Job vacancy: senior LCA and food chains

Questionmark

Questionmark is a young and ambitious organisation that promotes an honest, healthy and informed society, mapping the sustainability of a huge range of consumer products. Our app and our website offer insight into the stories behind products, with each product receiving a rating on a scale of 1-10. The rating is based on objective information on the following themes: public health, environment, human rights and animal welfare. We make it easier for consumers to make informed decisions. 

Senior Researcher, LCA and Food Chains

The Senior Researcher will be part of the five-person research team. The research team is responsible for the collection of all (predominantly quantitative) data on the sustainability performance of various products in various food and non-food categories. The team of researchers has a variety of areas of expertise including environment, human rights and product information. Questionmark is looking for a senior researcher with expertise in Life Cycle Analysis, SimaPro and environmental themes in general (such as climate, biodiversity and water).

The key task of the research team is to measure the sustainability performances of products in the areas of health, environment, human rights and animal welfare. To achieve this, the research team develops research methodologies (e.g. LCA, literature research or expert questionnaires).  The research is then performed independently or outsourced to reputable research agencies. Stakeholders from government, social organisations and businesses are actively consulted in the development of our research methodologies.

The research data collected is modelled by the research team and processed into rating models. The research team is also jointly responsible for the development of a database of all the information collected. The researchers also act as content experts during the moderation of public discussions, facilitated by Questionmark, on the sustainability of products and production chains. 

The role
The Senior Researcher, LCA and Food Chains will have the following key responsibilities:
·    Setting up and leading research projects, focusing the research into the sustainability performance of products (setting the scope in terms of the product group and production chains, defining the indicators and methodology for the data collection);
·    Performing independent environmental research using different research methodologies (including Life Cycle Analysis);
·    Processing the collected environmental data in SimaPro;
·    Processing/modelling collected sustainability data in statistical rating models;
·    Determining the required development of the structure and functionalities of the database.

Profile

·   Academic education (economics, environmental technology/economics, industrial engineering and management, industrial design, mathematics, physics, chemistry);   
·   Approximately 10 years of experience as a researcher/product developer in the field of sustainability;
·   Knowledge of and experience with Life Cycle Analysis. Being able to work independently with SimaPro is a must;
·   Technical knowledge of quantifying and collecting sustainability data with regard to products and production chains;
·   Experience with developing (not programming) databases;
·   Experience with modelling;
·   Hands-on and self-starting personality;

·   Demonstrable knowledge of and experience with project management.

About Questionmark
Questionmark is a start-up with big ambitions. Our expertise is divided over sustainability research, marketing, communications and digital product development. Currently, the research team is made up of five people and the team is expected to continue to grow.
What you can expect when joining Questionmark:
·   The opportunity to do something good for the world you live in;
·   Huge ambitions and challenges, but also the freedom to participate in developing strategy and approach;
·    A small, varied and growing team with little hierarchy and short lines of communication;
·   An organisation in its pioneering phase, where the structure and processes are still being developed;
·   A fantastic location in Amsterdam-North with a panoramic view on the IJ-river.

Do you recognise yourself in the profile and would you feel at home at an ambitious start-up organisation?  Apply via the website before March 31 2014.