Senior Research Associate
Remote
Programs /
Full-Time /
Remote
About Spark
What will it take to return to a safe, stable climate? What are the missing solutions, responses, knowledge bases, and organizational structures that will enable us to get there, and how do we start building for them now?
Spark is a new, well-funded non-profit organization accelerating progress in under-developed, high-potential solutions and responses that are crucial to the comprehensive portfolio that will allow us to return to a safe climate.
As a field-building organization, Spark creates holistic strategies, orchestrating and driving action, using multiple levers such as funding scientific research and policy advocacy, to shape the long-term trajectory of the field to accelerate meaningful climate impact. Spark is steadfastly focused on climate impact at a meaningful scale. To that end, we think big, and are always looking for what the most additive, highest-leverage work we can do is.
Our team has deep expertise in science, engineering, and climate-focused philanthropy. Spark’s funders include the Grantham Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Astera Institute, Climate Pathfinders Foundation, Additional Ventures, and the Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust.
About the Role
Spark is looking for a Senior Research Associate who will use their technical and analytical abilities to help shape Spark’s work to accelerate progress in emerging climate fields. We’re looking for a rigorous, action-oriented problem solver with science expertise who has the ability to identify things others may have missed and get to the root cause of things to create a well-informed, impact-oriented path forward.
Working collaboratively with Spark team members, the Senior Research Associate will leverage their technical/scientific background to explore the state-of-the-research across multiple scientific disciplines and topic areas to identify potential transformative opportunities, and the best path forward.
This role is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of multiple emerging climate fields that have the potential to limit warming, manage Earth systems risk, and help to enable our return to a safe climate. As a member of an interdisciplinary team focused on climate impact you will help shape the long-term trajectory of needed climate solutions and responses.
Responsibilities
- Conduct investigations and quantitative analysis to effectively landscape well-scoped subsets of climate fields, potential solution spaces, and currently unmitigated areas of climate risk
- Synthesize and communicate key findings and recommendations into clear and compelling presentation, written reports, or white papers for both technical and non-technical audiences
- Create stakeholder maps of current people and organizations engaged in specific areas
- Engage and collaborate with external researchers and experts
- Assisting in and/or leading subject matter expert interviews
- Reading and synthesizing the latest literature in the field
- Partnering with Spark team members to translate what they’re learning about the field into action-oriented workflows to ensure tangible progress is made toward desired impact
- Developing and administering systems and processes for management of our outgoing research grants
Support current programs and exploratory areas by:
Desired Skills & Experience
- Ph.D. degree in a relevant field such as physical or biological sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering, biological engineering, earth system sciences OR a or Master’s degree in an applicable field, plus 2 years of relevant work experience OR a Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field, plus 4 years of relevant work experience.
- Proven ability to conduct research, synthesize, and clearly communicate research findings to a diversity of audiences (both subject matter experts and non-experts) across a range of different topic areas
- Demonstrated aptitude for solving challenging problems and critical thinking
- Proven ability to drive meaningful results both as an individual and part of a team
- Adept at system-level thinking – understanding how scientific research, policy, funding, industry, etc all play a role in the development of new critical climate fields
- Strong written, speaking / presentation, and interpersonal communication skills – specifically experience writing short technical reports on topics that clearly communicate context and conclusions
- Insatiable curiosity about the climate problem; open-mindedness in exploring all possible climate solutions; and the flexibility, creativity, and tenacity to drive the necessary work forward
Eligibility
- Fluency in English
- Able to work as a W2 employee for a US non-profit
- At least 4 overlapping work hours with US Pacific time work day (9am-5pm PT)
Location
As with all positions at Spark Climate Solutions, this will be 100% remote. Employees can work anywhere within the United States, or internationally with approval.
Compensation
This is a all full-time positions with benefits. The salary range is $110,000-$130,000 / year. In addition, Spark Climate Solutions provides exceptional benefits including flexible PTO, sick time, holidays, a 401-k match, generous health insurance coverage, and full-covered dental/vision/life insurance, and parental leave
