Research Officer (Climate Adaptation Finance)

The London School of Economics is hiring a Research Officer for Climate Adaptation Finance for a fixed-term role focusing on the ATTENUATE project. The position involves conducting research, collaborating with government agencies, and contributing to policy outputs. Candidates need a PhD in a related field and experience in qualitative research methods. The salary ranges from £42,679 to £51,000, with hybrid working options available.
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Salary from £42,679 to £51,000 pa inclusive with potential to progress to £54,730 pa inclusive of London allowance

This is a fixed-term full-time appointment for 13.5 months

The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment (GRI) is at the forefront of research on climate change adaptation finance. We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Research Officer to join our team and contribute to an interdisciplinary and strategically important project: ATTENUATE (creATing The Enabling coNditions for Uk climAte adapTation invEstment). This is a new NERC-funded project launching in March 2025, that focuses on identifying and responding to the multiple economic, structural and behavioural barriers to unlocking finance for adaptation and embedding it within the activities of multi-level UK governments and agencies.

The postholder will work closely with the Head of Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Dr Candice Howarth and other team members including Dr Kate Gannon and Dr Sara Mehryar, to play a central role in delivering high-quality research that addresses critical challenges in unlocking and enhancing adaptation and disaster risk finance. This will include conducting rigorous and comprehensive evidence reviews, designing and implementing research activities, including qualitative interviews, and synthesising insights to support the development of practical and innovative frameworks and strategies. They will collaborate closely with project partners and stakeholders, including high-profile government agencies, to ensure research outputs have demonstrable impact and are aligned with stakeholder priorities and real-world challenges.

Beyond research, the postholder will be involved in contributing to project activities, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and contributing to policy-relevant outputs. The post holder will occasionally represent the ATTENUATE project at national events and conferences and engage with stakeholders to foster collaboration and influence decision-making. They will also help support the research culture at the Grantham Research Institute, including supporting the work of research assistants and contributing to the wider academic community.

Candidates should have a PhD in sustainable finance, climate change adaptation, economics, environmental policy, human geography or closely related discipline. They should have experience in analysing and researching financial systems in the context of climate change adaptation, just resilience, just transition, or disaster risk reduction. They should have post-graduate level training experience in qualitative methods, with experience conducting interviews, workshops and focus groups, including with experts and senior stakeholders. They should have experience analysing qualitative research data.

The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.

We offer an occupational pension scheme, generous annual leave, hybrid working, and excellent training and development opportunities.

For further information about the post, please see the how to apply document, job description and the person specification.

If you have any technical queries with applying on the online system, please use the “contact us” links at the bottom of the LSE Jobs page. Should you have any queries about the role, please email gri.hr@lse.ac.uk

The closing date for receipt of applications is 23 March 2025 (23.59 UK time). Regrettably, we are unable to accept any late applications.

£42,679 to £51,000 pa inclusive with potential to progress to £54,730 pa inclusive of London allowance