Research Associate - Corporate Performance (Maternity Cover)

Global Canopy is a data-driven not for profit that targets the market forces destroying nature. We do this by improving transparency and accountability. We provide innovative open-access data, clear metrics, and actionable insights to leading companies, financial institutions, governments and campaigning organisations worldwide. 

Nature-related Finance: Nature loss poses material risks to financial institutions, as studies show more than half of global GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature. Lack of high-quality nature-related data is one of the biggest obstacles holding financial institutions back from addressing nature-related risks. Global Canopy innovates to increase the scope, quality and accessibility of freely available data. We work to enable investors, lenders, insurers, financial regulators and others in the sector to identify and mitigate their impacts and dependencies on nature – and to seize the opportunity of investing in nature-positive solutions. Our work on nature-related finance centres on three collaborative flagship projects, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), ENCORE and The Little Book of Investing in Nature.

Role Overview:

As Research Associate you will work in the Corporate Performance Research workstream, which is home to our programme's work on creating and developing methodologies, datasets, and guidance across our projects. You will be responsible for Forest IQ at a methodological and planning level, enabling the delivery of the platform’s annual plans and releases. Forest IQ brings together aligned, best-in-class, and actionable data on how more than 2,400 major companies are addressing their links to deforestation and associated human rights abuses. In particular, your work will focus on creating methodologies to enable the ingestion and alignment of a number of datasets, and overseeing the integration of these datasets for the bi-annual data releases.

This is a great role for an experienced research and data lead in the forestry and human rights space, who is also passionate about continuous improvement and following best practice. You will be able to work effectively in the context of a fast-growing and dynamic non-profit delivering on complex and impactful projects around the world.

Essential behavioural competencies:

• Appetite for acquiring new skills and embedding improvements
• Excellent interpersonal skills, working collaboratively
• Solutions-oriented and flexible

Skills and experience:

Essential

• Experience and strong interest in research work, data stories and analysis, and using data to support decision-making in an applied setting
• Experience producing methodologies and awareness of key methodological concepts
• Detailed knowledge of commodity supply chains and deforestation-risk
• Understanding of corporate assessment methodologies
• Ability to think creatively and identify innovative ways to use existing and new data and metrics to strengthen platforms
• Knowledge of relevant IT packages including everyday office suites

Desirable

• Familiarity with the Accountability Framework Initiative
• Previous experience in applied sustainability research, ideally with focus on corporate performance on deforestation or human rights
• Experience in working on related issues such as corporate social responsibility, and finance
• Previous experience of aligning and synthesising multiple sources of complex information
• Experience of working in multicultural and multilingual teams
• Prior line management experience
• Knowledge of R-scripts, statistical testing/data analysis software would be an advantage.

At Global Canopy, we value diversity and inclusion. You can read our diversity statement on our website. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and are committed to having a team with a diverse set of skills, experiences and abilities. We are committed to reducing systemic barriers in our recruitment processes. 

Global Canopy works on issues of tropical deforestation. We are particularly interested in strengthening our team to include those with a background from forest regions such as Latin America and South East Asia. We welcome applications from people from these regions.

Global Canopy is an inclusive employer and accommodations will be made to allow anyone who requires additional support to apply for this role. Please get in touch with us if you require any additional support.

To find out more, download the recruitment pack or visit our website. 

We aim to maintain an anonymous shortlisting process, please do NOT include your name in the cover letter you submit with your application.

Salary

£42,000-£46,000 full time equivalent

This role sits within Band D on Global Canopy’s remuneration framework.

Nature of contract

Full time, fixed term (12 months). We are a flexible employer and welcome candidates wishing to work flexibly.

Base

Our office is in Oxford, with flexible home-working arrangements in place.

Holidays

36 days (including bank/public holidays) for discretionary use across the annual leave year. Option to purchase up to an additional 5 days or equivalent of one week’s leave.

Pension

Employer pension contribution of 8%.

Healthcare cashback plan

Covering dental fees, eye-care, wellbeing, physiotherapy, chiropody and much more – for you and any children. 

Group Life Assurance 

Paying a lump sum of 3 times annual salary.

Group Income Protection

Paying 75% of annual salary for up to 2 years (for long term sickness).

Employee Assistance Programme

Which provides free, confidential advice on personal and legal matters.

Other

Huge range of discounts and cashback deals at gyms, restaurants, holidays, and much more.