Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow

As nations around the world plan to mitigate the impact of climate change on biodiversity, there is a pressing need to adapt the existing static Marine Protected Areas (MPA’S) approach to consider rapid climate-driven change. This project is a response to this need, and has an overarching objective to develop a quantitative framework for incorporating climate change into systematic conservation planning, to inform actions for achieving post-2020 targets for MPA network expansion

We are looking for a collaborative, experienced and enthusiastic Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow who is able to make an immediate and significant contribution to our healthy ocean strategy by integrating climate change into spatial conservation planning. This role provides the opportunity to work at the science–policy interface on a “real-world” problem; using academic research and theory to support decision makers understand the potential impact of climate change upon their current network of marine protected areas and aid their management response. Your work will help to raise the profile of the Centre to put knowledge at the heart of decision making.

You will have a PhD -or equivalent experience in conservation science ecology, mathematics, or related field, with strong emphasis on spatial analysis and modelling and knowledge and experience in spatial conservation planning (ideally Marxan). You will feel confident and have experience in applying research in real-world situations and communicating your work to non subject experts. You will also be a capable project manager, able to work rapidly and flexibly in response to developments in the external world.

WCMC attaches great importance to addressing safeguarding and ethical considerations in all activities carried out by its staff, including where partner organisations or individuals are part of the delivery of our work. This includes children and vulnerable adults in the community who may be vulnerable to abuse. WCMC act with integrity, are transparent and expect applicants to share the same values.

We will provide you with the chance to work with like-minded individuals, in an environment that supports your technical and personal skills development where you will really make a difference to the field of conservation in an area aligned to our strategic aims and broader global initiatives. You will be given the opportunity to represent the Centre at relevant conferences and workshops, both within the UK and internationally, build relationships with government representatives, world leading universities and NGOs and will gain job satisfaction through the successful delivery of important publications, reports and other information outputs.

If you are looking for a rewarding and challenging post where you can impress us with your technical knowledge and problem solving skills, we want to hear from you. Please complete our application form and send it together with your CV and a short covering letter through the link below by 8^th December 2019 with a view to arranging interviews for mid-January.