Research Associate, The Climate Policy Lab (Haiti and Puerto Rico)

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

Applications are invited from candidates with a Master’s or higher degree who also have experience conducting academic fieldwork and/or professional experience related to the research topics described below, and demonstrated fluency in French. Spanish proficiency is a plus but not required. Candidates should have excellent skills in presenting complex material to a wide range of audiences. Experience living and working in developing country contexts is also highly desirable. Applications from political scientists, business experts, lawyers, economists, those in the natural sciences, and others of diverse disciplinary backgrounds are welcome.

Qualifications

• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experienced in working with multicultural and multidisciplinary research teams.
• Have initiative and capacity to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Value the sharing of information and continuous improvement in a cooperative atmosphere of constructive evaluation and learning.
• Master’s or higher degree
• Fluency in French

Position Description

CPL is seeking a research associate with a focus on climate policy investments.  The ideal candidate will have experience in research on climate policy design and implementation, international climate finance, an interest in synergies between mitigation and adaptation policy, and a demonstrated ability to synthesize research results into actionable policy recommendations.  Familiarity with the Green Climate Fund and modes of access to climate finance is highly desirable.

The person will contribute to grant-funded projects in Haiti on climate investments and in Puerto Rico on climate policy, is expected to be conducting fieldwork in-country for extended periods, and will work closely with government officials and other policy stakeholders.  In addition, the research associate will contribute to academic publications, including the completion of at least one journal article together with the Director of the CPL, Professor Kelly Sims Gallagher and the faculty lead on adaptation and resilience, Professor Laura Kuhl. The role also requires substantive engagement in both formal and informal processes of disseminating findings such as presenting before internal and external audiences, and authoring op-eds and blog posts. In addition, the research associate will assist with project development including grant writing and/or prospect research/meetings.  The research associate will work on other projects related to adaptation/mitigation/development synergies as time permits.

The research associate will be based in Boston with extensive periods of travel to Haiti and some travel to Puerto Rico.  She/he will work collaboratively with the CPL Director, Professor Kelly Sims Gallagher, as well as other members of the CPL research team, including faculty, research fellows and student research assistants.

This is a 12-month position starting immediately, with the possibility of renewal subject to performance and continuation of funding.

The mentoring, research program, and training will be under the direction of Professor Kelly Sims Gallagher, Director of the Climate Policy Lab.

The Climate Policy Lab & CIERP

The Climate Policy Lab is an initiative of the Center for International Environment and Resource Policy at The Fletcher School, Tufts University.

Established in 1992 to meet the growing need for international environmental leaders, CIERP’s mission is to build sustainable prosperity in a changing global environment through rigorous, interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research and training of the next generation of leaders. CIERP’s work includes scholarly research for the international academic community; policy research that evaluates current programs or proposes new approaches; and applied policy development in collaboration with government agencies, the private sector, and international NGOs.

The main questions the Lab seeks to answer are: Which climate policies work in practice? Which don’t work?  Why? Under what conditions would they work elsewhere?  The scope of the Lab is global, with a particular emphasis on international comparative analysis. In-residence faculty and research fellows work with a global network of scholars, governmental policymakers, and multilateral organizations on projects, which are attuned to state, national, and bi-lateral policy processes, responsive to policy needs, and academically rigorous. The Lab’s products include accessible publications, scholarly journal papers, policy briefings, workshops, and trainings, all of which are designed to facilitate two-way communication between scholars and practitioners.

The Fletcher School

Since 1933, The Fletcher School has prepared the world’s leaders to become innovative problem-solvers in government, business, and non-governmental organizations with strategic cross-sector networks. Through our ongoing commitment and rigorous approach to advancing world knowledge through research and scholarship, we continue to inform and build bridges to meaningful global solutions. We seek to build partnerships between nations, government agencies and the public/private sector in order to be ready to shape international issues and events. The twenty-first century is being shaped by new realities worldwide, and global interdependence has become the accepted norm. From the reconstruction of post-conflict societies and the creation of markets in emerging economies to the analysis of terrorist threats and the promotion of human rights, today’s issues transcend borders and disciplines. Common to all these challenges are the myriad connections between history, politics and culture that we must understand to respond effectively to them.

Application should include:

1. Cover letter (maximum 2 pages);
2. Statement of research experience and interests;
3. CV including a list of publications;
4. Names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers for three people who can provide recommendations (or reference letters from these individuals, if available).