Position Overview
The U.S. Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of governors committed to upholding the goals of the Paris Agreement. The U.S. Climate Alliance secretariat provides strategic, convening, analytical and other functions to support Alliance states in making progress on their climate priorities. For more information on the on the Alliance, please visit www.usclimatealliance.org.
The Research Assistant works with senior staff of the U.S. Climate Alliance Secretariat in providing research, analysis, and administrative support on a wide range of climate and clean energy issues to support Alliance states in developing and implementing climate policy. The Research Assistant reports to a U.S. Climate Alliance Secretariat Senior Associate in support of Alliance states and will be expected to work as part of a broader team that includes Alliance states, consultants, and external partners. The Research Assistant supports and responds to state-led initiatives, and works with the Energy and Climate team at the United Nations Foundation, which houses the U.S. Climate Alliance Secretariat.
This is a one-year full-time with benefits position located in Washington, D.C.
Essential Functions
- Prepare Material for Major Alliance Deliverables: Conduct policy research, analyze key energy and emission sector trends, and draft chapters of the Alliance’s annual report. Contribute to products that help Alliance states improve greenhouse gas inventories, measure progress towards policy goals, and make the case for increased ambition. Conduct research and analysis and draft material for Alliance products across other sectors.
- Generate Policy Options Papers: At the request of Alliance states and the Secretariat, draft briefing papers that analyze policy options across climate and clean energy issues and make recommendations that are ambitious, politically feasible and technologically possible.
- Draft Documents for Alliance Meetings: Work with a team to prepare materials that support major Alliance meetings and workshops, including by working with Alliance states, consulting outside experts, and conducting desk research.
- Review and Process Contracts and Grant Agreements: Work with team members to support new contracts and grant agreements including drafting or reviewing scopes of work, working with the contracts teams to revise, drafting reputational risk memos, and processing through Salesforce.
- Coordinate a set of Working Groups: Provide support to sector leads in the management of their working groups and initiatives including scheduling calls, taking notes, following-up on action items, and engaging stakeholders to scope and implement projects.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Selection Criteria
- Master’s degree preferred, or a Bachelor’s degree with substantial relevant work experience.
- 1-2 years’ experience in climate and clean energy research and analysis (3-5 years if the candidate does not have a Master’s degree).
- Demonstrated strong research, analytical, writing, presentation, and briefing skills.
- Familiarity with U.S. climate and energy policy and relevant datasets. with deep knowledge of GHG accounting methods preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to manipulate and display complex datasets in Microsoft Excel and/or other tools.
- Critical thinker that can generate products tailored to different audiences without requiring frequent direction.
- This role is based in Washington D.C. with potential to become permanent pending funding
As part of a small and busy team, key skills include:
- Self-motivated with strong ability to find solutions in the face of challenges.
- Maximum flexibility in accepting and professionally executing a range of tasks.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple, competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to diplomatically engage diverse counterparts and use personal discretion in working with sensitive information
The interview process for this role will require an assessment to be taken.
Benefits & Compensation
For full-time, benefit eligible employees, UNF offers an excellent range of benefits, including:
- a choice between two health plans through UnitedHealthcare (PPO or HDHP with HSA)
- dental insurance
- vision insurance
- flexible spending accounts
- 403b retirement savings plan with a generous matching contribution
- group term and supplemental life insurance
- short-term disability
- long-term disability
- health club discounts
- commuter subsidy
- back-up care
- employee assistance program
Additionally, all benefit eligible employees have 12 paid holidays, 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 3 personal days, and 8 weeks of family leave care.
The United Nations Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative-action employer. The United Nations Foundation provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
