Senior Researcher, Sustainable Finance and COP26

The post-holder will support an important new E3G project working with a wide variety of finance stakeholders, working within a small international team. The role is likely to be based in London, although other European locations will be considered.

Background

E3G is an independent European climate change think tank with a global outlook. We are world leading strategists on the political economy of climate change, dedicated to achieving a safe climate for all. We work on the frontier of the climate landscape tackling the barriers and advancing the solutions to a safe climate. Our goal is to translate climate politics, economics and policies into action. E3G is consistently ranked as one of the top-ten most influential environmental think tank’s in the world by the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go To Think Tank Index.

E3G values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic background.

A transformation to a global carbon neutral economy must happen by mid-century if we are to avoid dangerous climate change. This will require regulatory, market, economic and institutional reforms to ensure that financial markets actively deliver sustainable development outcomes. E3G’s Sustainable Finance program works towards green finance reforms and redirection of financial flows.

COP26 will make a crucial moment in the global fight against climate change and it will be essential that private finance is seen to step up and commit to ambitious action to invest in a net-zero future and divert financial flows from unsustainable activities. Financial actors around the world are currently responding to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the scale of needs for economic relief, additional attention is increasingly focused on the decisions being made by finance ministries and financial regulators among other public finance institutions.

Role purpose

Researchers in E3G play a central role in delivering climate-safe policy outcomes. They must demonstrate a varied portfolio of skills including subject knowledge, qualitative and quantitative research skills, time management and stakeholder relationship management.

The Researcher, Sustainable Finance and COP26 will work in a small team which will conduct research and scanning work in order to facilitate the emergence of common narratives and strategic goals for strong climate outcomes from COP26 and other important meetings in 2021. They will support work to connect and support the varied communities of non-governmental actors which are working in different countries to deliver systemic financial reform for climate transition, spending at least half of their time focusing on work related to institutional investors and financial regulation in the context of COP26.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing relationships: building and managing warm relationships with a wide range of financial actors from different countries including outside-track campaigners, private sector organisations, and technical specialists.
• Analytical focus: ensuring that quantitative and qualitative research outputs are of high quality, meet user needs, and work towards desired project outcomes.
• Results oriented: demonstrating a high level of personal organization and project management skills, building a culture of delivery and ensuring that key performance indicators are identified and met.
• Decision making: weighing available information and showing sound judgment, with the ability to articulate reasoned arguments for decisions.
• Team focus: working in a close and collegiate manner with E3G colleagues in multiple locations.
• Clear communication: reliably demonstrating the ability to assimilate complex information and to translate it into clear, understandable terms that have a persuasive narrative style and are tailored for different contexts.
• Learning and improving: working with E3G colleagues to ensure that work done under this project contributes to overall E3G learning and knowledge management.
• Depending on the latest situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, some international travel can be expected.

Person description

You are an intellectually curious and highly organised self-starter with a strong interest in the opportunities and challenges around systemic financial reform. You are a creative thinker, able to learn fast and to work flexibly with a range of people. You are prepared to go the extra mile to deliver high quality outputs to challenging deadlines. You are comfortable with research projects and have excellent numeracy skills. You will be able to identify and engage with a range of external stakeholders to effectively communicate your ideas and findings to a varied audience.

Experience and skills

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate, with examples:

• the ability to plan and organize your own work and that of others, and to be flexible in responding to changing contexts;
• relevant professional experience and responsibilities in working with private sector financial institutions including institutional investors, in relation to environmental issues, together with a good understanding of the landscape of relevant financial regulation in Europe;
• a good undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (you may also have a post-graduate qualification);
• the capability to work well in a team, and to inspire and facilitate action by others;
• the ability to apply creative and flexible thinking to a constantly evolving landscape;
• strong strategic and political understanding of the political and economic challenges of climate change and sustainable development;
• experience of producing high-quality written outputs which combine original research with inputs from others;
• experience of working in an international context and with a range of stakeholders;
• strong written and spoken English (with knowledge of other languages highly desirable);
• excellent communication skills including the ability to produce high-quality, evidenced, written outputs sometimes to tight deadlines, and to build rapport with others through an open communication style.

What we offer you

We offer a competitive remuneration package for a non-profit organisation based on qualifications and experience. E3G will require candidates to demonstrate that they have the right to live and work in the jurisdiction in which E3G employs them.

Location

This role is anticipated to be based in London, but other European locations will be considered. E3G has offices in London, Dublin, Brussels, Berlin and Washington DC.

Application process

Please email your application in English to jobs@e3g.org. Please write ‘Researcher Sustainable Finance & COP26 Oct 2020” as well as your first name and surname in the subject line.

Please include:

• A CV of maximum two pages
• A cover letter of no more than one page outlining your motivation for the job and when you would be able to start.

The deadline for applications is 9am BST/10am CET on Monday 12^th October.

We aim to build an inclusive workforce that is reflective of the populations we support, and actively seek applications from those who are marginalized and underrepresented. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.