Senior Scientist, Sustainability Science and Innovation

Sustainability is a core priority for Microsoft.  We have set, and are committed to achieving, ambitious corporate sustainability  targets.  We are also dedicated to bringing the power of technology to support our customers and the world in meeting sustainability goals.  At the core of all of this work is science, innovation, and partnerships.  

To support these efforts, Microsoft is hiring a Senior Scientist to join the Sustainability Science and Innovation (SSI) team.  This SSI team is one of the four pillars of Microsoft’s Corporate External and Legal Affairs (CELA) Environmental Sustainability (ES) team, which coordinates overall science-based, measurable, and scalable sustainability investments and outcomes across the company.  CELA ES engages with business groups to set goals related to reductions in the environmental impacts of business operations and positive environmental outcomes resulting from technology and policy development.   

The Senior Scientist- Sustainability Science and Innovation, will help ensure Microsoft’s sustainability efforts are led by the best available science and inform and co-design sustainability solutions for Microsoft’s and the world’s sustainability challenges. This position will also have a leading role in driving progress on Microsoft Playbook on AI and Sustainability. They will be a sustainability science leader, with a track record working across science, technology, and policy, and a deep understanding of the Earth’s systems, analytical, research and writing and communication skills.. The candidate would also have experience working with data science, and Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence (ML/AI). 

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Responsibilities

• Working with internal and external partners, drive progress on Microsoft’s AI & Sustainability Playbook, which includes working to identify and help implement opportunities to leverage AI to advance sustainability at Microsoft and around the world.  
• Inform and guide cross-company initiatives working at the intersection of AI and sustainability.  
• Represent Microsoft’s sustainability science and innovation expertise with customers, partners, and other external stakeholders   
• Lead the development of internal and external publications related to sustainability science and technologies that help to inform and communicate Microsoft’s sustainability work.  
• Help ensure Microsoft’s sustainability work is grounded in the best available science by reviewing, distilling, and communicating the relevance and implications of science literature to our operational, business, and policy teams. 
• Embody our culture and values    

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor's Degree AND 3+ years experience working on sustainability at the intersection of science and technology, or related area
  • OR 5+ years experience working on sustainability at the intersection of science and technology,  or related area.
• Experience working in the private sector, government, or Non Governmental Organization (NGO) working at the intersection of sustainability, data science and ML/AI 
    

Additional or Preferred Qualifications:

• A Masters in environmental science or related field AND  10+ years