Post Doctoral Research Fellow / Programme Manager

Job summary:

The Critical Research on Industrial Livestock Systems (CRILS) Network aims to connect academics with practitioners (a broad term for non-academic collaborators - civil society and NGOs, activists and artists, investigative journalists, food systems workers, legal scholars, policymakers etc) to develop a critique of the drivers and negative externalities of industrial animal agriculture. The CRILS Network Post Doctoral Research Fellow/Programme Manager will deliver online and in-person workshops, convene thematic Working Groups (WG) to advance methodological approaches, and strengthen local networks with the overarching intention of facilitating challenging discussions, sharing research resources (data, expertise, analysis, theories), and building an interdisciplinary evidence base. The job holder will oversee all CRILS activities and communications, apply for further funding, and launch and participate in the CRILS Working Groups. The position offers the post-holder the opportunity to develop their own research portfolio in line with CRILS research agenda while working with leading experts in industrial livestock systems. Research could focus on topics such as, but not limited to, the mechanisms of corporate concentration and financialisation of livestock production, labour movements in globalised industrial animal value chains, the political economy and/or ecology of the expansion of industrial animal agriculture in global South contexts.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and creative early career researcher to develop research expertise in political economy, political ecology, human geography, anthropology, critical public health, or similar disciplines, as well as project management skills. This position would suit a PhD graduate or candidate about to complete their thesis in early 2025 or an experienced researcher (3-5 years' experience) with a master's degree and experience as a project manager or campaigns, communications, or policy officer.

The role is a mix of academic research - for which the post holder will be expected to conduct interdisciplinary research as part of an international and multi-sectoral team - and network and events organisation - for which the post holder will be expected to deliver online and in-person events to a high standard and motivate a diverse network of actors to contribute to and participate in CRILS activities. Experience in writing and translating research for a wide audience is essential, as is knowledge of critical food systems literature and agricultural policy or political economy, especially of the global South. A core focus of CRILS is sharing research in a constructive and discursive setting to ensure that research is relevant, useful and responsive to the situation on the ground, so while this is an academic post, it suits someone with an interest in or experience of policy, campaigns, and public engagement. The researcher should be enthusiastic, proactive and highly motivated, with excellent organisational and interpersonal skills.

The position is open to international candidates with relevant experience.

Informal inquiries are encouraged. Please email Dr Mehroosh Tak (mtak@rvc.ac.uk and crilsnetwork@rvc.ac.uk). To learn more about the project please visit https://www.crils.org 

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