Senior Research Associate and/or Research Associate

CIP; Montpellier; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A research organization is seeking a Senior Research Associate in Montpellier to contribute to interdisciplinary projects aimed at fostering Indigenous governance. Candidates must have a master's degree and significant experience in applied research, focusing on qualitative methods. The role involves coordinating with local stakeholders and working primarily on biodiversity and conservation topics. Competitive compensation is offered, along with opportunities for professional development.

Prestations

Opportunity to work with leading researchers

Generous compensation package

Opportunities to attend summer schools and conferences

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in applied research for development or conservation.
• Experience with qualitative methods like interviews and focus groups.
• Proven ability to analyze both qualitative and quantitative data.

Responsabilités

• Implement research activities in close coordination with the project leads.
• Supervise fieldwork and data collection.
• Support the conceptualization of research projects.

Connaissances

Applied research

Qualitative methods

Tropical landscapes knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Scientific writing

Communication in Spanish

Communication in English

Formation

Master's degree in social/anthropological sciences

Description du poste

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Senior Research Associate and/or Research Associate, Montpellier

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Client:

CIP

Location:

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

e30f3e839085

Job Views:

10

Posted:

12.08.2025

Expiry Date:

26.09.2025

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Job Description:

The International Potato Center (CIP) is searching for an outstanding and experienced candidate as a Senior Research Associate and/or Research Associate to contribute to different interdisciplinary research projects (ID) carried out by our hosted organization, the Wyss Academy for Nature.

The Wyss Academy for Nature (WA) at the University of Bern aims to achieve a just and sustainable world where nature conservation and human wellbeing reinforce each other. It is a hub of innovation, bringing together research, business, policymakers, practitioners, and communities to co-design solutions for sustainable futures. The goal is to develop and implement innovative solutions to address climate change, biodiversity loss, land use change, and rising inequality by connecting technical, social, economic, institutional, and policy innovations at the interface of nature and people. The WA has four regional hubs located in Europe (Switzerland), South America (Peru), East Africa (Kenya), and Southeast Asia (Laos).

About the role:

The successful candidate will contribute to various interdisciplinary research projects (ID) implemented by the Wyss Academy for Nature staff and partners. This role will primarily focus on the Indigenous Governance ID Project, which investigates the potential of Indigenous People and local communities-led governance schemes to promote just conservation. Based on in-depth transdisciplinary case studies from the Peruvian Amazon, the study aims to identify leverage points that can inform the design of similar governance schemes in other forest frontier contexts, such as Madagascar and Laos. This position is based in Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru.

Key responsibilities:

• Implement research activities in close coordination with the MDD scientist, Wyss Academy professors, and ID project leads.
• Supervise and support research activities, including fieldwork, data collection and analysis, literature review, secondary data collection, household interviews, and surveys.
• Support conceptualization of research projects, data analysis, dissemination of results (conferences, publications, workshops), and preparation of outputs.
• Coordinate engagement processes with local stakeholders, especially indigenous organizations, including workshops, learning events, and mentorship of indigenous researchers.
• Prepare internal documents with preliminary results for discussion with the Hub and research teams.
• Participate actively in generating scientific, academic, and outreach products such as articles, summaries, and policy briefs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable health and safety policies at CIP.

Requirements:

What are we looking for?

• Master's degree in social/anthropological sciences or related fields.
• At least 6 years of experience in applied research for development or conservation.
• Experience with qualitative methods such as interviews and focus groups.
• Proven ability to use mixed data collection methods and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Experience and knowledge of tropical landscapes and working with indigenous peoples.
• Desired experience with participatory methods and stakeholder engagement, including workshops and indigenous organizations.
• Skills in scientific writing are preferred.
• Excellent communication skills in Spanish and English (advanced level).

What we offer:

• Opportunity to work with leading researchers at the University of Bern.
• Contribute to state-of-the-art research projects.
• Opportunities to attend summer schools, conferences, and visit the University of Bern.
• Generous compensation package.
• One-year contract with the possibility of renewal.