Research and Policy Analyst - Sydney / Work from Home

ABOUT US

Jubilee Australia strives for a fairer future where a healthy planet, empowered communities and just economies go hand in hand. Jubilee Australia conducts research-based advocacy, in partnership with other organisations and communities across Australia and the Asia Pacific, to defend the rights of people and the planet over profit, and to hold corporations and governments accountable. 

Jubilee Australia was established as an independent not for profit research centre in 2009. Our research and evidence-based advocacy is grounded in collaborative partnerships to amplify the voices of affected communities in the Asia Pacific region. We tackle the intertwined root causes of economic, environmental and human rights issues. Our main office is in Sydney, Australia, and our team is located throughout the country. 

WE WORK ON MANY ISSUES, INCLUDING: 

• Working with partners in PNG and the Solomon Islands to support communities seeking to protect their rainforests from illegal or unsustainable logging;
• Supporting communities in the Pacific to exercise their right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent for mining projects on their land and waterways, including in the Amazon of our region, The Sepik River;
• Research and advocacy to prevent public finance from underwriting the fossil fuel industry; advocating for the phaseout of fossil fuels in Australia, and against the opening up of new gasfields, particularly in the Timor Sea;
• Working with partners in Australia to ensure that mining for the energy transition happens in a way that minimises social and environmental harms;
• Changing Australian government policies that undermine sustainable economies and livelihoods and economic justice for our neighbours in the Pacific and beyond. 

For more information, visit www.jubileeaustralia.org. 

Jubilee Australia is an equal opportunity employer, and we strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability, LGBTIQ+ people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to apply for this role. People from the Pacific are particularly encouraged to apply. 

We are a small team that values people, and we are all deeply passionate about the work that we do. We are seeking a candidate who is committed to our mission and who is passionate about economic justice and corporate accountability. 

THE ROLE

The role will undertake research and analysis to strengthen understanding of environmental governance, regulatory systems, corporate activity and supply chains, and translate this evidence into research reports, policy recommendations, advocacy and campaign strategies. A particular focus of the role will be understanding and influencing the policies, markets and supply chains that shape the trade in timber from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. China is a key consumer and destination market for timber from the region, making the ability to read and analyse Mandarin-language sources an important requirement of the role. 

This role is in Jubilee’s Tropical Forest program and the successful candidate will work closely with the Program Director. This program is focused on illegal and unsustainable logging in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, and addresses this issue across community, national, regional and international levels. The Specialist will have the skills and experience to develop and implement research and advocacy plans and strategies for Jubilee.

As our staff work closely with Indigenous communities and partners across Australia and the Pacific, lived experience in a cross-cultural context is a highly sought-after attribute for this position. 

Role details

• Research and analyse legislation, policies, regulatory frameworks and institutional arrangements relevant to environmental and forest governance in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, China and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
• Research and analyse Chinese policies, regulations, companies, markets and other relevant developments affecting timber supply chains and the trade in forest products from the Pacific.
• Design and undertake research projects on environmental governance, resource extraction, illegal logging and related corporate and supply-chain issues.
• Conduct research using Mandarin-language sources, including Chinese government, corporate, media, trade and other relevant materials, and translate or synthesis findings for English-language research and analysis.
• Undertake analysis of corporate structures, supply chains, trade flows and other information to identify risks, governance gapsand potential areas for intervention.
• Use data and other investigative tools to research timber supply chains, including where relevant vessel movements, shipping routes, ports and maritime activity associated with the movement of forest products.
• Prepare high-quality research reports, policy briefings and other written outputs, translating complex evidence into clear findings and recommendations.
• Contribute to organisational strategy by identifying emerging issues, opportunities and potential policy interventions.
• Translate research findings into advocacy and campaign strategies, identifying opportunities to influence government policy, regulatory practice and corporate behaviour.
• Develop research-based briefings, recommendations and other materials to support engagement with governments, companies, civil society and other decision-makers.
• Monitor relevant political, regulatory, corporate and market developments and assess opportunities to build momentum around research findings and campaign priorities.
• Work collaboratively with partners, researchers and other stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific to develop and strengthen research, policy and advocacy initiatives.

Key Selection Criteria

Essential 

We are looking for someone with strong research and analytical skills and an interest in environmental governance, resource extraction and accountability. You will have: 

• A relevant tertiary qualification in public policy, public administration, political science, environmental policy, international development, law, economics, geography or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience undertaking independent research and critically assessing information from a range of sources.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex policy, regulatory and institutional issues.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research and data analysis skills.
• Demonstrated ability to identify patterns, risks and gaps across complex information and develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Strong report writing and analytical writing skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly for different audiences.
• Professional working proficiency in Mandarin, including the ability to read and analyse Mandarin-language sources.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research findings into advocacy, campaign or strategic recommendations.
• Ability to monitor political, policy and corporate developments and identify opportunities for influence.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage research projects and work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• An interest in environmental governance, forests, resource extraction, corporate accountability and/or the Asia-Pacific region. 

Desirable 

• Experience researching timber, forestry, natural resource extraction or supply chains, particularly in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, China or the wider Asia-Pacific region.
• Experience using vessel tracking or maritime data, or conducting research involving shipping, ports, vessel movements, maritime trade or other aspects of the marine sector.
• Understanding of how maritime and shipping industries operate, including the movement of commodities through ports and international supply chains.
• Experience analysing corporate structures, ownership, trade data or financial information.
• Experience with geospatial, satellite or other investigative data sources.
• Experience in environmental, forest or resource-related advocacy and campaigning.
• Experience working with partners across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Additional relevant language skills.