Senior Researcher, Western Australia

Environmental jobs network; Perth; On-site; AUD 114,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

A climate advocacy organisation is seeking a Senior Researcher to lead the research program for Solutions for Climate WA. This dynamic role involves developing evidence-based publications and managing budgets. Ideal candidates will have at least 5 years of research experience, strong communication skills, and an understanding of climate science and policy opportunities. The position offers flexibility and generous leave entitlements.

Benefits

Flexible workplace

Five weeks annual leave

Cultural and religious leave

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a researcher or in related policy fields.
• Experience working at a senior level, requiring a high degree of independence.
• Understanding of WA's political environment and climate science.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the research program for Solutions for Climate WA.
• Ensure the production of high-quality, evidence-based publications.
• Manage spending and develop budgets.

Skills

Research analysis

Communication skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Role

The Senior Researcher is a new position, which leads the development of the research program of work for Solutions for Climate WA. Working with a high degree of autonomy, the role ensures the sourcing, synthesis, and presentation of high quality, evidence-based, and accessible information in a variety of formats to demonstrate the pathways for accelerating Western Australia’s climate solutions, including its clean energy transition. You will be part of a high-energy, innovative advocacy team that seeks to help position Western Australia as a leader in climate solutions. You are also an excellent written and verbal communicator whose work will underpin the team’s high-level advocacy, convening, and strategic partnerships. This is a dynamic and key role in a team of peers, which will take on significant responsibility for shaping the activities and success of this key part of Solutions’ work.

About Us

Solutions for Climate WA is a new, public interest climate advocacy project based in WA. We are a project of the Climate Action Network Australia, a network of over 170 Australian climate advocacy organisations. We are committed to accelerating Western Australia’s transition to a clean, resilient, and prosperous net-zero economy aligned with global climate goals. We advocate for practical solutions that position WA as a global leader in climate solutions.

Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) supports the Australian climate movement to collaborate for greater impact to protect people at home and abroad from climate damage, to safeguard our natural environment, and to build a fair, clean, healthy Australia for everyone. CANA operates nationally and facilitates strategic thinking and campaign collaboration between its member organisations.

• Hours: Full-time, Monday-Friday.
• Remuneration: between $114,087 - $125,525 per annum plus superannuation, dependent on experience.
• Location: The greater Perth area. Solutions WA works from a serviced office in West Perth.
• Reports to: the Solutions WA Director, Jess Panegyres.
• Contract period: ongoing, subject to funding availability.

Responsibilities

Working with a high degree of independence with only broad direction from management:

• Design, implement, and maintain a Research Plan that serves our Western Australian Strategy.
• Develop a budget and manage spending to budget.
• Commission expert research as needed.
• Recruit, develop, and supervise a small number of staff, contractors, and volunteers as needed.
• Negotiate contracts and develop deliverables on behalf of the organisation as required.
• Ensure the production of high-quality, accurate, evidence-based publications, submissions, and briefs on climate solutions (e.g., energy, transport, industry, decarbonisation of the economy).
• Ensure the production of research briefs and reports to a publishable standard. Synthesise complex information into accessible, credible formats for use in publications, through to materials supporting the production of media and digital content.
• Brief team members and allies both verbally and in writing as needed.
• Collaborate with others in the Solutions for Climate WA and Federal teams, and external experts and partners.
• As a senior leader in the team, contribute to the development and maintenance of a healthy and safe organisational culture.
• As this is a role which includes working with community-based/volunteer organisations, some out-of-office hours work may be required (evenings and/or weekends). TOIL applies as per the CANA policy.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum 5 years of experience working as a researcher and/or in related policy fields.
• Ability to undertake analysis of large amounts of often detailed and/or technical information in order to distill the information necessary for a specific purpose.
• Presentation of research in a variety of formats, tailored to different needs and audiences, including reports, fact sheets, briefings, web articles, checking social media content, and presentations.
• A general understanding of climate science and the economic, social, and environmental impacts and policy opportunities to tackle human-induced climate change.
• An understanding of and interest in the role of credible, well-communicated information in achieving change at scale.
• Experience with and comfortable taking a leadership role when needed, and actively fostering leadership in others.
• Experience working at a senior level, which requires a high degree of independence.
• Willingness to work for an advocacy organisation that seeks to make change.
• Ability to collaborate well in a professional setting.
• Excellent time management, professional initiative, prioritisation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and tasks at once in a self-directed manner.
• A general understanding of (a) WA’s political environment and how governments operate, and (b) climate science and the economic, social, and environmental impacts and policy opportunities to tackle human-induced climate change.
• Experience working at a senior level, which requires a high degree of independence.
• Strong outreach and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate well in a professional setting.Excellent time management, initiative, prioritisation, and communication skills.
• Understanding of the importance of respect in the workplace.
• A Class C driver's license.

What We Offer

CANA is a flexible and family-friendly workplace. We hire talented people and support them to play a vital part in ambitious climate action.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people living with a disability, LGBTIQ+ people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to apply for roles. We are committed to operating in a way that upholds justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI).

We offer:

• A flexible workplace with work from home and office options and flexible working hours, including flexible public holidays;
• Five weeks' annual leave plus office shutdown between Christmas and New Year;
• An additional 10 days of carers' leave to support working parents and carers;
• Generous leave to support your life outside of work, including reproductive health leave, gender affirmation leave, and moving house leave;
• Cultural and religious leave.

CANA acknowledges we work on unceded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. We pay our deep respects to Elders past and present.