The Tour du Valat is a private foundation working for the research and conservation of Mediterranean wetlands. Founded in 1954 by Dr Luc Hoffmann and based in the Camargue, it is at the cutting edge of multidisciplinary fields of research, building bridges between science, management and public policies. The main objective for the Tour du Valat is to change the behavior and decisions made by governments and the wider society in the Mediterranean basin to achieve that wetlands are conserved and sustainably managed towards the future.
The Tour du Valat has internationally recognized scientific expertise, and provides practical responses to problems regarding the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources. The Tour du Valat’s projects are carried out in the Camargue and around the Mediterranean basin.
The Tour du Valat employs 80 people, including 10 researchers and about 8 Ph.D. In addition Tour du Valat hosts on its site several organizations and receives numerous trainees and volunteers.
The Tour du Valat is seeking an international project leader “Science / Policy” to strengthen its role in international networks and influence policies and sustainable management practices related to Mediterranean wetlands
The position is located within the Mediterranean Wetland Observatory, which is working closely with the MedWet initiative (www.medwet.org). This Observatory department is very dynamic and internationally oriented. In collaboration with partners around the Mediterranean basin it develops knowledge to monitor the state and trends of Mediterranean wetlands to provide an evidence base for governance and management decisions. Primary collaboration partners include NGO’s, site managers and representatives of governments around the Mediterranean basin. After years of improving the technical data aside of the monitoring, the Observatory is in a phase where it wants to reinforce its role in international networks and policy contexts (e.g. Ramsar convention, IPBES, the Sustainable Development Goals, Barcelona Convention, Convention on Biological Diversity, CMS/AEWA, etc). The Tour du Valat and the Mediterranean Wetland Observatory in particular, are seeking ways to improve our impact on policy processes related to sustainable management of wetlands in the Mediterranean basin.
For this mission, we are seeking an outgoing and dynamic project leader with a scientific background to co-develop and implement a strategy to reinforce our international position. The project leader is also expected to undertake scientific studies related to the monitoring of the social and economic dimensions of sustainable management of wetlands. A science-action approach in collaboration with international partners is preferred and the publication in peer reviewed scientific journals is required to ensure the credibility of the work undertaken on behalf of Tour du Valat.
The main tasks of the recruited candidate will be:
- To help build and improve the strategy for the Tour du Valat to achieve influence on policy and management decisions for the conservation and sustainable use of Mediterranean wetlands at the level of the entire Mediterranean basin;
- To contribute with a research perspective to the scientific program of the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory with the objective to change current policies and management strategies to ensure the effective conservation and sustainable use of Mediterranean wetlands;
We envision a position with a real cross-cutting involvement with all the TdV components, including the direction, so that the project leader benefits from the diversity of insights available in the TdV team, and gathers all the necessary support that she or he would need to build and implement her or his activities.
It is expected that, through this position, the candidate will be developing innovative research, directly at the contact of several policy processes and decision makers in the whole Mediterranean basin while simultaneously engaging with NGOs on important sustainable development agenda’s. The exposure to the behind scenes of nature conservation in the international policy-science processes with all its socio-geographical dimensions makes this an incredibly dynamic and cutting edge position.
The candidate should ideally have:
- An in-depth understanding of environmental challenges and of the geopolitical context and the policy processes in the Mediterranean basin;
- The capacity to transfer these two capacities into a strategic engagement plan, international collaborations and communication products towards the wider public;
- Autonomy in social sciences based scientific studies and their publication in scientific papers.
- A capacity to mobilise groups of partners or actors towards common goals and the practical implementation of these;
- A genuine interest in exploring and understanding the Mediterranean institutional and cultural context;
- An excellent capacity for analysis and synthesis;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and writing skills in French and English for different audiences.
The selected candidate should have:
- A PhD or an equivalent diploma/expertise in two fields: international relations / political sciences and environmental sciences;
- A strong affinity with actors or action based research methods in an international context,
- A demonstrated interest in applied research and conservation;
- A successful working experience in a relevant field of at least 3 years.
- The following capacities are also sought:
- Knowledge of issues related to wetland conservation;
- Fluency of languages other than French and English, including Arabic, Spanish, …
- A capacity to work as a team-player
- Good self-organization skills
Monthly Salary: €2500-3150 gross according to experience (CCNA convention)
Working location: Tour du Valat, Camargue, Le Sambuc, Arles, France, with frequent international travel, particularly in the Mediterranean basin.
Starting date: March 1st, 2019
How to apply:
Send the application file to Florence Daubigney (e-mail) (ref: TdV-2018-OZHM) by the 6th of January 2019, with:
- A cover letter;
- A resume/CV
- A list of publications;
- A research program proposition (max. 2 pages);
- A work plan proposal for the first year;
- The names and contact details of three references (with e-mail addresses), including a recent employer.
The shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview in the beginning of February 2019. They will make a short presentation of their research and their proposed program to the selection committee. Travelling expenses can be reimbursed at the applicant’s request.
For any questions concerning the application procedure, please contact Florence Daubigney (e-mail).