Industry Program, Senior Research Associate

Are you passionate about making a positive impact through market transformation and policy change? Would you like to use your skillset to help the U.S. industrial sector be globally competitive, cut costs, and reach net-zero carbon by 2050?

ACEEE’s industry program delivers impactful research, market transformation, and advisory services to cut energy waste and emissions across the sector. The program’s work includes policy development at state and federal levels, education across the market, technical assistance to support policy development, identification of technological advances, and engagement with stakeholders.

Our work often emphasizes how industrial energy efficiency and decarbonization impact communities, especially through job creation, community benefits, equity and environmental justice, and health. We are seeking nothing less than a transformation of industrial heat in the U.S.

The Opportunity

As Senior Researcher, you will be our point person for industrial heat efficiency and electrification. The position offers the potential to elevate you to national standing through engagement with state and federal policymakers, utilities, manufacturers, vendors, and other market players. You will lead and conduct research, analysis, policy development, and program design. You will have the support of a well-respected and widely recognized team of policy and industry experts in a dynamic organization. The role includes collaboration with other research programs, as well as the policy teams working at the federal, state, utility, and local levels.

ACEEE’s industrial policy work encompasses industrial heat, embodied carbon, and the chemicals sector. Through cross-sector collaboration, you will uncover opportunities to impact industrial decarbonization, cultivate new connections across the economy, and build momentum for industrial transformation.

General Responsibilities

• Leads, publishes, communicates, and contributes to research and analysis on industrial heat efficiency and electrification.
• Develops thought leadership on industrial market transformation.
• Works with the team to identify, monitor, and describe technology advances and policy windows to advance the market at the corporate, state, and federal levels.
• Engages in outreach to states for industrial programs and rulemaking efforts.
• Promotes, coordinates, and contributes to convenings and collaborations of utilities, industrial companies, NGOs and other partners to help advance energy efficiency and carbon reductions.
• Develops and follows project workplans and meets milestones within budgeted hours.
• Interacts with funders and develops new funding sources. Contributes to proposal development.

Job Requirements

Required:

• Strong interest in industrial decarbonization and/or industrial policy.
• Bachelor’s degree with at least 7 years of work experience, or Master’s degree with at least 5 years of experience.
• Coursework in engineering, physical science, economics, and/or environmental science.
• Significant interest or experience in talking in detail with industrial managers, engineers, and vendors about technologies.
• Significant interest or experience in engaging with federal or state agencies and/or policymakers.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to translate technical concepts into language that engages policymakers.
• Track record of performance and reliability.
• Authorship of multiple peer-reviewed reports, including at least one as lead author.

Strongly preferred:

• Experience with, or sound knowledge of, electrification strategies, energy efficiency, and/or emissions reductions in the industrial sector.
• Onsite experience with industrial plants, although this is not necessary.

Salary Range: $77,467 to $96,834

Tagged as: Law/Policy, Renewable Energy/Sustainability