Senior Engineer/Scientist

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Senior Engineer/Scientist

Clean Vehicles Program
Washington, DC Office

The Position

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the leading science-based organization at the center of today’s most exciting and important policy debates, seeks an individual to work with a top-notch, multi-disciplinary team in our Clean Vehicles Program to advance sound transportation policy to cut oil use, reduce global warming emissions, and protect public health. UCS is seeking a senior engineer/scientist with expertise in vehicle and fuels technology and policy to conduct research and analysis and serve as a spokesperson focused on issues/challenges related to oil use: the resource availability, extraction technology, life cycle emissions and challenges of conventional and unconventional oil as well as the solutions that save oil and reduce global warming emissions (e.g. fuel economy, electric vehicles). Candidates must have a strong technical background in one or both of these fields. Candidates must also have a strong background in oil or transportation policy and excellent written and oral communication skills.

The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future. UCS is an acknowledged leader in promoting sound climate, energy and transportation policy at the federal and state levels.  We have a reputation as honest brokers and our analysis, advocacy, and public outreach efforts have been instrumental in building public understanding, media attention, and policymaker action on climate solutions.

Responsibilities

The senior engineer/scientist will help lead UCS efforts to better understand and evaluate the life cycle climate impacts of extracting conventional and unconventional oil resources, and the technologies and policies that can reduce those impacts. The engineer/scientist will also evaluate the potential for strong transportation sector legislative and regulatory solutions to cut projected U.S. oil use in half in twenty years and significantly reduce transportation related pollution, including policies such as low carbon fuels standard, vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards, and others.

This person will generate reports and analysis on oil resources, extraction technology, climate impacts, and solutions for limiting the impacts of expanding North American oil production while expanding clean fuel alternatives. This person will also develop and recommend related policies, and serve as a technical expert and a lead spokesperson to media, government and key allies. They will provide technical information and expertise through testimony, written materials and public speaking and will actively promote promising legislation at federal and state levels while assisting in the development and management of regulatory campaigns on key oil and transportation-related issues.

Qualifications and experience
This position requires five to seven years of comparable and relevant experience for candidates with masters or equivalent experience, including background in research and policy development and analysis. Candidate must have experience communicating technical issues to a non-technical audience through written products and presentations. Candidate should have technical knowledge of either the oil resource/extraction or transportation fields, including hydraulic fracturing, tar sands mining, enhanced oil recovery, or advanced vehicle and fuel technology, infrastructure, and industries. Candidate should have familiarity with current oil and transportation issues and their political/social/environmental/economic ramifications. Position requires an understanding of public policy aspects of transportation and related climate and oil issues and the role of technical analyses and advocacy in shaping public opinion and policy debates.

Applicants must have strong quantitative, analytical, and research skills; strong writing and verbal skills; proficiency with computer spreadsheet and word processing software; ability to write well for scientific and general audiences; familiarity with economics and public policy; and a team orientation. Direct experience with project management, policymakers and the media a plus.

UCS is an equal opportunity employer continually seeking to diversify its staff andto broaden opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy.

UCS is an equal opportunity employer continually seeking to diversify its staff, particularly to broaden opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy.

Compensation, Hours and Location: This is a full-time position based in UCS’s Washington, DC office. For candidates who meet all position requirements, the salary is in the low to mid $70s. UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment. Information about the organization is available at http://www.ucsusa.org.

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume or CV, a technical writing sample and a general audience writing sample,, salary requirements, and how you learned about the position via email to jobs@ucsusa.org and include “Senior Engineer/Scientist” in the subject line. Email materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls please. Deadline: October 31, 2014 or until filled.