Job Title: | Junior Science Officer [Download job opening] |
Office: | Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR)
International Programme Office (IPO) c/o Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) |
Location: | No. 9 Dengzhuang Nanlu, Haidian District, Beijing 100094, China |
Duration: | two years initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability |
Application deadline: | 5 January 2015, no later than midnight China Standard Time (CST) [Sunday, 4 January 2015, 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)] |
Over recent decades, our knowledge and understanding of natural hazards has grown greatly. Scientists can more accurately characterise the possible magnitude of hazard events and can better estimate the probability of their occurrence at specific magnitudes, especially for weather-related events. Far more is now known about the socio-economic dimensions of disasters, for instance human exposure and vulnerability (lack of resilience) to natural hazards and locations where poverty and multiple stresses influence the incidence of losses.
Yet, despite this growth in knowledge, losses associated with environmental hazards have also risen rapidly. IRDR seeks to address this dilemma and to improve the ways in which science is used to shape social and political decision-making in the context of hazards and disasters. The challenges are such that potentially successful approaches need to integrate expertise in research and policy-making and experiences across all hazards, scientific disciplines, geographic regions, societal sectors and political institutional frameworks.
IRDR is co-sponsored by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the International Social Science Council (ISSC), and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). It is a decade-long global, trans-disciplinary and cross-sectoral research programme that addresses major challenges of natural and human-induced environmental hazards and helps to curb disaster losses through better use of relevant science. Through its four core projects, led by world-class experts, IRDR therefore intends to provide a baseline of the current state of the science on integrated research on disaster risk (AIRDR: Assessment of Integrated Research on Disaster Risk); examine issues such as the underlying and root causes of disasters (FORIN: Forensic Investigations of Disasters); seeks to improve disaster loss databases (DATA); and investigates Risk Interpretation and Action (RIA), encompassing also areas of inquiry and practice such as policy-making, the role of communications, and public and political perceptions of and responses to risk.
The IRDR programme is also establishing International Centres of Excellence (ICoEs) worldwide and is working through dedicated National and Regional Committees (NCs and RCs) as mechanisms to mainstream an integrated approach to disaster risk reduction research and practice efforts at national and regional levels, and on an institutional basis, thereby further developing links with capacity-building activities.
Organisational Setting and Reporting Relationships: Formally established in May 2010, the International Programme Office, located in Beijing, China, is the focal point for the coordination, execution and other related functions of the IRDR programme. Led by an Executive Director, the IPO has four supporting scientific/technical and administrative staff—Junior Science Officer, Communications Officer, Administrative Officer and Office Assistant—all of whom report to the Executive Director and are formally employed by the IPO’s host institution, the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
Key Responsibilities: The Junior Science Officer will be responsible for:
Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
The successful candidate will be able to learn how to operate in an international environment at the interface of science, practice and policy-making, including interactions with the United Nations (UN) and other regional organisations. S/he can acquire a good insight into the functioning of relevant global scientific networks and funding structures, and can gain an understanding of planning and foresight processes.
Closing date for applications: Monday, 5 January 2015, no later than midnight China Standard Time (CST) [Sunday, 4 January 2015, 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT),
Only online applications will be accepted. Please submit the following documents in PDF format (there is no application form):
Submit applications by e-mail to jobs@irdrinternational.org, stating “Application JSO Post” in the subject line.
The application letter should be addressed to:
Dr Rüdiger Klein
Executive Director
Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Programme
c/o RADI/Chinese Academy of Sciences
Room B713, No. 9 Dengzhuang Nanlu
Haidian District
Beijing 100094
China
Interview date: the first round of interviews will be held via Skype from 14-16 January 2015.
For more information about the IRDR programme please visit: www.irdrinternational.org.
86-10-68597521 (day)
86-10-68597289 (night)
86-10-68511095 (day)
86-10-68512458 (night)
cas_en@cas.cn
52 Sanlihe Rd., Xicheng District,
Beijing, China (100864)