Senior Climate Scientist

Summary

Join the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) as a Senior Climate Scientist and provide physical climate science thought leadership, science direction, and technical support to advance the Climate and Energy Program mission. You will contribute to research development, critically evaluate evidence, and represent UCS in advocacy initiatives. This role involves designing and executing a research agenda, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and creating products for non-technical audiences. Collaboration with partners and public engagement are key aspects of the position. The successful candidate will be a lead spokesperson, representing UCS in various forums. UCS values racial equity and environmental justice, fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment.

Requirements

• PhD. degree in a relevant field, in life, physical, mathematical or social sciences, including economics, medicine, or public health, engineers and people with expertise in science, history, or science policy
• 9+ years of comparable and relevant experience, which could include academic-related work experience
• Qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, experience in designing and carrying out scientific research and analysis that rely on relevant data science techniques, with relevant coding language fluency (e.g. Python, or equivalent)
• Understanding of how science, economic and technical analyses, and advocacy inform public opinion, public policy, and litigation
• Innovation skills; ability to develop novel applications for existing data streams
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills, internally and with external partners from various backgrounds
• Experience with coalitions, legislative process, advocacy skills, and policy/planning analysis
• Excellent writing and presentation skills; ability to communicate effectively with technical experts and other professionals; ability to communicate complex scientific matters to non-expert audiences
• Project management skills
• Ability to work both independently and in teams in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple projects and deadlines
• Experience with incorporating equity, inclusion, and justice into work/projects; demonstrated experience centering equity in technical analysis
• Knowledge and familiarity with racial equity and inclusion principles and how race and other identities intersect in the work, particularly in scientific, policymaking and environmental communities. Must be comfortable talking about identities such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability and its present-day implications
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time
• Continuously operate a computer and must have the ability to control a mouse and keyboard
• Communicate in verbal and written formats with internal staff and external constituents

Responsibilities

• Design and implement research and analysis in accordance with legal requirements for human subjects and environmental protection and upholding principles of scientific excellence (e.g., regarding plagiarism, conflicts of interest, intellectual property and copyright, data governance and archiving, use of artificial intelligence)
• Work with leadership and colleagues to ensure that organizational and programmatic goals, strategies, priorities and decisions are grounded in, and informed by, the best available science and advance campaign goals and objectives
• Identify strategic opportunities for new areas of research for the Program and identify solutions to enable novel analytical or policy/litigation work
• Identify strategic opportunities for collaborative work across Program to develop and test evidence-based solutions for policy, regulatory, and other decision-making challenges
• Lead or support development of science-based products. Ensure accuracy, credibility, readability, and timeliness of all written material
• Participate and contribute to the S&A Group and support the priorities of the Office of Science and Innovation
• Manage research and analysis projects, including scoping, planning, execution, and evaluation. Manage day-to-day and long-term activities, budgets, contracts, coordinating project staff, maintaining project transparency and communication with project participants, programs, and the organization
• Write, edit and review peer-reviewed papers, reports, fact sheets, issue/policy briefs, and other materials highlighting the results of various analyses following UCS protocols for review, production, and presentation of results
• Help coordinate peer review by external technical experts, and internal UCS scientific and analytic products, and make necessary revisions before submitting for publication. Tailor style and content of materials for technical and/or general audiences, as appropriate
• Apply research results and conclusions to the formulation and development of public policies, regulations, and political strategies to promote the Program’s goals
• Carry out research objectives, policy approaches and engagement with others that foster inclusiveness and deliver greater benefits to underserved communities
• Provide a supportive and welcoming environment that addresses the needs of diverse entities
• Identify opportunities for broadening and diversifying the voices engaging in Program-related decision-making venues and equip new collaborators to engage successfully
• Apply scientific tools for advancing social equity
• Understand and value accurate data for the assessment, learning, tracking, and reporting of UCS’s impact
• Routinely track the impact of work to share with internal and external collaborators; maintain and safeguard confidential UCS supporter and ally data
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of, monitor, and assess current and emerging research, trends in the field, and related policy/regulatory issues, and apply learning to analysis and advocacy activities
• Using expertise, supporting the scoping, planning, design, and implementation of campaigns, including identifying key partners, research questions, and policy opportunities
• Collaborate with the Program’s Campaign staff to keep the campaign on track, assess new opportunities, respond to changing conditions, and communicate key decisions
• Influence the development and implementation of policies and strategies within government and nongovernment institutions to advance campaign goals; collaborate with UCS campaign and legislative staff to develop and effectively promote UCS-supported positions with senior government officials, legislators, regulators, opinion leaders, non-traditional allies, coalition partners, public and media representatives at local, state, regional, and national levels
• Represent UCS, its values, and positions in coalitions, conferences, workshops, collaborator negotiations, testimony and congressional hearings, national and state regulatory commissions, legislative committees, other government agencies and commissions, market operators and other key forums
• Establish and maintain alliances with advocates, other organizations, community leaders, businesses, academics, and researchers, including regulatory and legislative staff and governmental agencies, to exchange information, provide technical information/education and guidance, share resources, advance shared objectives, engage in collaborative projects, and participate in coalitions
• Represent UCS in the media, traditional and social; work with UCS Communications staff to identify key media opportunities, help draft materials, and serve as direct contact to the media, including providing rapid response to media requests. Respond to inquiries and comments from collaborators, media, members, and the public about issues related to the Program’s mission
• Report research results and recommend research directions in oral and written form to experts, public, media, and congressional representatives
• Communicate and uplift UCS’s priorities online and through social media by writing blog posts, web copy and other digital content
• Serve as an internal resource to expand UCS staff expertise and visibility. Share research and insights with UCS staff and collaborate on understanding and applying that research to advancing UCS strategic priorities
• Support and provide strategic thinking with respect to UCS’s fundraising and development efforts through donor meetings, participation in meetings of the National Advisory Board, and other efforts to cultivate relationships
• Provide physical climate science expertise and thought leadership to identify and carry out strategic opportunities for new areas of research, especially for the Climate Accountability and Resilience campaigns
• Lead and support the scoping, planning, design, and implementation of C&E campaigns, including identifying key collaborators, research questions, litigation or policy opportunities and providing project management
• Serve as a lead spokesperson on physical climate science topics for a variety of internal and external audiences, including leading responses to requests for physical climate science explanation and review, and providing expert climate science advice for C&E projects
• Strengthen UCS’s leadership role on climate science and maintain in-depth knowledge of, monitor, and assess current and emerging research, trends in climate attribution and related scientific fields, and related policy/regulatory/legal issues
• Maintain scientific credentials and engage as an active member of the climate scientific community by publishing in peer reviewed journals, attending and presenting at scientific conferences, serving as a journal reviewer, and providing the US public, policymakers and campaign-specific audiences with accessible information on climate science, impacts and solutions
• Support and participate in UCS's internal efforts to create an anti-racist and inclusive work environment. Contribute to creating a culture in which all staff on the team are safe, respected, and heeded, and BIPOC people thrive

Preferred Qualifications

PhD in a relevant physical climate science field (for instance, in atmospheric science or paleoclimatology, etc.)

Benefits

• Salary: $134,805.12 (CA Resident Only, we offer a 12% salary differential)
• Excellent benefits
• Rewarding work environment
• Remote position