Human Settlements Group
Job Description
Job Title:
Responsible to:
Main contacts:
Senior Researcher
Head – Human Settlement Group
Internal: Human Settlements Group colleagues, researchers in other Groups, other IIED staff members across the Institute
External: partners, governments, donors and consultants working in similar areas, other actors in the environment and development arena, members of the public
Main purpose: To develop, manage and implement a research programme and policy outreach in a thematic area or areas that are central to the Goals of the Human Settlements Group, complementing and adding to the Group’s existing Objectives as set out in the
2009-2014 Strategy ; to contribute to shaping the Group’s future work on human settlements and sustainable development and to raising funds to implement it
Contract :
Salary:
Full time, permanent contract
£38,767 - £43,753 per annum, depending on experience, plus benefits (up to £48,207 for exceptional candidates)
Location: Gray’s Inn Road, Central London, UK
Background to the post
The International Institute for Environment and Development ( IIED ) is a policy research organisation that provides expertise and leadership in researching and achieving sustainable development at local, national, regional and global levels. In alliance with others, we are helping to tackle the biggest issues of our times - from climate change and cities to the pressures on natural resources and the forces shaping global markets.
The Human Settlements Group (HSG) works to reduce poverty and to improve the health and housing conditions in urban centres of Latin America, Asia and Africa. It aims to combine this with promoting good governance and more ecologically sustainable patterns of urban development and urban-rura l linkages. HSG’s activities span policy research, evaluation, policy and technical assistance, publications, seminars and training. These are undertaken in partnership with academic institutions and NGOs around the world.
The Group publishes the international journal Environment and Urbanization , books and several working papers . HSG staff members are encouraged to contribute
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chapters in edited volumes and journal articles. They also provide advice to United
Nations agencies, international NGOs and bilateral aid programmes on urban policy.
The Human Settlements Group current areas of work include:
1. Achieving socially and environmentally beneficial urbanization, with recognition of the environmental and social potential of urbanization by governments and others, and more actions taken to tap this potential.
2. Supporting the reduction of urban poverty and inequality through understanding their causes, and learning about the most effective interventions. This work includes persuading governments and international agencies to give higher priority to poverty reduction in urban areas through, among other things, engagement with and support for collective action and organizations and federations of the urban poor.
3. Providing a better basis for designing and implementing urban climate-change adaptation programmes that build resilience to current and future impacts of climate change, are pro-poor, and complement local development.
4. Promoting sustainable socio-economic, environmental, political and cultural links between rural and urban people, activities and settlements by identifying and supporting policies and institutions that help create positive synergies.
The Group is composed of the following members of staff:

Diane Archer
– Researcher

Jane Bicknell – Editor, Environment and Urbanization

Hannah Bywaters – Senior Coordinator

David Dodman – Senior Researcher and Team Leader, Cities and climate change

Gordon McGranahan – Principal Researcher and Team Leader, Urbanisation and urban growth

Diana Mitlin - Principal Researcher (Co-Group Head) (part-time with the
University of Manchester)

Martin Mulenga – Senior Researcher

Stephanie Ray – Senior Coordinator

David Satterthwaite - Senior Fellow / Editor Environment and Urbanization and
Team Leader, Urban poverty

Cecilia Tacoli – Senior Researcher (Co-Group Head) and Team Leader, Ruralurban linkages
This is a newly created role to strengthen the research and leadership capacity of the
Group and to expand its current work. We are particularly interested in strengthening our research on urban poverty and how this intersects with the urban environment and urbanization, and are open to a range of interpretations or approaches to understanding this. The postholder will also be expected to actively contribute to developing the Group’s future orientations of work within the new IIED’s institutional strategy after 2014, which is currently starting to be developed. He or she will be expected to play an active role in managing the Group’s overall work programme and in raising funds for it, and in contributing to IIED-wide strategic debates and internal policies development.
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Key responsibilities
1) Undertake, plan and lead the implementation of research and associated activities that contribute to the overall strategy of IIED and of the Human Settlements
Group.
2) Manage and contribute to research, dissemination and advocacy work and publish findings in collaboration with partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia and with colleagues in IIED.
3) Contribute to the strategic orientations of the Group’s work and its overall management.
4) Direct and contribute to broader publication processes through which research findings are converted into a variety of communication outputs - including peerreviewed journal articles, IIED synthesis reports, workshop reports, newsletters, policy briefing notes, web articles, radio or film transcripts etc.
5) Contribute to the preparation of other HSG concept notes, funding proposals and grant applications under the overall coordination of the Group Head.
6) Fully fund their own area of activities to include their own costs, a contribution to
Group administration and finance, and the collaboration of southern researchers and others, as required.
7) Organise, or assist in organising, and participate in seminars and workshops on issues of policy and practice, project development, dissemination of research findings and capacity strengthening.
8) Liaise with government, academia/research institutions, private agencies and
NGOs on human settlements and urban development issues and help HSG develop appropriate responses. This will include responding to enquiries from the media and general public.
9) Contribute to the preparation and management of annual work plans and budgets and report to donors in connection with all of the above.
10) Actively participate in activities within the Institute.
This job description defines the level of responsibility and areas of involvement of the post, the details of the duties may change over time and do not form part of the contract between IIED and the postholder.
Person specification
Essential skills and experience

Postgraduate qualification in relevant social sciences disciplines

Extensive research experience in urban issues, including their environmental dimensions, demonstrated by a relevant publications record

Awareness of international policy frameworks and development aid policies concerning urban poverty and the links with sustainable development

Demonstrated leadership experience in both designing and implementing research projects including the development of research methodologies, project management, people management and budget management

Relevant work experience in countries of Asia, Latin America or Africa

Fluency in English and strong communication skills to convey complex messages in a clear, concise and effective manner, both orally and in writing
(including the ability to edit and develop written work prepared by others; and experience of writing and editing for technical and less technical audiences)

A track record of sustained fundraising as evidenced by successful research/project proposals with applications to a variety of funding agencies
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
Experience with managing teams and coaching or mentoring individuals

Experience with consultancy and/or the provision of policy advice

Very good interpersonal, networking and negotiation skills developed through interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures

Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of different teams, both within IIED and in international multi-disciplinary multi-partner settings

Ability to manage own workload, thinking ahead over a period of months to anticipate issues and opportunities and delivering to tight deadlines

Advanced knowledge of business software (word processing, spread sheets, presentation software, databases and communications)

Willingness and ability to travel as appropriate to project commitments
Desirable

PhD in a relevant discipline

Working knowledge of French or Spanish, and/or other widely spoken languages in Africa, Asia or Latin America

Access to an extensive international network; experience of creating, developing and/or working within consortia, networks, alliances, partnerships and international teams
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