Field Team Lead and Coordinator

Position: Field Team Lead and Coordinator 

Project title: Preventing Water-related Conflicts in Small Lake Systems: A Holistic Approach for Sustainable Coexistence 

Project Duration: September 2024 – March 2025 

Minimum Salary: PKR 100,000 per month. 

Summary: This project seeks to tackle escalating water-related conflicts in small lake systems. The selected study area is the Namal Valley in Mianwali, Pakistan which is home to the Namal Dam Reservoir. Conflict surrounding the lake is driven by competing interest of stakeholders (for instance agricultural water demand of downstream farmers versus flood risk control of the upstream villagers). Important drivers of risk include (among others) the absence of a scientific information base in decision-making for reservoir operations, deteriorating infrastructure, unpredictable weather patterns, and apparent lack of empathy among stakeholders. The primary goal of this project is to mitigate water-related conflicts through a series of targeted interventions designed to understand, analyze, and address the underlying causes of conflict in small lake systems, particularly the Namal Valley. A team of researchers will work together on data collection, socio-hydrological modeling, and design of serious games to observe individual behaviors in conflict situations. 

The project will deliver a conflict profiling system, comprehensive stakeholder analysis, educational workshops, and documentary material aimed towards capacity building for sustainable resolution of water-related conflict in small lake systems. The significance of the project lies in its focus on small lake systems, often overshadowed by research on larger lake systems in hydrology and conflict studies. The potential impact of the planned activities extends beyond the Namal Valley, unlocking vital insights for over 60 small lake systems in the Potohar region and beyond. 

Job Description: The field team lead will be responsible for the design and execution of all data collection activities. These include: household surveys, semi-structured interviews, knowledge sharing workshops, and public gaming sessions. The lead will supervise a team of two local field associates from Namal, to conduct the data collection and dissemination. The lead will have expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods for social research, supervise field staff, and facilitate coordination within the project team and with external entities. The tasks include

  • Design and conduct semi-structured and in-depth interviews. 
  • Perform thematic analysis to interpret qualitative data. 
  • Organize and facilitate focus group discussions. 
  • Design and administer surveys and questionnaires. 
  • Conduct statistical analysis using software such as SPSS, R, or SAS. 
  • Engage with the local community to gain insights related to the project. 
  • Lead and manage a team of field staff. 
  • Coordinate with other team members to align data collection with the modelling and game design activities. 
  • Manage frequent travel to research sites as required. 

Qualifications

  • A bachelors in social sciences, economics, or related disciplines. 
  • Expertise in qualitative and quantitative methods for social research. 
  • Experience in fieldwork. 
  • Familiarity with the Namal and Mianwali region, though not necessary, is a plus. 

Location and Travel: The hired individual will be based at LUMS campus, however they will be required to travel frequently to and from the study site. On average, one trip of 2-3 days can be expected each month over the duration of the project. They will also need to be in regular contact with the field associates to organize the data collection. 

Project Team 

  • Dr. Talha Manzoor – Project Director, Assistant Professor and Associate Director, Centre for Water Informatics & Technology, LUMS. 
  • Dr. Malik Jahan Khan – Co-director, Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, LUMS. 
  • Dr. Iqra Abdullah – Co-director, Lecturer in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Greenwich University, London. 
  • Dr. Andrew Bell – Co-director, Scheiffler Family Professor of Sustainability and Associate Professor of Global Development, Cornell University. 

Application procedure: Please send your application via email to hrwit@lums.edu.pk with the subject Team Lead – Namal Water Conflict with the following documents in PDF format 

  • A cover letter describing your motivation for applying and your suitability for the position 
  • A detailed CV 
  • Academic transcripts 

Deadline and joining: The project team will begin shortlisting applications immediately and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The hired individual will start work ASAP.