The Nereus Program at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, is currently looking for a Research Associate to lead its Nereus Fellows Network and Workshop Series. The Nereus Program is a partnership between the Nippon Foundation and the University of British Columbia, plus a network of leading academic institutes in North America and Europe, that undertakes interdisciplinary research with the view of developing new knowledge to promote sustainability for the world’s oceans.

The Research Associate will report to the Program Co-Director, Dr. William Cheung. The position is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Job Description:

• Research – Conduct research on socio-economic aspects of marine sustainability policies, with an emphasis on analyses of potential impacts of—and adaptation strategies to—climate and economic change, particularly with regards to vulnerable human populations and Indigenous peoples;
• Capacity-building – Design and implement capacity-building programs that aim at promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and research within and outside of the Nereus Network;
• Project Development – Design, implement, and enhance a research network, working closely with past, current, and future members of the Nereus Fellowship Program and associated collaborators;
• Project Management – Organize and lead a series of multi-disciplinary and policy-oriented research workshops and research collaborations, bringing together the diverse expertise represented in the Nereus Fellows Network;
• Partnership Building – Assist with the maintenance of the Nereus Program’s relationship with academic, government, non-governmental and private sectors. This includes building the Program’s presence in these areas—and likely in the Latin America region—with the goal of enhancing and informing discussion on the needs of coastal communities reliant on marine living resources;
• Outreach and Communication – Work with the Nereus Communications Officer in devising strategies and products for transmitting and sharing the Nereus Program’s research outputs. This will include activities such as the preparation of reports, briefs, web content, and newsletters.

Skills

• In-depth knowledge of global and local marine issues, backed by publication track record;
• Solid understanding of cross-scale ocean-management policies, particularly regarding aspects of economics and social-ecological system context;
• Research interest focused on the role of sustainable human development, alternative livelihoods, and cross-scale policies on ocean sustainability;
• Experience in applying quantitative and qualitative analyses of marine ecosystems, fisheries, and bioeconomic dynamics;
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement interdisciplinary policy-oriented research projects, from start to finish;
• Ability to prepare, present and communicate high-quality research findings to a variety of audiences, from academic colleagues to high school students;
• Organizational planning skills, including an ability to organize and coordinate workshops and seminars;
• Proposal writing skills;
• Positive work attitude and ability to work on an international research team as well as independently.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a PhD degree in fisheries economics and marine policies or related fields;
• A minimum of 2 years work experience as a postdoctoral fellow or research associate;
• Work experience in economic and environmental policy applications, preferably including developing and developed regional contexts. Additional field experience in marine-related research, including fisheries, ecotourism, and management strategy, is a plus;
• Excellent written and spoken English. Working command of written and spoken Spanish would be beneficial.

This position is subject to final budgetary approval, and the salary will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. The appointment will be from September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017, with the possibility of extension.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to employment equity and diversity within its community. We especially welcome applications from visible minority group members, women, aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

We encourage all qualified persons to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. Please indicate your legal status to work in Canada.

Applications, consisting of a cover letter and CV, should be sent to [email protected] with the subject “Nereus Research Associate – Program Manager”. Applications are due July 31, 2016.