International Institute for Environment and Development
Sustainable Markets Group
Job Description
Job Title: Chief Economist, Sustainable Markets Group (SMG)
Responsible to: Group Head, SMG
Responsible for: Two Researchers in SMG, expected to grow in number. Visiting Fellows and consultants
Main purpose: To lead environmental economics work across IIED: developing, fundraising for and delivering the IIED environmental economics strategy; leading the Environmental Economics Team; advising the IIED Director and Group Heads on responses to relevant economic policy issues; and representing IIED externally within economics fora and institutions.
Key contacts: Internal: Members of the Sustainable Markets Group, in particular the Group Head, those working on environmental economics and Coordinators, the Director and members of the Strategy Team, as well as other IIED staff, particularly those working on economics-related themes External: International organisations, public and private actors, donors, academic institutions and NGOs working in the field of environmental economics and sustainable development; multidisciplinary collaborative research teams and consultants; policy makers; and the general public
Salary: Grade 1 £61,779 - £71,500 per annum, depending on experience, plus benefits
Contract: Full time, permanent
Location: Central London office
Background to the post
The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is a policy research organisation that provides expertise and leadership in researching and achieving sustainable development at local, national, regional and global levels. In alliance with others, we are helping to tackle the biggest issues of our times - from climate change and cities to the pressures on natural resources and the forces shaping global markets. With 116 members of staff working with associates and partners around the world, IIED has been at the forefront of policy-making in sustainable development for over 40 years. The Institute has just launched its new five-year strategy for the period 2014-2019.
The Sustainable Markets Group (SMG) drives IIED’s efforts to ensure that markets contribute to positive social, environmental, and economic outcomes. We do this through policy research, advocacy and engagement. The group brings together IIED's work on the Green Economy, Environmental Economics, Small and Informal Enterprise, and Energy and Extractive Industries.
IIED has just come to the end of its current five-year strategy in March 2014. Work on environmental economics has recently been subject to independent review, with positive results.
The Environmental Economics Team leads SMG’s work on the economics of sustainable development, examining the market failures that prevent transformation to an inclusive green economy, with a particular focus on economic incentive mechanisms. The team currently has significant programmes of work on payments for environmental services in both terrestrial and marine environments. The new strategy from April 2014 includes alternative indicators of economic progress, taking pro-poor economic incentive mechanisms to scale, and the economics of global environmental public goods. A major new project on natural capital accounting has recently been approved. This provides support to the World Bank-led WAVES programmes (Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services). However, the environmental economics strategy is still emerging and the successful applicant will be able to influence the strategy as it is firmed up over 2014.
In addition, an innovation in the new 5-year strategy is 4 new ‘change initiatives’ – major programmes of existing and new work that are cross-institutional and which will have a big impact on the policy change agenda. One of the change initiatives is called ‘inclusive transitions to climate resilience and green economy’ and will be a key focus for the Sustainable Markets Group in general and the postholder in particular.
The Sustainable Markets Group is made up of the following members of staff. Current team memberships are noted:
Steve Bass, Group Head* Brian Barban, Senior Coordinator (maternity cover) Emily Benson, Senior Researcher, Green Economy Coalition Sarah Best, Senior Researcher, Energy and Extractive Industries Emma Blackmore, Researcher (consultant based overseas), Small and Informal Enterprise Abbi Buxton, Researcher, Small and Informal Enterprise Ebru Buyukgul, Assistant Coordinator Ethel Del Pozo-Vergnes, Researcher (consultant based overseas), Small and Informal Enterprise Ben Garside, Researcher, Energy and Extractive Industries Oliver Greenfield, Convenor, Green Economy Coalition Maryanne Grieg-Gran, Principal Researcher, Environmental Economics** Laura Jenks, Coordinator Kate Lewis, Senior Coordinator (maternity leave) Essam Yassin Mohammed, Researcher, Environmental Economics Ina Porras, Researcher, Environmental Economics Frances Reynolds, Senior Coordinator Bill Vorley, Principal Researcher, Small and Informal Enterprise Emma Wilson, Principal Researcher, Energy and Extractive Industries
*Postholder’s line manager
**The current Environmental Economics Team Leader is leaving at the end of the current strategy period after 20 years at IIED. This new post is a more senior position, established at the Institute’s top leadership and management grade and will be responsible not only for taking forward and refining IIED’s environmental economics research agenda in the new five-year strategy period, but also for integrating environmental economics perspectives across IIED’s work. Internally this will involve intellectual leadership of the Environmental Economics Team and, in time, environmental economics work across the Institute, working with other research groups and the four change initiatives and potentially setting up an economics forum within IIED. Externally the postholder will lead the Institute’s positioning in terms of environmental economics, engage with practitioners and help shape the direction of the discipline.
Key responsibilities
An established and influential figure in environmental economics, the postholder will act as IIED’s principal spokesperson in the field, co-lead IIED’s new programme with the World Bank on in-country natural capital accounting, and provide environmental economics advice to new IIED ‘change initiatives’1, notably one on ‘inclusive transitions to climate resilience and green economy’. In addition, the post-holder will develop her/his own personal area of research and influence. Over the course of the first eighteen months, the post-holder will work across IIED to evolve IIED’s position on economic issues of sustainable development.
The postholder will have a background and skill base in environmental economics (or natural resource economics), as this is where much of the environmental economics team’s research lies. They will also be expected to develop the role of IIED Chief Economist with a wide advisory and representational role covering the breadth of IIED’s sustainable development economics work. In order to carry out the wider representation and engagement roles with the outside world a broader economic outlook will also be required, i.e. a familiarity with other approaches to economics (e.g. behavioural economics, feminist economics, complexity economics, macro, micro etc.), but this may not be their primary discipline.
The postholder’s key responsibilities are as follows:
(1) Research and strategic leadership (the postholder can expect to dedicate approximately 70% of time to this area of responsibility)
a) Strategy and research: Lead the development and oversight, and determine the strategic direction of IIED’s environmental economics research strategy Provide intellectual leadership on environmental economics within IIED, contributing to IIED’s wider strategy development and management Develop, lead and conduct a diverse programme of collaborative research and policy advocacy on environmental economics Ensure that new opportunities are identified and secured that respond to / pick up priorities within the environmental economics strategy
1 Leadership of the change initiatives has yet to be decided and the postholder would be considered a suitable candidate for the position (should they choose to apply), which is to be filled through an internal recruitment process.
Participate actively in relevant research led by other Teams and IIED-wide research support processes where appropriate
b) Internal leadership and management: Lead the Environmental Economics Team – its development, capacity, work programme, budget, management and quality assurance Line manage researchers working on environmental economics Supervise interns, external collaborators and consultants, and coordinate the contributions of other IIED researchers and members of staff Work collaboratively with individual partners and partner organisations from various continents to strengthen collaboration and networking
c) Fundraising and financial management: Lead the fundraising efforts of the environmental economics team Raise more than own salary, and provide substantial support to others in terms of proposal writing and fundraising, ensuring sufficient staff days are covered Oversee the team budget Ensure timely and accurate reporting to donors
Specific activities that the postholder will initially take responsibility for:
a) Green accounting: Research Manager for IIED’s support to the World Bank-led WAVES programme (approximately 25% of postholder’s funded time) b) Climate-resilient green economy: economic adviser role in this IIED-wide Change Initiative (approximately 10% funded time) c) Own research lead: develop programme/projects matching own experience and interests, to be confirmed but compatible with a) and b) above (approximately 15% time)
(2) Positioning IIED externally in relevant debates and policy processes concerning the economics of sustainable development (the postholder can expect to dedicate approximately 20% of time to this area of responsibility)
a) Develop and maintain strong links with relevant international organisations and policy processes including UN agencies, national governments and national and international NGOs, building on current relationships and continually identifying potential new partnerships and relationships b) Act as IIED’s principal contact and spokesperson in environmental economics, positioning IIED as an international centre of excellence. Assist in the international advocacy of IIED with external audiences c) Participate in national and international bodies; act as an advisor to policy-makers and lead IIED’s external advisory capacity on environmental economics d) Manage responses to the external environment to position IIED’s environmental economics work in the global arena e) Represent the Environmental Economics Team, SMG and IIED more broadly at international and national events, conferences and in meetings with a variety of stakeholders f) Prepare and oversee the preparation of journal articles, research reports, briefing notes, blogs and other publications for a wide range of audiences g) Develop together with team members a strategic publication process to ensure that the team’s research reaches and influences a wide range of audiences
(3) Lead on IIED-wide economic issues of sustainable development strategy (the postholder can expect to dedicate approximately 10% of time to this area of responsibility)
a) Over the next 18 months develop, in collaboration with Strategy Team colleagues, a leadership role for economics across the institute, to include: Support, mobilise, connect, develop, fundraise and mentor economists across IIED Help to develop and implement monitoring and evaluation systems for monitoring the Institute’s economics work Promote regular exchange with economists and interested researchers in other IIED groups. Assess the potential for an economics forum within IIED
The job description defines the level of responsibility and area(s) of involvement of the post; the details of the duties may change over time and do not form part of the contract between IIED and the post holder.
Person specification
1. Essential requirements
Academic and professional qualifications Postgraduate degree or equivalent in a relevant branch of economics (for example environmental economics, ecological economics, development economics, agricultural economics, forest economics)
Relevant experience Excellent knowledge of the key issues surrounding the economics of environment and development, demonstrated through a record of consistent, sustained, relevant, innovative and influential work, demonstrated impact and publications in peer-reviewed journals and/or other respected outlets on issues such as economic theories and instruments for environmental management, economic valuation techniques, natural capital or green accounting, behavioural economic aspects of policy, subsidy reform Experience of working on these issues in Africa, Asia and/or Latin America Extensive experience of strategic development and implementation of economics work within an international organisation Solid project management and leadership experience including the management of budgets and people (e.g. staff and/or external consultants), motivating and leading a substantial and diverse team, and drawing inputs from a wide variety of sources internally and externally Excellent analytical and research skills coupled with successful research management and leadership experience Proven experience of engaging successfully with international organisations, government agencies, academics, NGOs and other civil society organisations working on environmental economics Well networked with experience of creating, developing and/or working within consortia, networks, alliances, partnerships and international teams from different backgrounds and cultures Established and widely recognised excellence and reputation in the field of environmental economics among peers nationally and internationally
Established credibility and familiarity with broader economic debates among peers nationally and internationally (e.g. behavioural economics, feminist economics, complexity economics, macro, micro etc.) A sustained track record in securing high levels of funding for different projects from a variety of donors
Key skills Fluency in English and strong communication skills to convey complex messages in a clear, concise and effective manner, both orally and in writing – including the ability to edit and develop written work prepared by others; and experience of writing and editing for technical and less technical audiences Excellent interpersonal skills, networking and negotiation skills with proven ability to deal with staff, collaborators and partners from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. High- level ability to communicate with and inspire both specialist and non-specialist audiences Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of different teams, both within IIED and in international multi-disciplinary multi-partner settings Excellent planning and organisational skills to manage own workload and co-ordinate the work of the objective team; thinking ahead over a period of months to anticipate issues and opportunities and deliver to tight deadlines Mentoring and coaching skills and experience and a commitment to continuing professional development of both self and others Advanced knowledge of business software (word processing, spread sheets, presentation software, databases and communications) Willingness and ability to travel as appropriate to project commitments
2. Desirable skills and experience
PhD in environmental economics Knowledge of one or more languages that are widely spoken and relevant to the work of the Environmental Economics Team (e.g. French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Swahili) Experience of working with the private sector on issues related to environmental economics
Behavioural competencies The top four most important behavioural competencies that will apply to this role are shown below. This does not mean that others are not important but these are the most important for this particular role. At Grade 1 postholders would be expected to demonstrate all 11 competencies at level 1.
Competency Description Level required
Communicating with Impact The ability to influence, negotiate, build awareness and Level 1 create credibility with others through the use of clear and effective communication Delivering Excellence A concern for delivering high quality work and improving Level 1 performance. Consistently looks for ways to add value to colleagues, partners and stakeholders Develops Others Invests time and energy in fostering the long-term learning Level 1 and development of others. This can involve the provision of practical advice, support, feedback or training to support development Empathy
Flexible Thinking
Information Seeking A curiosity to find out more about people, concepts and Level 1 issues. Asks questions to clarify understanding, conducts research or scans the environment for information that may be of future use Initiative
Integrity & Commitment
Leading Others
Understands Context
Working Collaboratively
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