Circular Economy Fellow
The New York Climate Exchange
Contract
On-site
New York, New York, United States
$130,000 - $160,000 USD yearly
About The New York Climate Exchange
The New York Climate Exchange is a first-of-its-kind model for developing and implementing solutions to the global climate crisis in New York and around the world. The Exchange seeks to leverage the collective power of education, research, workforce development, policy development, climate tech incubation, and public programming to advance climate action at the local, national, and global level.
Our mission is to confront climate impacts and climate injustice, in addition to helping advance and capitalize on climate-related opportunities through an innovative, scalable, and sustainable model.
About the Role
The Circular Economy Fellow is a full-time, time-limited role at The Exchange, to be filled by an individual with specialized skills, knowledge, and professional networks who can advance The Exchange’s work linked to climate challenges and opportunities that benefits from a circular economy approach or framework.
As a first activity, The Exchange has chosen to focus on the lack of mature secondary reuse or recycling markets for large electric vehicle batteries. Given the rapid increase in global uptake of large electric vehicles in the past decade, as batteries reach the end of their first-use life the volume of this commodity available in different cities or countries will increase rapidly. Effective circular management of these commodities can reduce amount of raw material extraction required to support the manufacture of new batteries or associated products, ensure economic and resource efficiency, ensure public safety, reduce the adverse economic impacts and environmental degradation associated with the extraction of these materials globally, and create new economic opportunities that can serve as the basis for safe and sustainable jobs that are aligned with the principles of economic and social justice.
The Exchange sees an opportunity to provide thought and executive leadership on this topic and seeks to appoint a Circular Economy Fellow who can drive these activities forward.
Responsibilities
Activities may change over time as The Exchange’s programming grows and matures, but initially this position will:
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Under the guidance of the Director of Green Economic Transformation, coordinate and lead The Exchange’s work linked to the secondary markets for large electric vehicle batteries.
- Convene relevant Exchange partner experts and other stakeholders to identify and pursue topics that advance progress in the development and maturation of secondary markets for large electric vehicle batteries in ways that are safe, sustainable, and aligned with the principles of economic and social justice. Activities must also be structured and implemented in ways that are consistent with the cross-sector nature of The Exchange’s mission and values.
- Prepare a budget and work program for consideration by Exchange senior management that accounts for current knowledge, trends, and activities to keep The Exchange’s work in this area at the forefront of efforts in this space.
- Convene meetings/workshops of varying lengths and focus to advance progress on this initiative.
- Prepare materials in advance of and as followup to these meetings/workshops to keep participants and other key stakeholders abreast of the ideas/learnings emerging from this work.
- Stay abreast of other activities, publications, and initiatives linked to this work to ensure Exchange activities linked to this work program are value-add and position The Exchange as an influential stakeholder on this and other climate-related issues.
- In coordination with the Director of Green Economic Transformation and The Exchange’s Chief Advancement Officer, develop a fundraising strategy and lead/support fundraising efforts by The Exchange or partners to advance this work.
- Work with The Exchange programming and communications team and partners to prepare relevant educational materials/documents/articles/blogs and programming aimed at informing and engaging key stakeholders and the general public.
- Represent The Exchange at relevant local, global, and national climate fora.
- Respond to relevant media requests from The Exchange communications team.
Requirements
- Advanced degree (Masters, PhD) in policy, science, engineering, planning, or other related related environmental field.
- Recognized as highly knowledgeable on these issues.
- Minimum 5-years of experience in leading projects, fundraising and proposal preparation, ideally as a principal investigator.
- Experience presenting technical information to a variety of audiences, including non-specialists.
- Familiarity with co-producing research and tools/products.
- Evidence of advanced oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills in engaging with diverse audiences, collaborators, and staff.
- Excellent organizational and project leadership skills.
- Demonstrated track record of effectively developing a strategy for and leading a performance-based and outcome-based program. Candidates must have developed and executed strategies that have taken an organization or program to the next stage of impact and growth.
- Proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a matrixed team environment.
- Ability to operate with independence, under pressure, and to meet deadlines and commitments; ability to effectively prioritize and produce high-quality work under time constraints.
- Excellent interpersonal skills requiring knowing when to use courtesy, tact and/or diplomacy to effectively communicate with all constituents.
- Ability to demonstrate integrity in deliverables, behavior, and demeanor.
Desired Qualifications
- Existing professional relationships with relevant stakeholders and technical experts in this field.
- Experience supervising and mentoring technical staff and students.
- Experience or demonstrated interest in supporting activities that centers The Exchange’s values of equity and justice.
- Experience in working with media (across multiple platforms).
Important Information
Deadline: Please apply by October 7, 2024
Location: The position reports to the Director of Green Economic Transformation in New York City, but the candidate can be based at an Exchange partner institution outside of NYC.
Travel: Some travel will be required with this position (less than 10% of time) with costs to be covered by The Exchange.
Contract Length: 12-month appointment, with an option to renew for one additional 12-month period. With the consent of the CEO, Fellows can convert to a regular, at-will position on the Exchange team in a role to be mutually determined.
Salary: The salary range for this full-time position is $130,000 - 160,000/year (commensurate with qualifications and experience) and includes eligibility for all benefits offered by The Exchange.
Work Authorization: The New York Climate Exchange is not currently able to sponsor visas. Candidates must already possess the right to work in the USA.
The New York Climate Exchange is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The Exchange provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, and physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws.
You must be able to work in the United States as The Exchange does not yet have visa-sponsoring capabilities.