ECONOMIST (Climate and Land Use Modeler)
With world attention focused on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. This leading green group, with programs from Boston to Beijing, has tripled in size over the past decade by focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches. You can be part of a vibrant workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives, talents and contributions, where innovation and a focus on results are a way of life.
EDF’s International Climate Program works to help stabilize the Earth's climate by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Our staff of experts in science, economics, law, and policy undertakes research and disseminates reports on the potential impacts of climate change on the planet. With governmental, business and other non-governmental partners around the world, we develop, advocate, and help implement innovative policy proposals that provide market incentives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sources. We have over 10 years of experience working with partners worldwide on the design and implementation of policy approaches for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (known as REDD+). EDF undertakes research and advocacy on climate-related agricultural activities in the US and internationally, including economic incentives to lessen the pressure to clear forests for agriculture. EDF also engages with major companies to develop the business case for integrating voluntary sustainable commodity certification efforts with jurisdictional (country or state-wide) REDD+ programs.
Overall Function
The Economist will play a key role in EDF’s overall international climate policy efforts on strategic issues such as deforestation and agriculture by providing in-depth modeling and analysis of climate and land use (including historical deforestation patterns). He/she will help guide EDF’s advocacy and support decision-making by government policymakers, business leaders, and other key stakeholders around the world. A special focus will be conducting analyses of historical deforestation data and designing decision-support tools, such as the Open Source Impacts of REDD+ Incentives (OSIRIS) model (see http://www.conservation.org/osiris/Pages/overview.aspx) to evaluate policies for reducing land-sector emissions in Brazil, Mexico, and Indonesia. This work will support efforts to create a robust market for deforestation reductions from high-quality programs and to integrate these programs with commodity sourcing decisions by major corporations.
The Economist will report to the Chief Natural Resource Economist to conduct economic research and help generate and disseminate materials describing proposed approaches for a variety of audiences. S/he will work with other economists, natural scientists, and policy specialists throughout EDF as well as within academia and other partner organizations.
Key Responsibilities
In addition to these responsibilities, the Economist will be expected to play an integral role in other International Climate Program activities, including researching, evaluating and recommending new projects/strategies; disseminating project results; and being an overall team player in the development of a vibrant and successful program.
Qualifications
Location
This position will be located at the EDF office in either New York, NY or Washington, DC.
Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, names of three references and a writing sample not edited by anyone other than the applicant. There is no formal deadline, but the position may be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified.
Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, EDF is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for interviews.
Environmental Defense Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer
With world attention focused on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. This leading green group, with programs from Boston to Beijing, has tripled in size over the past decade by focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches. You can be part of a vibrant workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives, talents and contributions, where innovation and a focus on results are a way of life.
EDF’s International Climate Program works to help stabilize the Earth's climate by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Our staff of experts in science, economics, law, and policy undertakes research and disseminates reports on the potential impacts of climate change on the planet. With governmental, business and other non-governmental partners around the world, we develop, advocate, and help implement innovative policy proposals that provide market incentives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sources. We have over 10 years of experience working with partners worldwide on the design and implementation of policy approaches for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (known as REDD+). EDF undertakes research and advocacy on climate-related agricultural activities in the US and internationally, including economic incentives to lessen the pressure to clear forests for agriculture. EDF also engages with major companies to develop the business case for integrating voluntary sustainable commodity certification efforts with jurisdictional (country or state-wide) REDD+ programs.
Overall Function
The Economist will play a key role in EDF’s overall international climate policy efforts on strategic issues such as deforestation and agriculture by providing in-depth modeling and analysis of climate and land use (including historical deforestation patterns). He/she will help guide EDF’s advocacy and support decision-making by government policymakers, business leaders, and other key stakeholders around the world. A special focus will be conducting analyses of historical deforestation data and designing decision-support tools, such as the Open Source Impacts of REDD+ Incentives (OSIRIS) model (see http://www.conservation.org/osiris/Pages/overview.aspx) to evaluate policies for reducing land-sector emissions in Brazil, Mexico, and Indonesia. This work will support efforts to create a robust market for deforestation reductions from high-quality programs and to integrate these programs with commodity sourcing decisions by major corporations.
The Economist will report to the Chief Natural Resource Economist to conduct economic research and help generate and disseminate materials describing proposed approaches for a variety of audiences. S/he will work with other economists, natural scientists, and policy specialists throughout EDF as well as within academia and other partner organizations.
Key Responsibilities
- Work independently and in teams to design, implement, and coordinate a range of quantitative analysis and modeling projects on international climate and land-use policy issues to include econometric analyses of tropical deforestation and developing decision-support tools for evaluating alternative forest and agriculture policies in Brazil, Mexico, and Indonesia.
- Coordinate and work with partners at other organizations outside EDF (e.g. universities and outside contractors) to conduct these analyses;
- Assist in writing EDF research papers, reports, and advocacy products to communicate analytical results;
- Present results and represent EDF at meetings with policy makers, academic conferences and workshops, and gatherings of advocacy organizations and the general public.
In addition to these responsibilities, the Economist will be expected to play an integral role in other International Climate Program activities, including researching, evaluating and recommending new projects/strategies; disseminating project results; and being an overall team player in the development of a vibrant and successful program.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. degree in Economics (or other quantitatively rigorous discipline) is preferred; exceptional candidates with Master’s degrees will be considered.
- Excellent data management and econometric/statistical analysis skills (e.g., using R, Stata) required; knowledge of ArcGIS is a plus.
- Strong programming skills (e.g., GAMS, Matlab, Mathematica) required.
- Economic, financial, or related modeling experience is a plus.
- Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
- Interest in relating economic research to real-world policy and in bridging the worlds of advocacy and academia.
- Commitment to environmental/sustainability values and goals.
- Experience and demonstrated interest in policy and research, ideally related to climate, forests, agriculture, and/or other environment and development issues is preferred.
- Ability to deploy a diversity of analytical approaches and work with a wide set of people.
- Willingness to travel when necessary.
- Foreign language skills (especially Portuguese or Spanish) are a plus.
Location
This position will be located at the EDF office in either New York, NY or Washington, DC.
Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, names of three references and a writing sample not edited by anyone other than the applicant. There is no formal deadline, but the position may be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified.
Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, EDF is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for interviews.
Environmental Defense Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer