Senior Research Fellow – Digital Societies and Technology

About us 

ODI (odi.org) is an independent, global think tank. We work to inspire people to act on injustice and inequality. Through research, convening and influencing, we generate ideas that matter for people and planet.

We are looking for a Senior Research Fellow (Digital Societies and Technology) to increase the impact and reach of ODI’s research and policy engagement on politics, political economy and governance through planning, coordination and delivery of first-class communications and public affairs activities.

About the Programme

Digitalisation and digital technologies such as AI, have created a set of unprecedented possibilities for people’s lives and wellbeing. The augmented power to gather, process and disseminate information through digital technology and systems can be a huge force for good. But the benefits are neither automatic nor evenly spread and as with all technologies, effective and ethical governance is key. Without it, the poorest and already most marginalised groups are least likely to benefit from digital transition, with the risk that it simply deepens marginalisation and entrenches existing inequalities. Digitalisation can also be misused, to misinform, to create conflict, to undermine democratic practice, and to enable acts of cyber attrition, to deny identities and to restrict privacy and liberty. For these reasons, digitalisation and technological innovations presents profound and pressing challenges and critical questions for  societies at large, for policy makers, private sector actors and for researchers.

As part of ODI’s commitment to making equity, inclusive growth, social justice and sustainability central to all our work, and acknowledging how digitalization has fundamentally reshaped our societies, ODI has created a dedicated Digital Societies Initiative to explore how technology can be harnessed for the greater good and to identify ways to monitor and reduce its potential to damage positive outcomes – justice, equality and inclusion.

The Senior Research Fellow (Digital Societies and Technology) sits within ODI’s Politics and Governance Programme (PoGo) which brings together global leaders in political economy analysis, who generate evidence-based applied research and analysis to shape thinking and advise policy makers.

The Digital Societies Initiative brings a distinctly political economy lens to the study of evolving digital societies globally whilst working in partnership across ODI to leverage research expertise on a range of themes including conflict and crisis, the humanitarian system, gender norms, digital public infrastructure and public financial management. As part of the initiative, ODI also works with frontline actors, civil society advocacy and research organisations.  

To download the job description and role details please Follow This Link . If you are experiencing difficulties downloading, please telephone 020 7922 0351 or email recruitment@odi.org.uk.

About you

ODI is looking to appoint a highly motivated and experienced, well networked (across academic communities, policy communities, Global South partner communities) and widely recognised researcher, thought leader and excellent communicator, to lead its Digital Societies Initiative.

As Senior Research Fellow on Digital Societies and Technology, the successful candidate will lead, advance and increase the size, scope, visibility and viability of ODIs Digital Societies Initiative.

Digital Societies & Technologies in ODI Politics and Governance Programme

This Senior Research Fellow on Digital Societies and Technology will be housed within the Politics and Governance programme but work in close collaboration with colleagues across other teams within ODI working on different aspects of the digital portfolio.

The Politics and Governance Programme (PoGo) brings together ODI’s social and political scientists whose policy driven research on political and political economy questions notably: how contexts, societal trust, institutions that govern and the nature of political settlements, structure incentives for change and shape the ways in which change happens.

The Digital Societies Initiative within PoGo includes a portfolio of projects that seek to  tackle three main questions:

• How can stakeholders come to grips with the existing and potential harms of digitalisation across different areas of people’s lives and human rights?
• What are the possibilities for digitalisation to support greater inclusion, justice and equality, while mitigating the increasing potential for harm? 
• Should there be limits on our digital worlds to ensure more just, equitable and inclusive futures, and if so, what should they be and who decides?

Main duties and responsibilities

1.     Fundraising to grow the Digital Societies Portfolio and make it viable and visible

• Develop new concepts and ideas to extend intellectual understanding and inform policy & practice; and to expand the team’s research & analysis on digital issues
• Monitor and analyse developments in the external environment, building and managing relationships with potential funders
• Develop well budgeted expressions of interest, research proposals and full project proposals (both propositional and responsive)
• Seek funding for proposals to sustain your own professional activities, to contribute to the
• Institute’s cost and to meet individual and collective financial targets.
• Build and manage relationships with a wide range of potential collaborators (including from academia) across a range of countries

2.     Project & programme delivery

• Deliver substantive pieces of research, analysis and public affairs that make best use of
• your own skills and of the breadth of ODI’s expertise and experience
• Take responsibility for the implementation, administrative and financial management of research, advisory and public affairs projects
• Manage the work of staff working on your own projects and other team members, including Research Officers, consultants and ODI associates as appropriate

3.     Policy advice, media/public affairs, engagement and communication

• Author and co-author a range of types of targeted research & advisory outputs (eg reports, policy briefs, webinars, e-consultations, blogs, other more innovative communications products) for different audiences
• Maintain a watching brief on developments in the sector and be able to respond rapidly with insightful advice & analysis
• Contribute to the development of innovative methods of reaching global audiences
• Build the programme’s position and reputation as a centre of excellence in understanding how to build successful digital societies

4.     Contribution to delivery of ODI corporate strategy and collegial life

• Overseeing integration of digitalization as a cross-cutting issue in each of PoGo’s priority thematic areas of work (conflict/peacebuilding; governance & democratic backsliding; justice, human rights & rule of law)
• Foster collaborative working with other ODI teams (in particular Development and Public Finance; Humanitarian Policy Group; Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion; Equity and Social Policy)
• Advance and contribute to development of research practice informed by corporate objectives on decolonisation and equitable partnerships
• Work with Director of Programme to advance integration of decolonisation principles in ways of working throughout the team

Person specification

Experience, Knowledge and Qualifications

• A post-graduate qualification (preferably PhD) in a relevant discipline (political science / political sociology / political studies / international relations) with 5+years’ experience working on digital
• Detailed knowledge of digital societies / tech in society questions (e.g., ethics, trust, equity and justice) in across low, middle and high income economies,
• A strong track record of academic and policy-oriented research publications / briefings to inform policy and practice around the opportunities, risks and challenges associated with digitalisation
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively to a range of public and private sector organisations and with the private sector
• A proven track record in business development and fundraising from different types of funding agency
• An established network of public, private and civil society / activist partnership globally and in a specific number of countries
• Experience of conducting research, living and in one or more low, middle-income or / and high-income countries

Skills / Abilities

• Ability to work (research design and implementation) in partnership with variety of constituencies (research institutes, universities, civic organisations in global north and south)
• Strong quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods research skills and an ability to support others to build that capacity through practical experience
• The ability to write clearly for a range of audiences, with excellent oral communication skills
• Good organisational and project management skills
• A demonstrated capacity for policy advisory or public affairs work, based on an analytical approach and an innovative and creative communications ability
• Experience of managing interdisciplinary research teams and demonstratable line management experience
• Though leadership on new and complex issues relating to digital societies
• Quality control of research and advisory work
• Project management and financial planning for complex projects/ programmes
• Excellent ability to build cross-cultural relationships with partners and colleagues at various levels of seniority.
• Multitasking skills in a high-pressure environment
• Ability to work to own initiative with minimum supervision

Desirable

• A PhD in politics or relevant discipline
• Experience of conducting research, living and in LMICs
• Competence in a second language
• Demonstrated alignment with ODI corporate values and strategic ambitions (decolonising knowledge production and research through just and equitable partnerships)

Key Relationships and Contacts

Internal: Director of ODI, Director of Programmes, Group staff, staff in Finance as relevant Associates and Interns as appropriate

External: Major donors: Foundations, bi-laterals, multilateral organisations, including, governments international and national NGOs.  Partnerships with academic institutions – think tanks and universities in global north and south and individual researcher.  Public institutions with an interest in development (schools, professional groups).  Media as appropriate. Policy and advocacy staff at civic organisations, activists, nationally and internationally

Closing date: 23^rd August 2024 at 11:59pm

Written test: w/c 2^nd September

Interview date: w/c 9^th September 2024 and w/c 16^th September 2024

ODI is committed to developing and supporting diverse and inclusive teams of people who share our passion, where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We welcome applicants from a range of diverse backgrounds including those who experience intersectional marginalisation on the basis of their class, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious identity or belief, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We also welcome applications from those living with disabilities. 

This post may be of interest to those keen to contribute to ODI's decolonisation agenda.

We offer competitive salaries, a generous company pension scheme, hybrid working and a range of flexible, family-friendly and inclusive employment policies to support well-being.

ODI is an equal opportunities employer                                                       

Charity Reg. No.228248