Full-Time Policy Researcher
Job Description
Location: This is a remote position in the United States.
The Carbon Leadership Forum, a research organization based out of the University of Washington’s College of Built Environment, is seeking a collaborative Policy Researcher to help execute our mission to accelerate the decarbonization of the building sector through eliminating the embodied carbon in building materials and construction through collective action.
Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of construction materials used in buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. We need to reduce embodied carbon 40-65% by 2030 to meet the reduction scenarios set by the IPCC to avoid catastrophic climate change, and yet current green building and climate policy efforts fail to adequately address embodied carbon.
The Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) has three strategic pillars to help us reach our mission:
Advance Data and Methods: We align, assess and advance life cycle assessment data, tools, and methodology to increase access and availability of robust data for effective decision-making; Inform Effective and Just Policy: We develop research, analysis, and model policy language and act as a technical advisor to inform policy development. Our work spans local, state, federal and corporate policy; and Build Community for Impact: We build and convene a diverse network of leaders through our online forum and regional hubs to enable widespread action to reduce embodied carbon
The Policy Researcher would be responsible for the execution of research and analysis, development of guidance documents and educational resources, and stakeholder education and outreach to inform the development and implementation of cross-sectoral climate policies that target embodied carbon. This position will report to the Senior Policy Researcher and be a part of the CLF’s core research team.
Policies to reduce emissions from building materials and infrastructure require action across a number of sectors: to truly eliminate embodied carbon requires transformation of the industrial, building, transport, and forestry/agricultural sectors. The Policy Researcher will therefore have the chance to explore a diverse set of climate policy solutions, with a focus on building and industrial sector policy.
This position requires experience in policy research and analysis and knowledge of climate change drivers and policy frameworks that address climate justice. This position will benefit from a basic understanding of the building and construction sector, embodied carbon assessments and life cycle assessment (LCA).
Duties:
Research
Conduct research to support development, awareness, implementation, and compliance of effective and just policies to reduce embodied carbon. This includes:
- Preparing analysis, model policy language, fact sheets/memos, testimony, and other materials necessary to inform development of climate policy targeting embodied carbon
- Interviewing and convening stakeholders to inform and assess CLF research
- Developing educational resources and tools to support implementation and compliance with embodied carbon policies, such as case studies, primers, reports, and trainings
- Managing project meetings and tasks for research projects
- Monitoring and internally communicating relevant legislative development
- Reviewing and tracking relevant research and reports
- Updating and expanding the Carbon Leadership Forum’s Policy Toolkit
- Leading and/or assisting in the preparation and review of reports, articles, and presentations to communicate research results, including visual representations of data
- Interfacing with clients, partners and UW research teams, occasionally in a management role with UW staff or consultants
Stakeholder Education and Outreach
- Build capacity for development and implementation of embodied carbon policies through presentations and trainings to stakeholders and interested groups, including:
- Delivering technical presentations and hosting trainings/roundtables
- Responding to requests for technical expertise and guidance from policymakers, agencies, NGO partners, and other stakeholders
- Serving on relevant standards development committees
- Obtaining invitations to present at webinars/events developed by external organizations.
Organizational Development
- Understanding the broad strategic objectives of the Carbon Leadership Forum and contribute to their execution and refinement.
- Expanding technical capability and identifying new research opportunities through a variety of methods including peer networks
- Supporting ongoing CLF administrative needsAs a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.
Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in Policy, environmental studies, or related field.
- 1 year of related experience
- Engagement with climate policy and climate justice frameworks related to the building, industry, and/or agricultural sectors (i.e. as a legislative staffer, researcher, policy consultant, lobbyist, etc.)
- General knowledge of LCA data, methods and application and understanding of principles of relevant LCA standards.
- Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
- Ability to analyze and visualize data using tools such as Excel, Tableau and/or other similar software
- Experience contributing to complex projects and diverse teams with demonstrated examples of successful completion.
- Basic understanding of the building/construction industry
- Demonstrated commitment to value diversity and contribute to an inclusive working and learning environment.Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Desired:
- Experience working in the building/construction industry to demonstrate awareness of current building and design practices that will relate to embodied carbon research.
- Experience using whole building LCA software, LCA datasets and Environmental Product Declarations to support technical guidance and resource development
- Experience in the use of Life Cycle Assessment software (Gabi or SimaPro) to conduct life cycle assessments of building materials and products to support technical guidance and resource development.
- Recognized researcher demonstrated through invitations to be a presenter at national conferences or peer reviewed publications.
- Experience developing and executing educational resources such as coursework and/or practice guides.
- Experience collaborating with diverse industry stakeholders
- Graphic design/representation skills
- Non-profit and/or academic experience
- Grant writing and development of relationships with funding organizations
- Doctoral Degree
This is a remote position in the United States.