About the role

We are recruiting a Research Team Leader, working under the supervision of the SEI Latin America Center Director, who will join our senior management team and lead the efforts of 13 current colleagues working to promote sustainable water resources management in Latin America. Since the launch of the SEI Latin America Centre in 2018, research and policy engagement lines of inquiry have emerged primarily through the hard work of Research Fellows and Senior Experts. They have successfully built up program activity related to various topics relevant to sustainable water management (e.g. hydrology, hydrogeology, water quality, systems analysis, decision support, water governance), allowing the centre to offer employment to several Research Assistants and Research Associates now working to support these projects. Given this successful growth, we are seeking to hire a professional for this new position who will lead this group of colleagues, focusing on strategic planning and growth and implementing management oversight that will allow the research team to continue to grow and generate even higher levels of impact in the region.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Ensure that all work being carried out within the Research Team conforms with the centre-level strategy and its annual work plans, as well as with all relevant policies and instructions coming from SEI HQ.
• Coordinate fundraising within the Research Team by working in close collaboration with Research Fellows and Senior Experts within the team to identify promising opportunities and deploy the human and financial resources required to develop competitive proposals.
• Should conditions require based on the successful generation of new projects and programs within the Research Team, identify what new capacities, at what level within the organization, are required to implement the full portfolio of activity within the group and lead successful recruitment process to acquire the required capacities.
• Plan the deployment of colleagues working within the Research Team to support the implementation of all projects being implemented. While stability of even growth within the Research Team is anticipated, this specific responsibility also includes managing any required downsizing should the project portfolio not allow for the full deployment of all colleagues within the group.
• Ensure that all projects implemented within the team are being successfully implemented, working with the Research Fellow or Senior Expert managing a particular project to development and implement corrective action plans if needed.
• Take responsibility for inspiring and promoting the professional development and intellectual growth of all colleagues working within the Research Team, including conducting twice annual performance reviews/development dialogues with all members of the Research Team.
• Manage the collaboration between members of the Research Team and the centre’s Communications Team in order to prioritize workflows and maximize the impact of work carried out within the Research Team.
• Participate in the Centre Management Team within SEI Latin America, and within leadership roles within SEI globally as opportunities emerge and time allows.
• Continue to develop your own reputation as a researcher and/or public policy expert in your chosen field of expertise related to sustainable water management in Latin America.

Who you are

Our ideal candidate is an accomplished researcher or public policy expert hailing from the Latin America region with experience and expertise in areas aligned with the SEI strategy. While you enjoy the research and/or public policy engagement efforts that have defined your career to this point, you feel called to lead others in successfully developing their own experience and expertise. You are passionate about bringing together the work of other colleagues to generate greater impact for a successful transition towards a more sustainable future in Latin America. The thought of joining a young, rapidly growing research centre operating as part of an established and globally renowned research institute – and to contribute to the centre’s continued growth, development and maturation – is very attractive to you at this point in your career, and you are excited by new challenges.
You are organized, collaborative, proactive, and focused on problem-solving, with the ability to meet deadlines and to occasionally travel to distant locations, both inside and outside of Colombia, for work. Most importantly, you have demonstrated your ability to guide the career development of younger colleagues and to organize a group of colleagues to create a pleasant, productive and professional work environment.

Required qualifications and experience

• A Ph D with an established history of creative and innovative research published in peer-reviewed articles in indexed scientific journals; or
• a Master’s degree with a strong established record of steering public policy towards more sustainable outcomes.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in both English and Spanish.

Desired skills and experience

• Experience working with a think tank or a research institute and/or within the public policy formulation arena.
• Proven ability and continued desire to participate productively in your own chosen area of research and/or public policy engagement related to water resources management, including experience related to the fundraising required to support your prior participation in research and/or public policy engagement activities.
• Experience developing annual work plans and budget forecasts for a team of professional colleagues.
• Experience supporting colleagues in their professional development, and in providing structured feedback to them on their progress.
• The ability to identify emerging trends and issues related to water resources management before they become common narratives within the water management discourse.
• High levels of proficiency with the Microsoft 360 suite of tools.

What we offer

• A stimulating, international work environment where you can help build capacities and drive research in Latin America for sustainable water management.
• A full-time position with a competitive salary and benefits package at a world-leading environmental research institute.
• SEI Latin America will secure all necessary authorizations for the selected candidate to work in Colombia.

How to apply

Questions?

Inquiries concerning the content of the position can be directed to David Purkey: david.purkey@sei.org.
Inquiries concerning the recruitment process can be directed to Jimena Jimenez: jimena.jimenez@sei.org.