Search: Sustainable Business

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, founded in 1967, 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. With programs from Boston to Beijing, EDF is the only environmental group to receive an A rating from Wired magazine.

Overall Function: Environmental Defense Fund is currently hiring a Research and Development expert to serve in a key leadership and research role within EDF’s Ocean Economics team in San Francisco. This position will ultimately work with four other team members to build successful, strategic programs that use creative economic models to benefit world fisheries. This position will initiate, manage and communicate complex and evolving research projects. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for a dynamic, cross-disciplinary thinker and researcher eager to apply their skills in solving the overfishing crisis.

Key Responsibilities: The Research and Development expert will be responsible for the following duties and others as assigned:

* Serve as the lead researcher and convener for the Ocean Economics team, working closely with the Managing Director and other team members
* Design and manage research programs to advance the understanding of incentive-based fisheries management
* Convene the world’s leading academics, economists, investment experts and others to conduct long-term, in-depth analyses on topics such as:
o Allocation of private shares of public goods
o Collateralizing private ownership of fisheries
o Creative financing of incentive-based fisheries management, monitoring and buy-outs of fisheries
o 2nd generation of market-based fisheries management tools
o Community impacts of fisheries management transitions
* Synthesize information from parallel fields (agricultural loans, stock-option pool allocation, cap-and-trade systems, environmental credit markets, land trusts, wetlands mitigation banks) to inform development of incentive-based fisheries management
* Research, analyze, and report on existing market-based conservation strategies
* Conduct in-depth literature reviews, direct maintenance of literature databases, and stay current with research developments in economics, finance, resource economics and related fields
* Write white papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals
* Create reports and analyses that lay the groundwork for financial deals to buy out fisheries and improve their economic efficiency and conservation status

Desired Minimum Qualifications:

* M.S. or Ph.D. in resource economics, finance, economic modeling or other related academic disciplines
* 5+ years experience in research roles with increasing responsibility and independence
* Strong skills in mathematics, modeling and synthetic analysis
* Skilled at identifying academic excellence and persuading discipline leaders to participate in new projects
* Voracious appetite for cutting edge developments in the academic and financial worlds
* Desire to publish and inspire others to publish in peer-reviewed journals and the grey literature
* Expert problem solver and scenario optimizer
* Ability to quickly become immersed and adept in new fields
* Ability to interface with content experts from a variety of disciplines and identify parallel solutions
* Experience creating meta-analyses
* Strong interest and ability in interdisciplinary work
* Understanding of business needs
* Excellent writing and communication skills
* Proven management experience

Term: This position is for a two-year term.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit their cover letter, resume and salary requirements to:

Melissa Clack

Search Coordinator

Environmental Defense Fund

Email: OEResearch@ceaconsulting.com

Web: www.environmentaldefense.org

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities and the physically challenged are encouraged to apply.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

ClimateWorks is a new global philanthropic network organized to win the battle against climate change.
Its goal is to ensure that global average temperatures do not increase by more than 2o C – a threshold many scientists describe as a dangerous tipping point. ClimateWorks’ method is to work in the top-emitting nations to build low-carbon energy policies and to reduce the rate of deforestation in the world’s largest, most threatened tropical forests.
To carry out its goals, ClimateWorks will develop a network of institutions with two broad archetypes: Regional Climate Foundations and Best Practice Networks. The Regional Foundations will drive campaign-style grant making steeped in the local context and politics, like the existing Energy Foundation and China Sustainable Energy Program, in each of our priority countries/regions – U.S., Europe, China, India, and Latin America.

The Best Practice Networks (BPNs) are to be vehicles for collecting, developing and distributing sector-specific best practice information and assistance to key decision makers globally, with an emphasis on our priority countries/regions. Up to ten BPNs are envisioned in total, including: vehicle and fuel standards; transportation and urban systems; building codes; appliance standards; utility reform; industrial efficiency; and, carbon capture and storage.

ClimateWorks seeks two highly skilled and motivated Program Officers in the areas of Energy Efficiency and Transportation to provide institutional development and sector-based strategy support for the ClimateWorks Network. The Energy Efficiency Program Officer will focus on design and implementation of building codes, appliance standards and utility reform to incentivize demand-side management. The Transportation Program Officer will focus on design and implementation of vehicle efficiency standards and low carbon fuel standards, and the design of transportation and urban systems which aid mobility while reducing car use.

These Program Officers will provide support to the ClimateWorks sector-based Best Practice Networks as well as the Program Officers focused on these sectors residing at the ClimateWorks Regional Foundations.
Most immediately, the Program Officers will help build new or expand existing institutions to serve as the Best Practice Networks including the development of strategic plans, operational plans, staff and governance plans and mechanisms which increase the organizations access to and impact in influencing key decision-makers. Over time, the Program Officers will provide support to the entire network on these topics, helping to develop and refine sector-based strategies and research, convene key decision-makers to increase the understanding of and commitment to implementing energy and transportation policies, and facilitate exchange between internal and external groups to uncover and address new issues within the sectors.

-Primary Duties and Responsibilities

More specifically, the Program Officer will:
Work with external organizations and/or experts to develop or establish institutions to serve as ClimateWorks’ Best Practice Networks, including the development of strategic and operational plans, hiring of staff, establishing Boards of Directors, setting up new offices, establishing partnerships with other relevant organizations, and providing outreach to the decision-makers these Networks will be looking to influence;
Oversee a grant portfolio and budget (approximately $10 million to start) for the Best Practice Networks to accomplish targeted policy goals, as well as providing guidance to and monitoring of the portfolio of grants managed by the Regional Climate Foundations;
Solicit, review, and recommend strategic plans for funding;
Write dockets for board consideration;
Monitor the impact of individual grants;
Maintain relationships with the ClimateWorks Network, grantees, other funders, and other experts and leaders in the field;
Initiate strategy calls and meetings as needed;
Engage directly in the field as needed; and,
Help prepare compelling proposals and reports for the ClimateWorks Foundation’s funding partners and broader stakeholders.

-Professional Qualifications and Personal Attributes

The successful applicant will have the following minimum qualifications:
A deep commitment to the mission and values of the ClimateWorks Foundation.
Extensive experience in building new institutions or programs, including the development of strategic and operational plans, hiring staff and developing Boards of Directors, and building organizational partnerships.
At least five to seven years’ experience in the fields of energy or transportation policy, either in policy development or execution.
Comfort with qualitative and quantitative energy and transportation policy analysis.
A strong track record of applying sound political and strategic judgment in complex situations.
Experience in working or living abroad, particularly in developing countries.
An insightful, independent analytic mind.
Strong facilitation, convening and negotiation skills.
Experience negotiating with government officials or business leaders.
Experience creating collaboration among networks of organizations or companies.
Proven ability to initiate and manage projects.
Outstanding written and verbal communications skills.
Ability to work well in a team; enthusiastic personality; sense of humor.
Willingness to travel.
Multilingual preferred.
Masters or other advanced degree preferred.

Compensation and Benefits
The expected start date for this position is in August 2008. The position will be located in San Francisco, California. ClimateWorks Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to:
Melissa B. Clack
Search Coordinator
Email: ClimateWorksPO@ceaconsulting.com
Please specify your interest in either the Energy Efficiency or Transportation position. Please also let us know where you where you learned of this posting.
No phone calls, please.
ClimateWorks Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

The successful candidate will utilize and develop analytical modeling and data analysis techniques to investigate and predict weather dependent performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV farm systems.

The candidate will utilize a broad set of skills including simulation & modeling, engineering data analysis, and project management. The candidate must be flexible and enthusiastically tackle a variety of projects as the issues facing the group evolve. Responsibilities include:

• Research & analyze meteorological data to assess available solar resource (project development support)

• Perform simulations to assess anticipated project energy production (project development support)

• Provide detailed power plant performance estimates and supporting information to assist external evaluation of investment opportunity (project finance support)

• Develop understanding of strengths and weaknesses of various commercial simulation programs for communication with independent engineers (project finance support)

• Meteorological data analysis to assess the variability of solar resource and the range of environmental conditions the systems must perform in (project development and system design support)

• Analyze test site and installation data to assess accuracy of simulations (develop core competency)

• Analyze solar power plant data to identify potential warranty claims (asset management support)

The successful candidate will be adept at understanding technical concepts as well as assisting colleagues and clients in understanding complex technical issues in layman's terms.

Experience:

The following are essential requirements of the successful candidate:

• Superior written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills;

• Demonstrated skill in analytical modeling and engineering data analysis techniques;

• Demonstrated success in interfacing with external parties;

• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-faceted projects;

• Proficient in MS Office applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

Highly desirable qualities of the successful candidate:

• Familiarity with transmission grid regulatory issues related to intermittent power generation;

• Familiarity with meteorological data resources and analytical methods;

• Familiarity with electrical engineering circuit design and analysis;

• Proficient with MatLab;

• Proficient with solar simulation software (PVSyst, PV Sol, PV Design Pro or similar).

Education:

BS Meteorology, Physics or Engineering: Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Material Science

To apply for this job, please e-mail your cover letter and resume in Word format to apligavko@optisolar.com or fax to (510)-401-5701. Please include job code and "Energyfolks" in the subject line.

The successful candidate will lead the commercial analysis of technical issues. The following is a list of representative responsibilities.

Evaluate the commercial impact of the technical requirements of contracts under negotiation as well as the codes & standards of new target markets
Develop financial and contractual solutions to such issues
Interface directly with counterparties, consultants and internal teams (including: Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing)
Build and use rigorous financial models to support decision making
Develop technical and financial models to evaluate strategies to mitigate the impact of intermittent production on the transmission grid
Develop technical proficiency on solar panels, farm installations, and grid interconnection to understand the economic impacts of performance criteria and technical requirements
Keep abreast of the development of new regulations; represent OptiSolar in industry stakeholder meetings
Successful candidate will individually manage projects thereby utilizing a broad set of skills, including issue and data analysis, problem solving and communication.

Experience:

Five+ years work experience in engineering and/or related technical sales
Familiarity with electricity related regulatory issues strongly preferred
Familiarity with power engineering and grid interconnection issues strongly preferred
Strong financial modeling and spreadsheet skills
Exemplary oral and written communication skills
Demonstrated interest in renewable energy technologies
Education:

BA / BS from top university
Engineering, physical science, economics or mathematics degree required

To apply for this job, please e-mail your cover letter and resume in Word format to apligavko@optisolar.com or fax to (510)-401-5701. Please include job code and "Energyfolks" in the subject line.

The successful candidate will be accountable for the group's technical performance and responsible for completing projects such as:

· Assess anticipated site specific solar resource & energy production

· Drive the development of methodologies to reduce uncertainty in energy production estimates

· Provide detailed power plant performance estimates and supporting information to support investor evaluation of solar farm investment opportunity.

· Monitor performance of power plant output for asset management purposes

· Determine impact of various installation configurations on energy production to support Business Analysis team's economic analyses.

· Coordinate the deployment of meteorological stations and collection of data from development site locations for support of contract and financing requirements.

· Identify power plant energy output ramping characteristics and identify mitigation strategies to support the interconnection of the power plant.

· Review contract requirements associated with solar resource and power plant output; recommend language and changes to protect OptiSolar interests

· Represent OptiSolar in associated regulatory stakeholder processes as necessary

The position requires an individual able to manage multiple projects as well as obtain commitments for support from internal and external parties. The successful candidate will be adept at explaining technical concepts in layman's terms as well as identifying commercial implications of technical issues.

Experience:

The following are essential requirements of the successful candidate:

• Superior written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills;

• Demonstrated ability to handle project management functions for multiple projects simultaneously;

• Demonstrated ability to develop a technical execution plan based on commercial requirements;

• Experience in controls or system design, consulting engineering, or operations in wind power, solar power or closely related field;

• Supervisory experience;

• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret technical papers and analyze data to develop and validate algorithms and assumptions;

• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

Highly desirable qualities of the successful candidate:

• Familiarity with the physics of photovoltaic technology;

• Proficient with MatLab;

• Proficient with solar simulation software (PVSyst, PV Sol, PV Design Pro or similar);

• Experience with SCADA systems.

Education:

• BS Physics, Meteorology or Engineering: Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Material Science

• Masters or PhD preferred

• PE desirable

To apply for this job, please e-mail your cover letter and resume in Word format to apligavko@optisolar.com or fax to (510)-401-5701. Please include job code and "Energyfolks" in the subject line.