Senior Specialist – Research At Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

Background:

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a multi-stakeholder global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and academic and knowledge institutions. It aims to address the challenges of building resilience into infrastructure systems and development associated with it. The vision, mission, goal, and objectives of the CDRI are explicitly linked to the post-2015 development agendas. The Coalition will also contribute to the resilience of the global infrastructure systems in an increasingly interconnected world. The outcome of such collaboration would be aimed at building resilient economies and resilient people through cross-sector commitments at all levels towards adaptation and resilience with concrete outcomes that will bring resilience action to global scale.

CDRI will support countries to upgrade their systems for ensuring disaster and climate resilience of existing and future infrastructure. It seeks to rapidly expand the development of and retrofit resilient infrastructure to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) objectives of expanding universal access to basic services, enabling prosperity, and decent work. CDRI envisions enabling measurable reduction in infrastructure losses from disasters including extreme climate events.

The Government of India has established a Society in New Delhi to act as the Secretariat of CDRI. The Secretariat functions under the direction of the international Governing Council and implements the programs of CDRI. This position is being advertised for staff positions on Fixed Term Contract of three (3) years.

Objective of this position:

To support CDRI’s key research initiatives and to develop high quality research proposals and programmes by coordinating with research and academic institutions working in the DRI space.

Reporting to Lead Specialist – Research, CDRI, the incumbent will support CDRI’s ongoing research initiatives and developing new initiatives, by providing inputs on research proposals, methodologies, and reports assuring high quality content. The incumbent will also support in managing relationships with academic and research networks associated with CDRI. The incumbent through all the above activities will actively support the Strategic Outcome 2: Global DRI research, Coalition-led peer engagement, and CDRI-curated and generated knowledge promote risk informed policy and practice.

Role and Responsibilities:

Supporting Research Initiatives (70%)

• Support CDRIs ongoing research activities and development of new concept notes/ proposals for research for CDRI.
• Support research methodology development, guidelines, data collection and analysis, and maintenance of database on disaster resilience of infrastructure.
• Conduct case studies, assessments for disaster resilient infrastructure.
• Contribute to writing and editing of research outputs like peer-reviewed scientific papers, policy briefs, reports, rapid-response statements, op-eds, social media posts and presentations addressed to experts and non-experts, including on themes relevant to disaster resilience unique to CDRI.
• Maintain a line of sight on the gaps in current understanding on disaster resilience of infrastructure – challenges and solutions to shape the narrative.
• Extend support in the development of knowledge products and contribute to the development and conceptualisation of new knowledge products.
• Ensure research outputs meet professional publication standards and are designed for knowledge outreach and dissemination.
• Contribute to standardization of research work at CDRI and strengthening its research agenda.

Liaison and Partnerships for Research (20%)

• Negotiate, build, and support CDRI’s growing global network of research and knowledge organizations, innovation hubs, other similar initiatives, relevant government departments, industry, patent agencies, experts, and other cross functional teams.
• Support liaison with government agencies, development actors, and other relevant stakeholders to identify potential research areas and activities in line with CDRI’s goals and objectives.
• Build and maintain existing partnerships within academia, research organizations and subject experts to bring in a well-rounded perspective to CDRI’s research outputs.
• Identify best global avenues and platforms in terms of journals, blogs, conference proceedings, international and national forums etc., for feeding into the ongoing research and outcomes as achievements of CDRI.

Capacity Development and Technical Assistance (10%)

• Strengthen CDRI’s capacity to conduct high-quality, actionable research by providing inputs on research design, data analysis, and effective writing.
• Support implementation of CDRI’s technical activities wherever needed.

Skills:

Essential:

• Experience in programme management specifically knowledge and learning initiatives catering to audiences across geographies and contexts within the international development sector.
• Familiarity and experience in use of digital platforms for knowledge sharing and learning.
• Experience in developing and publishing knowledge products such as reports, research papers, policy briefs, books, toolkits, case studies etc.
• Familiarity with international frameworks like the SDGs and the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
• Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams and multi- national teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and strategic planning skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Ability to clearly articulate information and concepts including use of visuals for strategic messaging.
• Proven ability to draw inputs from multiple disciplines and synthesize them to address specific problems.
• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills
• Advanced computer proficiency.

Desirable:

• Experience in supporting strategic knowledge and learning initiatives including design and deployment of digital platforms.
• Experience in anchoring or supporting Communities of Practice and other peer-to-peer learning initiatives.
• Published research papers in national/international peer reviewed publications, national and international conferences.
• Experience of developing publications on sustainable development, disaster risk reduction and climate change related issues.
• Familiarity with the global narrative on resilient infrastructure development, disaster risk reduction and climate change.

Key Competencies

Technical and Analytical Skills

1. Meticulousness
2. Timeliness
3. Analytical & Problem Solving

Delivering Results

1. Dependability
2. Managing people & process
3. Innovativeness & Resourcefulness

Engaging & Partnering (Interpersonal / Teamwork)

1. Stakeholder Management
2. Working Collaboratively
3. Appreciate and encourage different culture context

Leadership

1. Able to see Big Picture
2. Decision Making
3. Inspires, motivates & empowers others.
4. Team Management

Communication

1. Willingness to listen and express dissenting views
2. Is able to clearly convey ideas and information.

Qualifications:

Educational Criteria:

Post-Graduate qualification in urban/regional/infrastructure planning, sustainable development, disaster risk engineering, disaster management, or related fields are preferred. PhD in any of the above given areas will be given additional weightage.

Experience Criteria:

Minimum 7 years of overall experience with at least 2 years of experience in supporting regional/international research initiatives, development of research proposals and managing research projects. Specific experience in resilient infrastructure and disaster risk reduction.

Reporting Line:

The incumbent shall report to Lead Specialist-Research.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English
• Knowledge of any of the UN official languages will be an asset.