Senior Policy Researcher: Climate Change Mitigation in Forestry, Land Use 
and Agriculture Sectors 
Position: Senior Policy Researcher
Topic: Climate Change Mitigation Policy in Forestry, Land Use, and 
Agriculture Sectors
Salary range: Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience 
and qualifications.
Start date: Fall 2012
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Application deadline:  Until position is filled

Job description
The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) seeks a senior level researcher to 
build upon and expand SEI’s climate change mitigation research in the 
forestry, land use and agriculture sectors. 

SEI is an independent international research organization working on 
sustainable development issues at local, national, and global policy levels.  
One of seven centers that span four continents, SEI’s U.S. Center maintains 
offices in Somerville (MA), Davis (CA), and Seattle (WA).  This position 
will be located at the Seattle office, which focuses on climate change 
policy with a particular interest in the role of energy, land use, and 
consumption in mitigating global GHG emissions.  SEI’s Seattle staff works 
closely with government agencies, policy makers, and research organizations 
in the U.S. Pacific Northwest region as well as nationally and 
internationally.  They also regularly collaborate with colleagues at SEI’s 
centers throughout the world.

The Senior Policy Researcher will join SEI’s Seattle team and lead research 
activities that assess and advance the contribution of forestry, 
agriculture, and other land use to climate change mitigation.  Areas of 
focus will depend in part on the successful applicant’s particular strengths 
and are likely to include several of the following topics:  terrestrial 
carbon cycling, bioenergy and biocarbon potentials, life-cycle assessment, 
emissions accounting frameworks, AFOLU policies, REDD+, and carbon markets. 
Specific responsibilities include:
•       Plan, develop and implement innovative research projects addressing 
policies and actions to enhance biological carbon sequestration and reduce 
GHG emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use management.
•       Maintain and build relationships with existing funders and partners; 
find and secure new funding opportunities.
•       Manage, mentor, and collaborate with staff researchers, provide 
regular guidance and feedback to colleagues, and monitor the quality of the 
research process.
•       Explore joint research opportunities and collaborate with colleagues 
at other SEI centers.
•       Review and manage project outputs from the research team, including 
publications and other materials to ensure they meet the project objectives 
and SEI quality standards.
•       Present externally and raise the profile of SEI research.
Qualifications

The applicant should possess outstanding leadership, management, 
organizational, interpersonal, and networking abilities. She/he should have 
both a strong interdisciplinary inclination in research efforts and a strong 
commitment to protecting the natural environment and improving human well-
being.
The position requires:
•       An advanced degree and significant work experience, a Ph.D plus 4 
years of work experience or M.S. degree plus 8 years of work experience, and 
a publication record in related field such as forestry and agriculture 
mitigation, biocarbon policy, natural resource economics, bioenergy systems, 
land use or terrestrial carbon cycling. 
•       Substantial knowledge of and networks and contacts in one or more of 
the following policy arenas: REDD+, carbon markets, bioenergy LCA and 
related policies (e.g. LCFS), terrestrial carbon cycling, sustainability 
requirements for bioenergy, and integrated approaches to water, energy, 
food/feed/fiber, and land use.  
•       Solid, demonstrated experience applying quantitative analysis to 
policy applications and emissions accounting, including the use of modeling 
tools or interpretation of modeling results to develop estimates of carbon 
flux from land use and land use change.  
•       Demonstrated strong writing and presentation skills (for both 
technical and public audiences)
•       A strong record of research project design and management, securing 
external funding, and publications.
•       Good communications skills and ability and desire to work as a team 
player.
•       Proven success in work relations with a wide range of partners, 
including research institutes, governments, and other non-profit 
organizations.

How to apply
Please send your application and supporting documents to jobs.seattle@sei-
us.org. Please include the following:
•       Cover letter highlighting relevant qualifications and experience and 
how you envision your work at SEI.
•       Curriculum vitae, including major projects led, publications, and 
three professional references.  References will be contacted if you are 
short-listed.
•       Samples of (or links to) publications that you have written, 
including at least one addressing a policy audience and one intended for a 
more academic audience.

Position description on the SEI website: http://www.sei-
international.org/working-for-sei/senior-policy-researcher-climate-change-
mitigation-policy-in-forestry-land-use-and-agriculture

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