Researcher / Senior Researcher / Associate Professor: Biodiversity And The Economy

Duties/Pligte

Providing conceptual, strategic, and visionary leadership for CST under the theme of linkages between biodiversity, ecosystem services and the economy.
Leading the new AFD project, including:

Collaborating with CST researchers to conceptualise the project approach (especially in considering linkages between spatial biodiversity indicators, ecosystem services and segments of society and the economy);
In-house AFD's existing work on nature related risks (engaging with AFD researchers to understand their process and outputs and to interface with their existing stakeholders);
Identifying key stakeholders in South Africa's environmental and finance authorities and developing and maintaining relationships;
Conceptualising, organising and facilitating a series of workshops with key stakeholders to co-produce trajectories of change for the country;
Coordinating the translation of these trajectories into biodiversity, ecosystem service and socio-economic measures (working with CST and AFD researchers that have expertise in aspects of this process, and identifying, recruiting and managing a postdoc or consultant to fill skills gaps if required);
Managing project timelines and budgets;
Ensuring that all deliverables are met, including progress and final reports, participatory workshops, at least one academic paper, as well as a policy paper and brief;
Leading the writing of a project proposal to up-scale the pilot project, collaborating with CST and AFD researchers and other partners.

Publishing research under the theme of biodiversity-economy connections in recognised peer-reviewed journals.
Contributing to CST institutional functions, including guest lectures as part of the teaching programme, and participating in CST seminars, events, and staff meetings.
Supervising postgraduate students related to biodiversity, ecosystem services and the economy.
Collaborating with Stellenbosch University colleagues from other departments (e.g. the African Wildlife Economy Institute) to strengthen multi-disciplinary research and overall institutional outputs.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes
Minimum Requirements: Researcher:

PhD in a relevant field (e.g. geography, ecology, resource economics, sustainability science).
Specialist knowledge of the connections between biodiversity (including drivers of biodiversity change) and ecosystem services.
An ability to conceptualise how this knowledge applies spatially across national scales (e.g. linked to changes in land use).
Experience or at least strong interest in conceptualising how ecosystem services connect to socio-economic measures.
Experience in conceptualising and facilitating workshops with diverse stakeholders.
Knowledge of participatory scenario / futuring methods.
Experience in developing and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Demonstrable quantitative skills (e.g. the ability to extract, synthesise and interpret quantitative data).
A publication record in areas such as sustainability science, social-ecological systems, conservation, biodiversity, natural resource economics.
Experience in compiling fund-raising proposals.
Experience in report writing.
Experience and a desire to work in participatory interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary environments.
Willingness to secure ongoing funding to support their position, as well as those of more junior researchers at CST.
At least one peer-reviewed publication.

Minimum Requirements: Senior Researcher:

PhD in a relevant field (e.g. geography, ecology, resource economics, sustainability science).
Specialist knowledge of the connections between biodiversity (including drivers of biodiversity change) and ecosystem services.
An ability to conceptualise how this knowledge applies spatially across national scales (e.g. linked to changes in land use).
Experience or at least strong interest in conceptualising how ecosystem services connect to socio-economic measures.
Experience in conceptualising and facilitating workshops with diverse stakeholders.
Knowledge of participatory scenario / futuring methods.
Experience in developing and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Demonstrable quantitative skills (e.g. the ability to extract, synthesise and interpret quantitative data).
A publication record in areas such as sustainability science, social-ecological systems, conservation, biodiversity, natural resource economics.
Experience in compiling fund-raising proposals.
Experience in report writing.
Experience and a desire to work in participatory interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary environments.
Willingness to secure ongoing funding to support your position as well as those of more junior researchers at CST.
At least ten peer-reviewed publications with some as first/only author.
PI (or Co-PI) on one or more grants (small or large), or de facto PI (i.e. assistant to a PI) on a large grant.
At least one master's student graduated, and one or more PhDs enrolled.
Some teaching experience, e.g. (co-)convenor of a course, course moderator, and/or delivery of lectures on one or more modules.
Evidence of institutional leadership and service activities (both internal and external), e.g. thesis examination, course moderation, journal reviewer, service on institutional committees.
Experience in running stakeholder workshops or policy engagement processes.
National recognition e.g. NRF rating or serving on national scientific boards.

Minimum Requirements: Associate Professor:

PhD in a relevant field (e.g. geography, ecology, resource economics, sustainability science).
Specialist knowledge of the connections between biodiversity (including drivers of biodiversity change) and ecosystem services.
An ability to conceptualise how this knowledge applies spatially across national scales (e.g. linked to changes in land use).
Experience or at least strong interest in conceptualising how ecosystem services connect to socio-economic measures.
Experience in conceptualising and facilitating workshops with diverse stakeholders.
Knowledge of participatory scenario / futuring methods.
Experience in developing and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Demonstrable quantitative skills (e.g. the ability to extract, synthesise and interpret quantitative data).
A publication record in areas such as sustainability science, social-ecological systems, conservation, biodiversity, natural resource economics.
Experience in compiling fund-raising proposals.
Experience in report writing.
Experience and a desire to work in participatory interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary environments.
Willingness to secure ongoing funding to support your position as well as those of more junior researchers at CST.
At least twenty peer-reviewed publications with some as first/only author.
PI on a large research grant involving multiple team members, or on multiple smaller grants, plus co-PI or collaborator on raising other grants.
Multiple masters and one or more PhDs supervised to completion.
Leadership experience in teaching and training, e.g. programme leadership, course evaluation, as well as delivery of lectures at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Substantial institutional leadership and service activities (both internal and external), e.g. serving on University committees, institutional leadership roles, editorial boards of journals, lead roles in conference organisation.
Substantial experience in running stakeholder workshops or policy engagement processes, including media contributions and policy work.
National and international recognition e.g. NRF rating secured, serving on national or international scientific advisory boards.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling
Recommendations: Researcher:

Experience in quantifying links between land use and/or other human activities, biodiversity, ecosystem services, human well-being and/or economies.
Advanced GIS skills, particularly regarding land use and biodiversity mapping.
Coding skills (e.g. Python or R).
Knowledge of macro-economics and/or finance.
Familiarity with the South African context.
A track record of being involved in projects/research that seeks to advance actionable research, especially in relation to supporting sustainability transitions.
Evidence of institutional leadership and service activities (both internal and external).
PI, Co-PI or collaboration with a PI to submit funding proposals to raise research funding.
Some teaching experience, e.g. teaching assistance, course coordination support.
Experience in running stakeholder workshops or policy engagement processes.

Recommendations: Senior Researcher:

Experience in quantifying links between land use and/or other human activities, biodiversity, ecosystem services, human well-being and/or economies.
Advanced GIS skills, particularly regarding land use and biodiversity mapping.
Coding skills (e.g. Python or R).
Knowledge of macro-economics and/or finance.
Familiarity with the South African context.
A track record of being involved in projects/research that seeks to advance actionable research, especially in relation to supporting sustainability transitions.

Recommendations: Associate Professor:

Experience in quantifying links between land use and/or other human activities, biodiversity, ecosystem services, human well-being and/or economies.
Advanced GIS skills, particularly regarding land use and biodiversity mapping.
Coding skills (e.g. Python or R).
Knowledge of macro-economics and/or finance.
Familiarity with the South African context.
A track record of being involved in projects/research that seeks to advance actionable research, especially in relation to supporting sustainability transitions.


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