Research Associate

Join us on the journey to get to net zero
At Carbon Direct, we dedicate our scientific, software, and business expertise to empower organizations around the world to take climate action.
Our MissionEnable organizations to reduce, remove, and utilize their emissions with carbon scienceWe are a purpose-driven carbon management firm dedicated to helping organizations around the world reach their climate goals. We make carbon science accessible and actionable with our end-to-end platform.
Global citizens with global impactWhether a scientist, developer, or carbon markets expert, we are united by our mission to take climate action now. We are experts in our fields and we act with confidence. Located across 4 countries and 10+ states in the U.S., we offer both remote-friendly work options and dynamic, in-person experiences with offices located in Seattle, WA and Oakland, CA.
Diverse backgrounds bring diverse perspectivesWe recognize that teams with diverse backgrounds and different experiences are powerful. Bringing together a variety of perspectives only enhances how we can effectively address the climate crisis. Together, we are creating an environment where everyone is celebrated and anyone can succeed.

The Role
We are looking for Research Associates to join our Science & Advisory team(s) to  support both the day-to-day management as well as  content development for complex carbon management advisory engagements. Our work environment is collaborative, fast paced, and may require travel. We are a fluid, rapidly-growing organization and we value flexibility, curiosity, and ability to work effectively in teams and independently. A successful candidate is a self-starter, someone who stays informed about regulatory, policy, and technological developments in the climate space and sustainability more broadly, and is excited to work hard towards the implementation of just climate change solutions. 

Responsibilities

• Support project design, and execution of deliverables in collaboration with other team members.
• Undertake research, modeling, expert interviews, and/or data analyses, both independently and in partnership with colleagues.
• Participate in collaborative problem solving with project teams.
• Liaise and communicate with clients and internal team members to achieve client and team goals.
• Develop and communicate recommendations via clear and compelling deliverables, including reports, briefs, and visual presentation of synthesized analytical insights.
• Help ensure quality control of outgoing work products and correspondence.
• Meet deadlines through good time management, foresight about future tasks, and regular communication of work plans with project managers.

Experience

• Experience in carbon management solutions, including decarbonization and carbon removal technologies, and an in-depth understanding of the carbon market. We are looking for applicants with content knowledge in one or more of the following areas. Expertise across all of the following areas is not a requirement:
• Life Cycle Assessments and/or Techno-Economic Assessments
• Economics (land-use economics experience preferred)
• Emissions Mitigation
• Public policy
• Forestry, ecology, agriculture, conservation, and restoration
• Engineered and hybrid carbon removal solutions (e.g., direct air capture, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, etc.)
• Carbon markets (voluntary or compliance) and relevant standards and protocols

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field, or a bachelor’s degree with demonstrated work experience, including relevant academic areas of focus, internships, volunteer experience, fellowships, etc. Degrees or work experiences that include training in research methods (quantitative or qualitative) are a plus.
• Ability to synthesize findings from scientific and technical reports. 
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently with limited supervision when necessary, proactively engaging with project managers
• Good communicator, confident synthesis and writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively communicate across internal teams (including with part-time/academic staff members) and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to contribute to multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize to meet deadlines and respond and adapt to changing client needs.
• Client engagement experience is a plus.
• Proficiency in Excel and/or other analytical software (e.g., R, GIS, Tableau) preferred.
• We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. For this role, we have a slight preference for applicants in the San Francisco Bay area or Colorado Boulder metro area.

Benefits
While we love our work, our lives aren’t defined by it. At Carbon Direct, w