment and are committed to SIPRI’s values and mission.

They should have as a minimum the following qualifications/experience:


• A Doctoral level degree in peace and conflict research, international relations/studies, political science or a similar field, or publications to a Doctoral degree standard
• At least 5 years' experience as a researcher initiating and carrying out their own research projects
• A record of publications (including policy-related ones) commensurate with the length of time worked in research
• Strong knowledge of issues relating to climate-related security risks, with a focus on armed conflict and peacebuilding, either more broadly or in a specific sub-area (e.g. development, migration or organizational responses)
• Strong knowledge of qualitative research methods
• Proven ability to work and deliver in small teams
• Proven fundraising experience
• Proven mastery of spoken and written English, with working proficiency in another United Nations language an advantage

The following qualifications/experience are an advantage:


• Strong knowledge of multilateral systems, e.g. the UN, EU, NATO or AU
• Good knowledge of quantitative methods
• Good knowledge of ecological security and/or food security

Contract period
Starting in November, the contract period will last for 2 years with the possibility of extension.

The position is full time and open to all applicants globally that fit the requirements. It should be noted that the post requires that the candidate becomes a resident in Stockholm, Sweden by the time of employment.

The salary package will be negotiated individually.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit the following:


• A one-page cover letter in English detailing your qualifications and specifying why you are applying for the position
• A CV in English including your degrees, work experience, publications, language skills and contact details for two referees
• Two single-authored writing samples in English (articles, book chapters or substantial pieces of writing up to 10 000 words)

The application must be made via our electronic application system in the vacancies section of SIPRI’s website. Please access the form via the ‘apply’ button at the end of this page. Applications through any other external job sites are not accepted.

The closing date for applications is 1 August 2024 (CET).

Interviews will be held virtually. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. 

For enquiries regarding the position, please contact: Dr Florian Krampe, Programme Director, Climate Change and Risk, SIPRI 

The trade union contact persons at SIPRI are Pieter Wezeman for ST and Annika Salisbury for Saco-S