Senior Expert

Job description

Context of the role
You will be responsible for leading our 1.5°C quantitative mitigation pathways analysis and energy modelling teams, and as such would have the responsibility for ensuring that the Climate Analytics is dealing with the most important issues in the 1.5°C mitigation space at a very important moment in the history of climate action.
 
The Climate Policy Team is engaged with a large and exciting variety of projects, among them our flagship project “Climate Action Tracker”, State of Climate Action and continuously develops new research and applied policy projects. In its work, the team has a major interest in meeting the challenges surrounding 1.5°C compatible energy-system transformation towards renewables and fossil-fuel phase-out strategies at international, national, sub-national and sectoral levels, tracking and assessing climate action at international, national, sub-national and sectoral levels, combining both qualitative and quantitative scientific and policy expertise, approaches, data and models. 
 
The team works collaboratively with partners across different projects and in different parts of the world and supports Climate Analytics regional offices in climate policy analysis, development and modelling. Examples of projects include the Climate Action Tracker, 1.5oC National Pathways Explorer, coal, gas and fossil fuel phase out studies at global, national and regional/country level. New projects build on these and earlier successful projects.
 
With our expanding regional presence through offices in the Caribbean, Africa, South Asia, the US,  Australia and the Pacific, there are ample opportunities for you to work across various regions, collaborating with other think tanks, NGOs and governments and sectors. We offer a positive and inspiring working atmosphere in a diverse international team, participation in a great network of partner institutes and stakeholders, as well as insights into the international climate change negotiations and our support work for stakeholders globally, including emerging economies and developed countries.
 
Responsibilities
 
Your responsibilitiesManage and guide quantitative 1.5°C mitigation pathways analysis, energy systems modelling, and related quantitative work.

• Provide content leadership and guidance to CPT team members working on 1.5°C mitigation pathways analysis, energy modelling, and related quantitative work, ensuring scientific integrity and overall quality control of the modelling work.
• Guide and lead methodological developments in the Climate Action Tracker and Systems Change Lab work on tracking and assessing climate action and 1.5°C aligned changes and benchmarks across sectors.
• Line manage and support the head of energy modelling, overseeing the development of power and energy system modelling tools for use by the Climate Policy Team.
  1. We currently work with tools including PyPSA, OseMosys, LEAP and downscaling methods, and are looking to further develop the suite of modelling tools used. 
• Line manage CPT staff working on quantitative mitigation pathway   analysis, and related quantitative work.
• Develop and guide quantitative work on 1.5°C aligned fossil fuel phase out globally, nationally and regionally.
• Initiate cutting-edge work timed to support global policy initiatives advancing 1.5°C-compatible implementation in the energy space.
• Provide support in the UNFCCC context to SIDS and LDCs on quantitative aspects of mitigation and 1.5°aligned pathways.
• Oversee analysts maintaining our energy and emissions databases and development of tools we use to maintain it.
• Guide analyses that apply these tools to show how different countries and sectors can decarbonise in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming limit; develop and publish leading benchmarks for the decarbonisation in countries, and sectors.
• Guide and/or support the development of existing and new methods and modelling tools. 
• Advise on the development of existing and new methods and models.
• Coordinate and lead projects quantifying energy mitigation and energy transition analyses. 
• Strengthening the scientific profile of the organisation including via authoring or co-authoring peer reviewed publications.

External Relations and partnership building 

• Represent the organisation at selected external events and forums.
• Build networks and relationships in the integrated assessment and energy modelling space and develop collaborations between climate analytics and institutions working in this area to advance the scientific and policy debate over mitigation pathways to meet the 1.5° challenge.
• Support the CPT Head to develop outreach strategies to enhance the organisation’s presence, policy space.
• Coordinate with project partners, funders and relevant stakeholders – both internally and externally and maintain relationships with collaborators and research partners. 

 
Project Development and Fundraising 

• Identify potential new projects related to mitigation pathways analysis, energy modelling, and related quantitative work and associated funding opportunities with existing and new partners. 
• Support and/or lead preparation within CPT for associated grant proposals and funding requests. 
• Developer network of philanthropic support for project specific to the area of responsibility.
• Support the CPT Head to develop these programmes and projects. 

 
Human Resources and Staff Development

• Supervise team dynamics within the mitigation pathways analysis, energy modelling, and related quantitative works area of responsibility, promote professional growth, and conduct performance evaluations.
• Ensure that performance reviews of direct line reports are conducted fairly, accurately and in a timely manner.

Your profile

• A master’s or PhD degree in energy system modelling or related field of quantitative climate-energy policy analysis in the mitigation space.
• 8 years of relevant work experience, of which at least 4 years should be managing research projects and teams. Comparable experience can be considered with an appropriate publication record. 
• A scientific track record in the field of mitigation pathway analysis, very strong quantitative skills, and the ability to lead the development of relevant models, including integrated assessment models, economic and energy system optimisation tools.
• Knowledge and understanding of key quantitative aspects of climate and energy policy at international and national levels, particularly in relation to the implementation of the Paris Agreement across all sectors and synergies with the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Experience in energy system modelling (particularly PyPSA, but other models such as LEAP / OSeMOSYS are also beneficial).
• Good Python programming experience and good knowledge of git and CI/CD.
• An eye for detail and an interest in the political dimensions of your work.
• An interest in developing new knowledge and skills in mitigation pathways analysis and tracking climate mitigation action.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively and clearly with stakeholders at all levels.
• Solid understanding of quantitative and qualitative energy and climate policy analyses.
• Experience working in a non-profit, research or project-based environment is a plus.
• Excellent English written and verbal skills. Additional languages are an asset. 
• Willingness to travel. 
• Experience in project management, coordination, and fundraising.
• A good network in the climate and energy policy space.

Our offer

• A job with purpose. With us you will work in a team of highly engaged people and with your skills you can make a positive contribution to our work in the field of climate change.  
• A job with impact. We are at the forefront of the discussion on what countries need to do to limit warming to 1.5°C and publish a wide range of highly influential reports every year. We have strong links with key decision-makers, including within the UNFCCC negotiations, and have been a leading voice in the push to keep 1.5°C alive. 
• We are a diverse and inclusive team and welcome your application regardless of your gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other aspect that makes you unique.  
• You will get to know the entire organisation and be more than just a cog in the wheel. Climate Analytics has teams focused on climate science, international negotiations and on-the-ground implementation support, as well as the Climate Policy Team that you will be based in. 
• We will offer your public transport ticket which allows you to travel in Berlin and across Germany.  
• We also offer a company pension plan. 

Conditions
Application Deadline:    Open until filled
Starting date:            As soon as possible
Location:                     Berlin, Germany
Terms:                          We are looking for a long-term collaboration. Currently we can offer a fixed term contract for 2 years, with the perspective of extension based on performance and funding.About us

We are a global climate science and policy institute established in 2008 to bring cutting-edge analysis to bear on the most pressing issue of our time – climate change. Our vibrant, international team is composed of 130 staff - half are based at our headquarters in Berlin, Germany, and the remainder work out of our five regional offices in Africa, Australia & Pacific, the Caribbean, South Asia and North America. Click here to find out more.

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