Researcher – Assessment of Urban Development for Decarbonation and Best Practice Design Recomme[...]

Job description

As part of this role, you will contribute to the development of best practice design recommendations and guidelines for decarbonization and climate-sensitive urban design. Your work will focus on assessing urban development projects, identifying key sustainability strategies, and synthesizing design-based research findings into actionable urban design principles.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Evaluating urban design and planning strategies for decarbonization and climate resilience, incorporating global best practices and case studies.
• Developing best practice design recommendations that integrate regenerative, mitigation, and adaptation strategies for climate-sensitive urban development.
• Assessing urban-scale sustainability frameworks and design proposals to extract innovative solutions for resilient and low-carbon cities.
• Collaborating with researchers, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to refine and validate urban design strategies.
• Synthesizing research findings into comprehensive design guidelines that can inform policymakers, urban designers, and planners.
• Contributing to academic publications and technical reports as lead-author or co-author.
• Engaging in workshops, presentations, and discussions with international experts, research institutions, and governmental agencies to communicate findings effectively.

Profile

Mandatory Requirements:

You have:

• A Master’s degree in Urban Design, Urban Planning, or a related field.
• At least five years of combined research and professional experience in urban design, strategic planning, and sustainability-driven development.
• Proven expertise in leading interdisciplinary research and synthesizing urban projects into best practice design recommendations.
• Demonstrable experience in high-level urban design evaluation, integrating climate adaptation, mitigation, and regenerative strategies.
• A proven ability to critically assess diverse urban projects, extract key insights, and develop comprehensive design guidelines for policymakers, planners, and urban designers.
• Extensive experience in consulting for government agencies and international organizations, advising on climate-sensitive urban strategies.
• A strong publication record, contributing to academic research and technical reports on sustainable urban design, WSUD, and resilient city planning.
• Experience in leading interdisciplinary collaborations with policy-makers, designers, and researchers to develop best practice urban solutions and planning recommendations.

You are:

• A highly self-motivated and independent researcher with a proven track record in developing urban design strategies and policy-oriented recommendations.
• An effective communicator, skilled at interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Proactive: You effectively identify potential challenges, set clear research objectives, and consistently meet targets.
• Rational and clear: You articulate complex urban design and planning concepts in an accessible and structured manner.
• Interpersonal: You excel at collaborating constructively with diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, designers, and fellow researchers.
• Skilled at synthesizing diverse urban development scenarios into clear and actionable best-practice guidelines for decarbonisation and climate adaptation.
• Flexible and curious, able to quickly identify, adapt, and apply suitable research methods and analytical tools depending on project requirements.
• Comfortable engaging with international experts and policymakers, presenting findings effectively through written reports, presentations, and workshops.
• Interested in innovative urban development concepts such as climate-sensitive urban design, nature-based solutions, water sensitive urban design (WSUD), sustainable urbanism, and sustainable development policy frameworks.

Significantly Beneficial Attributes:

• Proven ability to develop best practice urban design and planning recommendations aligned with global climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• Experienced in working with government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations to implement policy-driven urban solutions.
• A strong understanding of the intersection between research, policy, and design, ensuring that urban development strategies are data-driven and action-oriented.
• A team player who is collaborative, constructive, and always focused on delivering high-quality results.

Desirable Attributes:

• A confident and engaging presenter, able to communicate urban strategies effectively to policymakers, academics, and industry professionals.
• Experienced in policy advisory roles, contributing to global urban development discussions and shaping strategic frameworks.

We offer

Why SEC is your employer of choice?

• Accredited with 5 Tripartite Standards by Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) Singapore.
• A diverse workplace with 32 nationalities, offering ample opportunities for mutual learning.
• Positive and inclusive working environment.
• 25 days of annual leave for fixed-term contracts.
• 1 day of Birthday Leave.
• Annual dental benefits.
• Committed to being a supportive employer as you prioritize your physical and mental wellness.
• Comprehensive healthcare insurance coverage.
• Flexible hybrid work arrangement (up to 2 days per week from home).
• Abundant networking opportunities across various disciplines.
• Accredited with NS mark certification.

The Singapore-ETH Centre is an equal opportunity and family-friendly employer. All candidates will be evaluated on their merits and qualifications, without regards to gender, race, age or religion.