Switzerland: IDMC Disaster Displacement Risk Modeler

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) is the world’s authoritative source of data and analysis on internal displacement. Since our establishment in 1998 as part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), we offer a rigorous, transparent and independent service to the international community, and inform policy and operational decisions to improve the lives of people living in, or at risk of, internal displacement.

With a team of 30 people in Geneva and an annual budget of 5 million USD, we monitor more than 200 countries in the world for which we provide verified, consolidated and multi-sourced estimates of the number of people internally displaced or at risk of becoming displaced by conflict, violence, disasters and development projects. We complement this global data with interdisciplinary research into the drivers, patterns and impacts of internal displacement. Using this evidence, we provide tailor-made advice and support to inform global, regional and national policy-making. Our data and evidence are published on our website and via our Global Internal Displacement Database (http://www.internal-displacement.org/database/displacement-data). Our flagship report, the Global Report on Internal Displacement (http://www.internal-displacement.org/global-report/grid2019/*), published every year in May, is the world reference on IDP statistics, featuring trends and thematic analyses, country and regional spotlights.*

IDMC is now recruiting for a Disaster Displacement Risk Modeler to enhance and extend IDMC’s existing probabilistic disaster displacement risk model for rapid-onset hazards. It’s an opportunity for the candidate to work on the development of evidence and tools to support operational and policy responses to address and respond to disaster-related displacement and displacement risk.

This position requires experience developing probabilistic risk assessment modelling, a robust understanding of disaster risk and its components, strong Python coding skills.

1. Role and responsibilities

Working under the supervision of the Head of Data and Analysis, the Disaster Displacement Risk Modeler will contribute to IDMC’s knowledge of disaster-related displacement risk by adding to the updated model that has been developed in the fall of 2017.

The Disaster Displacement Risk Modeler will work with the IDMC colleagues in the Data and Analysis and Policy and Research Departments, contributing to flagship and thematic reports. The candidate will also work in close collaboration with IDMC’s partners, including ETH, PIK, KiT, OCHA, UNDRR, IOM and the Pacific Disaster Center and governments.

Specifically, the responsibilities include:

• extending IDMC’s existing disaster displacement risk model by analysing disaster displacement risk in the future using IPCC SSPs and RCPs
• updating the existing model using new hazard and exposure data, as they become available
• extending the risk model to simulate the impacts of discrete events based on observed and forecast hazards
• developing a new displacement-specific vulnerability parameter (in order to move beyond physical vulnerability of residences)
• developing decision-support tools, reports and presentations of the risk model and its outputs

2. Competencies

Professional competencies:

• Experience developing/working on probabilistic disaster risk models
• Deep understanding of disaster-loss data
• Ability to estimate hybrid loss-exceedance from recorded and modelled hazard events
• Experience in Python (familiarity with CLIMADA a plus)
• Demonstrated ability to work with teams and partners
• Ability to deliver according to agreed deadlines
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English

Behavioural competencies:

These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job. NRC’s Competency Framework states 12 behavioural competencies and the following are essential for this position:

• Working with people
  • Addressing problems by focusing on solutions, not obstacles
  • Willing to carry out tasks that are important for colleagues’ work achievement
• Analysing
  • Willingness to test new approaches and methodologies, fail and then learn from experiments
  • Having a strong capacity for absorbing large amounts of information, verifying critical elements and communicating conclusions rationally
• Planning and delivering results
  • Being able to break down a project/activity into achievable tasks
  • Ability to multitask and prioritise, and cope with stress and pressure
  • Completing assigned tasks according to deadlines
  • Making decisions by analysing relevant information and providing reasons for decisions
• Communicating with impact and respect
  • Presenting the actual situation by keeping superiors and teams informed about both positive and negative information
  • Accurate written English
• Coping with change
  • Accepting new ideas and necessary change

Miscellaneous

• This is a one year fixed-term contract with possibility of extension;
• The position is full-time, 40 hours per week;
• Please note that for reasons related to the procedure for work permits in Switzerland, only candidates with an EU/EFTA nationality or a valid work permit for Switzerland can be considered for this role.

Candidates should complete an NRC WebCruiter application including the following:

• CV and personal details;
• A cover letter which should include your availability and the type and validity of your working permit for Switzerland if you don't have a Swiss, EU or EFTA nationality.

Applications will only be accepted through the NRC recruitment platform: https://www.nrc.no/vacancies/

We look forward to receiving your application.