September 4th, 2024
Recruitment
Senior Researcher/ Researcher【Part-Time Employee】, SATOCONN, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN)
（Application Deadline: 23 September 2024 by 17:00 Japan time)
| Employer / Division | Senior Researcher/ Researcher【Part-Time Employee】, SATOCONN, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) |
|---|---|
| Recruitment (persons) | 1 part-time (more than 20 hours per week, negotiable) position for Senior Researcher/ Researcher |
| Work location | Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (Address: 457-4 Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 603-8047 Japan) |
| Job Description | Project description SATOCONN stands for ‘Satoyama Reconnections: Engaging Communities in Resilient, Nature- and Climate-positive Land Use Futures’. In many developed economies, fragmentation of the goals and drivers for land use linked to the pursuit of commodity production and higher financial returns has fractured and weakened former longstanding interdependencies between people and nature, contributing to significant environmental and social damage. Satoyama, as promoted by the IPSI partnership, highlights the importance of recognising and working with longstanding cultures and knowledge of land management and people-nature interdependence in rural communities, in order to repair such damage, to sustain biodiversity and better address the climate emergency. This project aims to identify, understand and promote options for enhanced land-use governance, ownership and stewardship of cultural landscapes, now and into the future. SATOCONN brings together a team of Japanese and European researchers in natural and social sciences, humanities and creative arts, to conduct action-oriented, transdisciplinary research. Our four-year research project involves integrated analysis and engagement to characterize and revitalise Satoyama landscapes in Europe and Japan. It aims to achieve a deep understanding of their challenges and opportunities for strengthened (re)connection between people and nature, to enable appropriate and resilient responses to the global climate and biodiversity crises. It will establish a Living Labs framework to engage research, practice and policy actors in planning and undertaking action for positive change, in six case study locations in Japan and Europe. The ‘living lab’ promotes experimentation and real-world change alongside active research and public engagement via a four-stage process of assessment and visioning; experimenting; learning lessons; and promoting transferable practice; centred around the animation and facilitation of place-based examples of challenge and change. We will create and exploit living labs to benefit local communities and inform global, national and regional policies. Our plan is to combine indigenous and expert knowledge in new ways to strengthen Satoyama concepts and contemporary practice, to revitalize and sustain cultural landscapes, making a positive contribution to more resilient rural futures. Our aim is to help society to recognize the value of a continued and strengthened Satoyama ethic, in future land use governance and action. Job description The Senior Researcher/Researcher will work in a small team based at RIHN in Kyoto, supporting the PL in project management and coordination duties. They will be involved in the development of new methodologies, support of field research assistants, data management and analysis across case study areas, and contribute to training for field staff based in each participating country (UK, France, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Japan). The researcher/senior researcher will engage in the following tasks: (1) Support the project leader in the co-development and co-ordination of comparative analysis of 6 living labs in Europe and Japan that are working to find resilient routes to Satoyama reconnection, addressing the challenges of climate change and biodiversity decline (2) contribute to the development of the Satoyama Integrated Landscape Assessment method. A Senior Researcher will take a lead role in enabling adaptation and testing of the ‘agriculture comparee’ agrarian diagnosis method for use in a Japanese Satoyama context of multi-sectoral land use. A Researcher will support the PL and project members in Kyoto and Niigata Universities, to achieve this task. (3) Contribute to the development and implementation of a strategy for project impact at prefecture / regional and national levels within Japan, seeking targeted influence on relevant land use and rural policies (e.g. agriculture, environment, spatial planning, rural development, renewable energy). A Senior Researcher will initiate this strategy; a Researcher will support other project members to initiate it. (4) Manage/oversee on a day-to-day basis the work of the RIHN-based SATOCONN research team in close liaison with the Project leader, supporting the Research Associate and the clerical assistant in delivering effective communications and administration for the project, throughout its lifetime (5) Monitor and support the full project team to deliver a range of international peer-reviewed publications from SATOCONN. The Senior Researcher will lead at least two co-authored papers and co-author two more, the Researcher will co-author at least 3 papers. (6) Other works related to the above, as directed by the Project Leader (PL), Professor Janet Dwyer In joining the project team, the post-holder will have opportunities to develop and strengthen their research profile, to engage in impactful and interdisciplinary studies, to extend their research networks nationally and internationally and to gain valuable experience in working closely with a range of stakeholders and collaborators. |
| Qualifications | The post requires a good knowledge of challenges and opportunities for Satoyama, proven research skills and experience in relevant quantitative and qualitative research methods, familiarity with modern communication and dissemination methods and tools including social media, and demonstrable capability in project management. Experience in policy and practitioner networking and influencing is also highly desirable. Applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of the following: 1) A higher degree (PhD or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline e.g. ecology, rural economics/sociology, political science, landscape planning and management. 2) Analytical experience and skills in one or more of these domains: ecological assessment, social/human capital mapping, systems analysis, economic assessment, policy and governance evaluation 3) Experience of working in transdisciplinary or multi-actor projects or initiatives 4) Ability to communicate fluently and accurately in English and Japanese orally and in writing. The Senior Researcher should have experience in public speaking / conference presentation. 5) Skills in application software such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Adobe. Experience in communicating online via e-mail and in meetings by Teams/Zoom. GIS skills would be an advantage. 6) Proven ability to work independently and remotely (the PL will be based both at RIHN and the University of Gloucestershire, UK, dividing time between both locations during the year). 7) Senior Researcher: Ability to conduct original research in collaboration with other project members, minimum of 5 years of experience in applied research and project management. Researcher: Ability to conduct original research in collaboration with other project members. |
| Terms of Employment | Fixed term contract, renewable annually for up to 5 years until March 31st, 2029 |
| Working Hours | Part-Time Employee: More than 20 hours per week, negotiable. (Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays and End of the Year Period off). |
| Salary and insurances | Hourly wage 1,600 JPY (researcher position) or 1,900 JPY (senior researcher position), plus commuting allowance. The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Health Insurance and the Employees' Pension Insurance, and the Employment Insurance in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Only travel costs (flight, per diem and accommodation) will be provided for the relocation of international researchers to Kyoto. |
| Application Materials | To apply, please submit the following documents in English: 1) Curriculum vitae EXCEL PDF 2) cover letter explaining your interest, motivation and expertise for the position (2 pages maximum) 3) list of publications, and copies of what you consider as your three most important papers/ publications with a brief explanation of their relevance to this position 4) the names of two referees and their contact information. *The submitted documents will be used only for the purpose of employment screening. The submitted documents will not be disclosed, transferred, or loaned to any third party without a valid reason. *Residents of the European Economic Area (EEA) are required to submit the "Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR" with your signature. |
| Application Deadline | 23 September 2024 by 17:00 Japan time |
| Selection Process | A shortlist will be made by a selection committee on the basis of how well the application demonstrates that the candidate meets the requirements set out here. Candidates on the shortlist will be invited for online interview in September or early October 2024. |
| Address for application submission | E-mail your Application Materials to: Prof. Janet Dwyer, project leader, SATOCONN E-mail：jdwyer[at]chikyu.ac.jp (Please convert [at] to @) |
| Others | *The applicant who has excellent research achievements and is judged to play an important role in the project may be hired as a senior project researcher. RIHN guarantees equal opportunities to all individuals regardless of nationalities and gender orientations. RIHN promotes gender equality. We look forward to receiving a number of applications from female candidates. RIHN seeks to prevent passive smoking by prohibiting smoking in all our facilities except in designated areas. |