Policy and Financing Research Analyst, Electric School Bus Initiative

Job Summary

In this role, you will support legislative and policy engagement at the state and federal levels. You will coordinate and support different research projects, stakeholder outreach, and on-the-ground support to advance the electrification of school buses across the United States. Our goal is to create momentum towards electrifying the entire fleet of American school buses by 2030. In this role, you will support a growing team and help realize this goal by researching and pursuing opportunities to unlock public funding and policy in support of the full electrification of school bus fleets. You will work to understand and monitor all opportunities to support school bus electrification at the federal and state levels, facilitate outreach and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.

This position is remote due to Covid-19 and can remain remote once restrictions are lifted.

Job Responsibilities

Research & Knowledge

• Participating and/or coordinating research related to the development of state and federal policy initiatives as well as engagement of partner stakeholders and elected officials, as needed
• Participating and/or coordinating activities that facilitate internal research information sharing on electric school buses
• Authoring written and graphic content for publications, reports, papers, and presentations
• Conducting transport, environmental, public health, and financial data collection, verification and visualization
• Leading and contributing to the production of blogs, reports, and other informational content

Administrative

• Assisting in the creation of content for proposals and concept notes, including deliverables, timelines, and budgets
• Contributing to fundraising efforts
• Attending various external functions and events, as relevant, to serve as a representative of the Electric School Bus Initiative
• Representing the Electric School Bus Initiative in WRI meetings
• Organizing and/or supporting internal and external meetings, workshops, conferences, and other dissemination activities
• Developing, assisting, and liaising on design products, such as graphics, presentations, communications material, and publications

Managerial

• Assisting with the financial and programmatic management of projects
• Managing junior staff (in official and/or unofficial capacities, as appropriate)
• Liaising with funders, partners, and WRI international offices, to ensure information sharing and project coordination

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree needed
• Minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience
• Excellent research, editing, and oral communication skills
• Previous work experience and enthusiasm regarding electric mobility
• US work authorization is required; WRI cannot offer visa sponsorship for this position

Potential Salary

$46,000 – $60,000. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume with cover letter. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. 

Program Overview

The 480,000 school buses in the United States account for 80% of all buses nationwide, yet less than 1% are electrified. School bus electrification represents a unique opportunity to accelerate decarbonization while bringing direct, tangible benefits to every community in the United States. This transition can help make electric mobility the new normal for an entire generation. Through the U.S. Electric School Bus Initiative, funded by the Bezos Earth Fund, WRI’s aim is to create unstoppable momentum over the next five years on a path toward electrifying the entire fleet of U.S. school buses by 2030. Overcoming the cost, infrastructure and policy barriers to mass adoption will require a systemic approach that engages an entire ecosystem of actors and prioritizes inclusive planning with impacted communities. WRI will achieve this by partnering with key stakeholders and project partners to work on five key pillars: 1) aggregate demand 2) scale manufacturing, 3) develop innovative financing models 4) influence federal and state policy and 5) galvanize communities and stakeholders to push for an equitable and comprehensive shift towards electric school buses.

WRI Overview

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean.

We are passionate. We value our diversity of interests, skills and backgrounds. We have a flexible work environment. And we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of people. Our shared ideals are at the core of our approach. They include: integrity, innovation, urgency, independence and respect.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges, and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.
 
We have been growing rapidly: our staff has doubled in size over the past 5 years and our operating budget is now $150 million. Founded in 1982, WRI has a global staff of 1,000+ people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa,  Brazil, China,  Europe,  India,  Indonesia,  Mexico and the United States  as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.  

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.