Staff Scientist, IPCC Working Group III Technical Support Unit - Washington DC

Position Title:

Staff Scientist, IPCC Working Group III Technical Support Unit Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Location:

Washington DC

Posting Dates:

March 18, 2024 - April 16, 2024

Application Instructions:

This position offers a hybrid work model and is based at the USGCRP office in Washington DC. Candidates residing outside the Washington DC metro area are required to indicate their relocation date in their cover letter or resume. Alternatively, they should confirm their capability to commute to the office on a hybrid basis. Resumes must also detail professional experience and education that align with the minimum and/or preferred qualifications to be considered.

OVERVIEW

Jointly established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) prepares comprehensive and up-to-date assessments of policy-relevant scientific, technical, and socio-economic information needed to further understand the scientific basis of climate change, potential impacts, and options for mitigation and adaptation. Working Group III (WGIII) assesses climate change mitigation. For the IPCC Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) cycle, the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is funding a Technical Support Unit (TSU) to provide technical and administrative services in direct support of the elected IPCC WGIII Co-Chairs. To enhance efficiency, the TSU is distributed – with nodes at the USGCRP office in Washington DC, and at partner entities elsewhere in the United States and abroad. USGCRP coordinates and integrates global change research and supporting activities conducted by 15 Federal agencies and departments, with the day-to-day operations facilitated by a National Coordination Office administered by ICF. The IPCC AR7 cycle is a program priority.

BASIC FUNCTION

The Staff Scientist works closely with the TSU Head and Head of Science. Provides high-level scientific support to address commitments of IPCC Working Group III – specifically preparing and reviewing the WGIII contribution to the Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) and the AR7 Synthesis Report. Plays a lead role in science project teams, contributing interdisciplinary scientific content via advanced knowledge of climate mitigation topics. Serves as a lead staff resource for the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. Serves as WGIII TSU representative on IPCC Secretariat-led action teams, e.g., the Communications Action Team (CAT). Typical functions include development of written reports and guidance for assessment authors; meeting objective and agenda planning, content development, and presentation delivery for author meetings; liaising with authors and scientific staff across the working groups; using advanced knowledge of the science to compile, review, and edit reports; and attending national and international meetings as a representative of IPCC WGIII.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1)    Scientific Coordination (45%): Ensures that WGIII assessments are accurate, balanced, and comprehensive, providing quality assurance services for the research community and stakeholders. Develops plans for and manages production of materials supporting the assessment process, in consultation with senior scientific staff within and across working groups and leading mitigation experts serving on writing teams. Reviews draft materials submitted by authors to verify adherence to plenary-approved outlines and to support clarity and effectiveness of assessment; ensures that assigned draft chapters objectively reflect the latest scientific findings; and helps motivate writing teams to stay on a very tight mandatory schedule while maintaining the highest scientific integrity. Uses expert knowledge of the underlying science and relevant literature to develop innovative ways of improving message and communicating key findings. Supports the planning and conduct of Expert Meetings and Workshops and assists in the preparation of proceedings/reports.

2)    Scientific Management (40%): Assists the Head of Science and WGIII TSU science colleagues with the evaluation and synthesis of scoping meeting and writing team nominations packages, providing streamlined materials for WGIII Bureau consideration. Helps coordinate large-scale projects which could include development of Frequently Asked Questions, cross-volume boxes, and/or the WGIII contribution to IPCC-wide glossary. Offers independent comments on draft chapters to reduce redundancy, ensure consistency, and promote effective assessment practice within and across drafts. Generates TSU syntheses of collected comments from the staged reviews to identify common themes. Generates Lead Author Meeting presentations and author guidance to highlight said themes. Serves as a science advisor to the Volunt