Resources for the Future

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

Organizational Profile

RFF’s mission is to improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. We are committed to being the most widely trusted source of research insights and policy solutions leading to a healthy environment and a thriving economy. Working at RFF provides the opportunity to draw on one of the world’s largest collections of experts in environmental and natural resource economics as well as an extensive range of partnerships with NGO, government, academic, and private sector institutions.

Our work broadly centers on the economics and design of smart strategies to achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases and build resilience to climate change risks. Our work increasingly emphasizes issues related to equity, economic transitions, and the distribution of climate and policy impacts. We envision a future where climate change no longer threatens our well-being and where smart environmental decisions help to uplift communities around the world.

RFF is the leader in smart environmental policy design and innovation with a reputation for rigorous, evidence-based policy analysis. Our experts bring the brightest thinking to bear on our future, while having shaped many of the world’s most successful environmental decisions and policies over the past 70 years. Our people are the key to our success. We hope you will join us.

 
Summary

Resources for the Future is seeking experienced researchers and policy specialists ready to lead team-based research and policy engagement activities. The position is open to mid-career applicants with either a Doctoral degree and at least five years of professional experience beyond their doctorate or a Master’s degree and at least ten years of professional experience in environmental research and policy. Appointments will be made at the Fellow, Senior Fellow, Initiative Director, and Program Director Level, depending on experience.  

The ideal candidate will have the entrepreneurial drive to establish new areas of research with lasting impact on environmental decisions and policy. He/She will have the opportunity to draw on one of the world’s largest collections of experts in environmental and natural resource economics as well as an extensive range of partnerships with NGO, government, academic, and corporate institutions.

We will consider individuals with proven track records of team-based research management and entrepreneurship, as well as experienced researchers with a strong motivation to develop the skills and experience needed to become such leaders.

RFF is committed to being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. Achieving that goal is essential to achieving our mission—and it is simply the right thing to do, as described in RFF’s Vision for a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Future. We especially encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds and life experiences to apply.


Topical Priorities

Within the broad themes of smart strategies to achieve net-zero emissions and building climate resilience, RFF is particularly seeking research and policy engagement leaders in one or more of the following areas:

Technology – including analysis of innovation and adoption processes, design and assessment of innovation policies, and the effect of broader types of policy on innovation incentives. Candidates for this area should have a deep understanding of specific technologies related to greenhouse gas mitigation and storage and/or energy production and transportation, the modeling of technology adoption and investment, and design of policies for those sectors, such as financial incentives and performance standards.

Environmental Justice – including analysis of the demographic and geographic distribution of climate change and climate policy impacts. Candidates for this area should have a deep understanding of the modeling and quantification of economic and other social outcomes affected by climate change, adaptation and resilience policies, the design of policies that affect social outcomes and their distribution, as well as experience working in partnership with community-based organizations and an understanding of EJ history and current issues.

International Climate Mitigation Strategies – focused on key questions related to international greenhouse gas mitigation efforts, including competitiveness and border measures, sector-specific efforts, international emissions trading, low-carbon development strategies and equity concerns, mitigation financing, and mitigation policies in other key countries. Candidates for this area should have a deep understanding of international policy frameworks, framework design, mitigation, and sequestration modeling, as well as strong connections with international research and policy networks and institutions.

Climate Finance – focused on key questions related to corporate (and particularly financial sector) actions to mitigate climate change. This includes commitments to net-zero emissions by firms and investors, disclosure and reporting, voluntary carbon markets, innovative financing for mitigation projects, and initiatives around low-carbon product standards and procurement efforts. It also includes efforts by the federal reserve and other central banks to address systemic risk from climate change. Candidates for this area should have a deep understanding of corporate initiatives to mitigate emissions, relevant financial markets, and the modeling and analysis to inform corporate decision-making.

Exceptional candidates with expertise in other areas related to RFF’s mission will also be considered.


Qualifications and Experience

A Doctoral degree in economics or policy analysis, or an advanced degree in other areas (social sciences, natural sciences, law, or engineering) with a demonstrated capacity to collaborate with economists with at least 5 years of experience in environmental research policy; OR, A Master’s degree in economics or policy analysis, or in other areas (social sciences, natural sciences, law, or engineering) with 10 years of experience in environmental research policy.

Expertise with substantial knowledge related to one or more of the topics listed above, with a record of research publications and/or leading and managing teams producing research publications.

Experience working within or closely with government agencies, and a network of governmental and non-governmental contacts related to the abovementioned sectors and policy issues.

Demonstrated ability to establish and lead new areas of research and policy engagement with lasting impact on environmental decisions and policy.

Demonstrated research leadership skills, including project and program management ability.
Management or supervisory experience leading, coaching, and mentoring staff, with experience providing increased responsibilities over time.

Fundraising experience with government, foundations, corporations, multilateral organizations, and/or individuals.

Experience with strategic communications, including outreach to media and target audiences in the public, business, and nonprofit sectors.

Outstanding oral and written communications skills.

Demonstrated interest in, and capability to work as part of a team to develop and execute strategy on an organizational level.

Experience in building and maintaining partnerships with organizations, universities, and/or multilateral institutions.


Benefits:

Excellent benefits package and employee perks:

Medical, Dental, Vision through Cigna
35-hour work week
Flexible summer hours (4-day work week June-Sept)
Flexible work arrangement policy (hybrid work)
11 paid holidays
4 weeks PTO to start, increases to 5 weeks after 5 years, in addition to 13 paid sick days per year
Gym on site
Deli on site
Parking on site
RFF contributes up to 15% of your salary to a 403(b)-retirement account, depending on employee age in addition to a 401(a)
Commuter benefit plans (pre-tax metro and parking)


All applicants should use RFF’s on-line application process at www.rff.org/careers. The required items are a letter of application describing interest in the position focusing on the relevant area(s) noted above and a resume/curriculum vitae.

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. However, they should be received by November 27, 2023 in order to ensure full consideration.

Should you experience any difficulty in applying online, or if you have other questions about the position, please email midcareerhiring@rff.org.

RFF has made the safety of our staff and community a top priority. As a part of that commitment, all staff and visitors are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined by the CDC. RFF will require all staff and visitors to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 to work in our office. 

 

Visit our FAQ page to find out what it’s like to work at a world-class, policy-oriented research organization in the heart of Washington, DC.