[Hiring] Principal Research Officer - Circular Economy @Digital Technology Institute for Development (DTID)

Role Description

DTID is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Principal Research Officer – Circular Economy to provide specialist research expertise and contribute to the development of DTID's research agenda on circular economy, resource efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable resource management.

Working within Research Division II – Energy & Environment, the successful candidate will lead and contribute to research initiatives examining:

• Circular economy policies
• Sustainable production and consumption
• Resource recovery
• Environmental sustainability
• Application of emerging digital technologies to circular economy solutions

The role will involve:

• Conducting independent research
• Analysing international policies and industry developments
• Evaluating circular economy strategies
• Developing evidence-based recommendations to support various stakeholders
• Exploring how digital technologies can support resource traceability, materials management, and waste reduction

This is a senior research position requiring strong analytical capability, independent research experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to translate complex research findings into practical policy recommendations.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and spoken English
• Strong analytical, research and critical-thinking skills
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and research integrity
• Ability to design, plan and conduct independent research
• Ability to undertake qualitative and quantitative research and analyse complex information
• Ability to develop evidence-based recommendations and practical solutions to sustainability challenges
• Strong professional communication, presentation and stakeholder-engagement skills
• Ability to communicate complex research findings clearly to various audiences
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of assigned research projects
• Ability to provide research guidance and support to other researchers and working groups
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet agreed deadlines
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a remote and internationally distributed team
• A proactive, innovative and solutions-focused approach to work

Requirements

• Strong knowledge or experience in circular economy principles, strategies and policy frameworks
• Sustainable resource management and resource efficiency
• Waste prevention, waste management and materials recovery
• Sustainable production and consumption
• Product lifecycle assessment and lifecycle management
• Sustainable supply chains and materials traceability
• Environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation
• Circular economy business models and sustainable innovation
• Environmental policy, regulation and governance
• Renewable energy and the circularity of energy technologies
• Biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management
• Applied policy research and research methodologies
• Qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis and interpretation
• Emerging digital technologies and their applications in circular economy systems

Benefits

• Apply and strengthen specialist expertise in circular economy, environmental sustainability and resource management
• Lead and contribute to international research initiatives on circular economy and sustainable development
• Contribute to technical reports, policy briefs, research publications and other research outputs
• Gain experience examining the application of emerging digital technologies to circular economy solutions
• Strengthen research leadership, technical analysis and policy advisory skills
• Collaborate with researchers, technology specialists and professionals from different countries and disciplines
• Gain exposure to international environmental policy, climate action, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development
• Participate in relevant research projects, conferences, webinars and technical engagements where appropriate
• Build international professional networks and long-term professional relationships
• Develop experience working within a fully remote and globally distributed organisation
• Contribute directly to DTID's research agenda, environmental sustainability initiatives and institutional development