Senior Researcher, Middle East North Africa Programme

Context

SIPRI is an independent international institute whose core mission is to undertake research and activities on security, conflict and peace. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public. SIPRI provides excellent opportunities for scientific and personal development. SIPRI is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages women and non-European candidates to apply.


The Senior Researcher position

SIPRI’s MENA programme provides in-depth analyses of the political, social, economic and environmental drivers of conflict and pathways to peace in the region. The Programme’s focus includes both regional and country level analyses, as well as in-depth local analysis.

The Programme is specifically interested in recruiting a Senior Researcher who will produce high quality, policy-relevant research on drivers of conflict and pathways to peace in the region, particularly related to state-society relations and more localised dynamics of peace and conflict. Although we are interested in the entire region, particular emphasis for this post is placed on the following countries: Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen.

The position is based in Stockholm but might involve occasional travel.


Tasks and responsibilities

The Senior Researcher will:


• Design, conduct, write and disseminate high-quality work on the MENA programme’s core areas: state-society relations, governance, conflict, local peacebuilding, and regional cooperation;
• Advance the programme’s work on drivers of conflict and pathways to peace;
• Collaborate with the Programme Director and other researchers in the MENA programme on the other work streams;
• Disseminate research to various audiences through research papers, journal articles, reports, policy briefs and other outlets;
• Liaise with key policy actors;
• Engage in fundraising for research, and prepare well presented, effectively argued and properly budgeted research proposals to secure future funding for research carried out within the MENA programme;
• Mentor and manage staff delivering on the programme’s agenda;
• Collaborate with the Programme Director on budgeting and financial management for the research within the MENA programme;
• Contribute to a pleasant and intellectually stimulating work environment at the Institute and take part in the collective life of the Institute.


Requirements

The Senior Researcher should be a top-class researcher on the MENA region with a focus on state-society relations, governance, and peace and conflict. Demonstrated knowledge of theories of local peace and conflict would be an advantage.

The Senior Researcher should also have talent for communication and a profound interest in research, including providing policy relevant analysis. They should be a team player with an interest in the more practical issues related to project management. All SIPRI staff are expected to have a commitment to SIPRI’s values and mission, and to contribute to the life of the institute.  

When starting in the post, the Senior Researcher should have the following experience and skills:


• Minimum of five years’ experience as a researcher after completion of a PhD and eight years’ experience without completion of a PhD, initiating and carrying out their own research projects on issues related to topics relevant for the post;
• Experience of managing researchers and research assistants;
• Strong knowledge of qualitative research methods, with knowledge of quantitative methods being an advantage;
• Good knowledge of the multilateral system, preferably the United Nations and/or European Union;
• A record of publications that is commensurate with the length of time worked in research;
• Experience and interest in providing policy relevant analysis;
• Good track record of successful fundraising and managing budgets;
• Fluency in oral and written English and Arabic;
• A university degree or degrees, in disciplines and topics relevant to this post, at the Doctoral level, or publications to a Doctoral degree standard.

 

 Contract period

Starting 10 January 2022, or as soon as possible, the contract period will initially last for two years with the possibility of extension. The post is full-time. Subject to any restrictions on travel related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the post requires that the candidate becomes a resident in Stockholm, Sweden when employment starts. The salary package will be negotiated individually.


How to apply

Interested candidates should submit:


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

In order to be considered in the recruitment process, the application must be made via the form in the vacancies section of SIPRI’s website and not through any other external job sites.
Please observe that you must apply via SIPRI’s electronic application system.
Please access the form via the ‘apply’ button at the end of this page.


The closing date for applications is 28 October 2021 (CET).

Interviews are expected to be held virtually in November 2021.

For enquiries regarding the position, please contact: Dr Dylan O’Driscoll, Senior Researcher and Director of the SIPRI MENA Programme (dylan.odriscoll@sipri.org).

SIPRI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. The trade union contacts at SIPRI are Shannen Young for ST (shannen.young@sipri.org) and Frederic Daudon for SACO (frederic.daudon@sipri.org).