VS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Valuing Local Co-Benefits for Indigenous Communities

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation. 

The Opportunity

• Do you have a PhD in sustainability science, digital user experience in cross-cultural contexts, environmental science, economics, finance, sociology, rural studies, anthropology, geography, or similar?
• Exciting opportunity to join the Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform
• Join CSIRO – Australia’s leading scientific research organisation!

The Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform (VS FSP) is a substantial new 5-year investment in cutting edge research by CSIRO that will recruit several post-docs who will be embedded diverse inter-disciplinary research teams. The VS FSP aims to co-produce future pathways, measures and indicators to underpin sustainable innovation and prosperity for current and future industries and communities.

There is growing recognition that durable and ‘just’ land-based solutions to meet sustainable development goals requires measures and mechanisms that value local cultural capital and the provenance of place-based economies.  The VS FSP, the Valuing Local Provenance project focuses on a key sustainability valuation and validation frontier, and how to develop and systematically integrate locally defined co-benefits into emerging sustainability markets.

With close focus on Indigenous and rural communities, this work will demonstrate if (and how) in-practice and fit-for-purpose methods can illuminate and incorporate community-identified values, local knowledge systems, place-based sustainability concerns and how those values align with larger market forces for sustainability.

Your duties will include:

• Reviewing available literature, sustainability frameworks, just transitions, nature-based, or durable climate concepts and solutions from agricultural sector perspectives. When possible, special attention should be paid to approaches designed with the Australian and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander context in mind
• Reviewing and assessing available sector relevant data, metrics and reporting tools that local land-based enterprises and communities trust, including digitally supported assessment and verification frameworks
• Working with Traditional Owner Groups to identify culturally relevant co-benefits including local preferences for regional development outcomes, acceptable transition pathways and locally valued sustainable development goals
• Interviewing and working together with regionally relevant agricultural groups, investors, or other market actors engaged in carbon and conservation projects that support local co-benefit development in Australia and around the world
• Co-designing local provenance measures that reflect the values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ and agricultural place-based economies

Location: Brisbane, QLD (Townsville considered)

Salary: AU$89k - AU$98k plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Specified term of 3 years

Reference: 79363

To be considered you will need:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area such as sustainability science, digital user experience in cross-cultural contexts, environmental science, economics, finance, sociology, rural studies, anthropology, geography, or similar. However other disciplines would be considered.

Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people societies, culture and the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australian society.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and work respectfully in partnership to deliver organisational goals and objectives.
• Strong foundation or understanding in quantitative/qualitative analytical approaches and evidence of proficiency
• Experience designing and undertaking rigorous research. May include collecting primary data and managing fieldwork, developing survey instruments, hosting focus groups, and holding interviews across diverse linguistic or socio-economic settings

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

CSIRO considers the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). 

The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Citizenship. The successful applicant will be required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and is required to provide contact details of at least one Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Referee.

The successful applicant will be required to obtain and provide a National Police Check or equivalent. Additional integrity checks may be required for specific roles which require security clearance for working with children, Australian Government cybersecurity requirements or other identified security roles.

Flexible Working Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications Close

12 December 2021, 11:00pm AEDT