Researcher: Legal and Policy Analyst

Nov 25, 2018 | Conflict and Environment Observatory
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A small but growing charity, CEO was established to document and raise awareness of the environmental dimensions of armed conflicts and their impact on people and ecosystems. Data collected is also used to contribute to the development of national and international policies aimed at reducing environmental harm before, during and after armed conflicts.

Position overview

Since 2009, renewed international attention on the state of legal protection for the environment in relation to armed conflicts has triggered a number of legal and political processes; including the topic’s adoption by the International Law Commission. Among the many themes currently under discussion is the interplay between international humanitarian, environmental and human rights law.

We are currently seeking a full time researcher to undertake legal and policy analysis in order to document and make sense of these developments, their impact on the practice of state and non-state actors, and to help the public and policy-makers understand how they could potentially help to minimise environmental and civilian harm from armed conflicts.

We are looking for an individual with a good knowledge of international humanitarian, environmental and human rights law, and strong analytical skills. You will be capable of working independently and as part of a small team and able to develop collaborative partnerships with academia, NGOs and international organisations. You will be comfortable communicating often complex information to the public, policy- makers and governments, and in both written and verbal form. An interest and understanding of international relations and environmental issues will be important and the role will require some overseas travel.

The post

Reporting to the Research and Policy Director, you will closely follow international legal and political processes on conflict and the environment and use their outcomes, and other sources of research, to develop and maintain an open access online database of state practice and policies. Subject to funding, you will also work closely with a UK university on this process, eventually producing and disseminating annual reports. Along the way you will be expected to write engaging blogs and other outputs exploring the legal framework and debates, and also produce briefing papers for governments and other stakeholders as a contribution to international processes on the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts.

The full time contract is initially for one year with annual extensions of up to three years dependent on funding. The post is based close to Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, which offers direct access to beautiful countryside and a vibrant and progressive cultural life, or is 45 minutes by train from Leeds and Manchester. Interviews will take place at the end of January 2019.

 

Responsibilities

  • Monitoring and analysis of international legal and political processes on conflict and the environment.
  • The design, development and management of an online database of state practice and national policy positions.
  • The production of blogs, briefing papers and reports.
  • The development and maintenance of effective partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders
  • Representing CEOBS and presenting your research at domestic and international events.

Essential requirements

  • A post-graduate law degree with academic or work experience in either international humanitarian law, environmental law or human rights law. Ideally at least two of the three fields.
  • Outstanding analytical and research skills, and experience in managing and presenting information.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Including the ability to communicate complex topics clearly, accurately and succinctly.
  • Experience in producing research outputs in a range of written formats.
  • The ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a small team.

Desirable requirements

  • Knowledge of the environmental drivers and consequences of crises and armed conflicts.
  • Working familiarity with one or more languages including Arabic, French, Russian or Spanish.
  • Interest in international relations and affairs.
  • Experience in contributing to the design of websites.
  • Comfortable using Wordpress.

To apply

Send a CV and covering letter in Word or PDF format, with your name as the filename for both documents to: contact@ceobs.org. We expect your covering letter to clearly outline your suitability for the role, and directly address the requirements of the person specification above. We are particularly interested in understanding how your past experiences and skills could transfer to this unique and challenging role.