One year position: Researcher on Corporate Concentration, Technology and Food Systems
ETC Group seeks a Researcher on Corporate Concentration, Technology and Food Systems to join our small international team of activist researchers, advocates and communicators for a one year position:
Are you passionate about food sovereignty, human rights, justice and a liveable world for the next generation?
Do you want to help expose digital and agribusiness corporations and their takeover of food systems and destruction of biodiversity. Do you have a talent for meticulous research and analysis of economic, technological and policy data, a nose for investigation and a good eye for scanning the future horizon in order to recognize long term trends and shifts. If so, we want you to apply to work with ETC Group!
ETC Group is a collectively-organized international civil society research, advocacy and communications group with a passion for social and ecological justice and human rights. We address issues of emerging technologies, corporate power, food sovereignty, global governance, climate change and biodiversity. We work with allies in civil society across the world with particular priority towards the Global South (Asia, Latin America and Africa) and marginalised communities in the North.
We are seeking a Researcher on Corporate Concentration, Technology and Food Systems to join our small, values-driven, international team for an initial one year contract - starting immediately. This position can be based anywhere in the world providing there is good internet connection. We particularly encourage young people, women, applicants from the Global South, Indigenous people and people of colour to apply.
How to apply
Please send the following by email to jobs@etcgroup.org
1) A cover letter in English indicating your interest and outlining your suitability for this position
2) A Curriculum Vitae (prefereably in English)
3) Any example papers, articles, reports or other materials that you have written based upon research that you have undertaken.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Location: Anywhere with fast and reliable internet
Term: This is a full-time position (37.5 hours per week) . Initial contract is for one year, with reviews at 3 months, six month and a year.
Salary: ETC Group sets salary according to location and experience, in line with smaller national NGO’s.
Benefits: Benefits include health and pension contributions.
Application by: March 31, 2021
Start date: Ideally immediate.
About ETC Group:
We are an international civil society research, advocacy and communications group with a passion for social and ecological justice and human rights. We address issues of emerging technologies, corporate power, food sovereignty, global governance, climate change and biodiversity loss. We work with allies in civil society across the world with particular priority towards the Global South (Asia, Latin America and Africa) and marginalised communities in the North. We also communicate with media and engage with policymakers at international (eg United Nations) fora.
About the position:
As Researcher on Corporate Concentration, Technology and Food Systems, you would be responsible for, in close collaboration with colleagues and external partners, undertaking detailed desk research into the way power is increasingly being concentrated in a small number of corporations, trends in corporate power in the food system and the reality and implications of key emerging technologies. This work includes reading and analyzing technical and policy reports, patent claims, specialized media, financial documents, scientific, economic and policy papers, attending conferences and interviewing technologists, policymakers and industry players in order to assemble data and write easy-to-understand primers and briefing papers.
As a one year temporary member of staff the Researcher will participate in shaping ETC Group’s broader programme of work that includes organizing and designing communication materials and strategic public campaigns and outreach activities to bring ETC Group’s research and analysis into relevant fora and to allies for social change. Depending on funding the position may become a longer term position beyond one year.
You would work remotely by internet, under the supervision of ETC Group’s Research Director. This position would start immediately and can be based in any location with good internet connection. ETC Group has existing staff in Philippines (Mindanao), Canada (Quebec and British Columbia), Mexico (Mexico City), UK (London and Sussex) and USA (California Bay Area). Once current pandemic conditions pass, you may be expected to occasionally travel internationally and regionally.
Skills and capabilities:
Research Skills: We are seeking a candidate with strong attention to detail, comfortable to undertake financial, corporate and technical research. The successful candidate will show a proven ability to read, extract, organize and analyze key information from business, technical and financial documents including trade publications, annual reports, SEC filings, patent literature, conference proceedings, investor presentations, analyst reports etc . They will be able to use and aggregate data reliably. They will be comfortable to seek out and interview experts, sources. A familiarity with data analytics tools and online research sources and methods would be an advantage.
Horizon-scanning and investigative skills: The candidate will show an interest in understanding long term social, economic and technical developments and big picture shifts - especially in the areas of food and technology. They will be able to spot relevant emerging trends in corporate strategies and new technological developments that may impact human rights and biodiversity. A talent for investigation, critical analysis and creatively digging into a topic is also an advantage.
Written skills: The ability to write clearly and concisely is essential, including the ability to synthesize complex concepts, data and research into digestible, accessible reports and briefings for civil society, press and policymakers . Journalistic skills (eg. interviewing, writing, editing) is also a plus.
Numerical skills: Proven ability to work with numbers, especially financial figures and economic statistics, is a strong advantage.
Language Skills: Candidate must have strong written English. Familiarity with another language used in global commerce would be a distinct advantage - particularly written Chinese , French ,Spanish, German, Russian.
Technical Skills: Familiarity with Microsoft office suite (particularly Excel, Word, Powerpoint ) and relevant Google tools. Also comfortable with digital internal communications tools (eg Zoom, Slack, Skype, Signal, WhatsApp). Data Skills also an advantage.
Motivation: We expect the successful candidate to be able to demonstrate a record of their commitment to working towards change in line with ecological, social justice principles, together with a strong critique of corporate monopoly. Previous experience with grassroots social movements, civil society and/or social change non-profits an advantage. (eg. movements for food sovereignty, agroecology , climate justice, decolonization, gender justice and democratising technology)
Work Organization : The candidate must be able to work on several of their assigned tasks simultaneously, be self-motivated and work to deadlines in a fast paced, creative , international team. They will be able to work alone with remote colleagues and virtual teams across time zones, languages and cultures. We value a highly collaborative style of working. Given ETC’s interest in shifting towards collective and other less hierarchical ways of working interest or experience of such arrangements would be a plus.
Travel : While travel is expected to be limited in the coming year, once pandemic conditions ease this position may require occasional international and regional travel.
Diversity: ETC Group is committed to having a staff team that includes peoples in all their diversities, also reflecting the movements with whom we work. For this position we are especially encouraging young people, women, applicants from the Global South, Indigenous people and people of colour to apply.