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NW1 8PB
The Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH (WZB Berlin Social Science Center) research group ‘Globalization, Work and Production’ seeks to hire a Research Coordinator / Project Manager (f/m/x)
The University of Oxford’s Fairwork project has partnered with WZB (Berlin Social Science Center) to develop a Fairwork Secretariat in Berlin. The partnership involves the recruitment of a Project Manager, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and a Communications Manager.
This is a full-time fixed-term position, with remuneration up to EG 14 TVöD Bund (yearly gross income between 55,000 and 64,000 Euros), starting as soon as possible until July 2022 (extension possible).
The closing date for applications is 1 December 2020.
About Fairwork
Fairwork is an action-research project that currently operates in the UK, Germany, South Africa, India, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Egypt, and Bangladesh. We research working conditions in the gig economy, in order to develop ‘fairness ratings’ for digital labour platforms like Uber, Helpling and Deliveroo (see examples here). We use these ratings as a lever to improve pay and conditions for platform workers, through media and consumer pressure.
Fairwork’s programme of action research intends not just to understand the world, but to change it. By bringing workers, platforms, scholars, labour researchers and policymakers to the table, we work to collaboratively develop and embed principles of fair work into the script of the gig economy. Fundamental to the project is a commitment to being participatory and non-hierarchical within our communities: we are all—workers, unions, platforms, regulators, academics—the experts, and we all have co-developed this project. Our ultimate aim is to understand, and counter, some of the forces that disempower gig workers across the world.
Over the past three years, we have mobilized a unique and growing transnational network of social justice-minded scholars from over ten countries in pursuit of this planetary goal. In order to effectively advocate for gig workers everywhere, we believe it necessary for our team too to reflect a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, perspectives and more. In growing our team, we value and welcome the unique contributions that applicants can bring in terms of their education, opinions, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, religion, disability, and beliefs. We actively strive to build and nurture a culture of empathy, inclusiveness, and respect.
The Fairwork Secretariat is a joint project of the Oxford Internet Institute and the WZB, led by professor Mark Graham (University of Oxford) and professor Martin Krzywdzinski (WZB). The Fairwork Secretariat sits at the nexus of three research clusters in Oxford and Berlin that focus on the future of work. The WZB GAP group comprises a number of researchers focusing on the digitalization of work, including research on platforms, automation, and artificial intelligence. The work at the Fairwork Secretariat will also involve cooperation with the Berlin-based Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society.
About the Research Officer
We welcome applications from both postdoctoral researchers with experience in project management, and from applicants with a strong professional experience and expertise in the management and coordination of research projects. Applicants are expected to be qualified to the level of a Masters degree or higher.
The ideal candidate(s) will have:
- A relevant graduate degree in sociology, geography, anthropology, economics, development studies, or related fields.
- A high level of project management experience, from early-stage all the way through to realisation, preferably in international research projects and activities.
- A high level of project administration experience, including experience in writing research funding bids, raising sponsorship, budget tracking, and reporting of complex projects.
- Professional experience in managing a diverse team; strong interpersonal skills.
- Professional experience in interacting effectively and closely with a wide range of people, including influential people.
- Experience in working autonomously with a high degree of motivation and initiative.
- Preferably experience working in research projects in a relevant subject area to Fairwork.
- Preferably experience with managing publication processes.
- Excellent English and preferably good German skills (written and oral).
- Preferably language competencies in languages spoken in any of the Fairwork partner countries (e.g., Spanish, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Mandarin).
- Knowledge of issues impacting on precarious and insecure workers, and a demonstrable commitment to working towards the empowerment of workers, and to equality and inclusion.
Applications from equally qualified people living with a disability will be given preference. We value diversity and welcome all applications – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity. The WZB expressly encourages women and people with a migrant background to submit an application.
Structure and Primary Responsibilities
The primary aims of this position will be to coordinate the international network of Fairwork research and researchers in collaboration with the project leaders. The tasks required in this role will involve close cooperation between the Berlin- and Oxford-based teams, including joint research activities, workshops and conferences, as well as publications. There will be regular travel opportunities to facilitate collaboration between the Oxford- and Berlin-based teams, and the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in partner countries.
The primary responsibilities of this position will be:
- Co-designing an annual research strategy and project plans.
- Coordinating and monitoring the project activities, timelines and budgets.
- Collaborating in the preparation of research publications, chapters, summaries, and reports; managing the workflow of collaborative publications.
- Managing data repositories across the project and ensure ethical and legal compliance.
- Collaborating in the preparation and management of grant applications.
- Coordinating the Fairwork project expansion to further countries; coaching and monitoring the Fairwork research activities abroad; assisting with the supervision of project researchers external to the WZB.
- Outreach and liaising with external partners and stakeholders; cooperating with relevant stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the project.
- Disseminating findings in the media.
- Managing project databases.
- Organising the annual Fairwork symposium.
Duration and Deadline
This is a fixed-term position starting as soon as possible until July 2022 (extension possible).
The remuneration is up to EG 14 TVöD Bund (yearly gross income between 55,000 and 64,000 Euros, depending on qualification and work experience)
The closing date for applications is 1 December 2020.
Contact
If you have any questions about this role, please contact Sonata Cepik (bewerbungen-gap@wzb.eu)