Senior Social Scientist

Cefas understands social science as a key component to understand our environment, fisheries, and aquacultures.  

This strategic post is for a highly-skilled Senior Social Scientist. You will provide technical support to develop and expand Cefas’ growing social science capability whilst contributing research to a growing portfolio of UK and international programmes. Specifically, you will be required to lead research and advice on marine social sciences and governance both in the UK and overseas. This will include:  

• studying interactions between people and marine environments with regard to marine policy and spatial planning, natural capital and ecosystem services, sustainable use and management of natural resources, and conservation;  
• collecting, using and analysing qualitative and quantitative data on social dimensions, ensuring high data quality and recording standards;  
• designing, leading and facilitating workshops and interviews in the UK or overseas with a range of actors and stakeholders (including the public and policy makers);  
• facilitating sustainable livelihood/development and community resilience in areas challenged by climate vulnerability through understanding and engaging with appropriate stakeholders; communicate your work to a varied audience. 

Cefas is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, backgrounds, ways of working and thinking, makes us a stronger organisation, better at reflecting the communities we serve. We embrace different views and experiences and value the fresh perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age, ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.

Welcome to Cefas (youtube.com)

Your main duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Bringing together relevant cross-disciplinary research, the postholder will build Cefas’ social research portfolio, focussing on identifying and filling critical evidence gaps. Main duties and responsibilities include:  

• leading and supervising research to improve our understanding of the interactions between people and marine environments including the collection, extraction, compilation, and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data in the UK and overseas, as well as stakeholder engagement and participation using a varied range of methods;  
• seeking new business opportunities and writing research proposals for future grant applications within Cefas and with broader national and international consortia, including academia;  
• communicating science/research outcomes to a range of stakeholders using a variety of media (incl. peer-reviewed scientific publications, presentations, briefings etc.)

In addition, Cefas reserves the right to ask staff to take on additional duties and responsibilities which are commensurate with their grade. Team Leaders and management will have a discussion with staff to explain the changes that are to be made. A new job description will be issued if required.