Super Pollutants Technical Advocate, Europe

POSITION: Methane Technical Advocate, Super Pollutants

REPORTS TO: Program Director, Super Pollutants Program

LOCATION: Flexible in Europe

PURPOSE: Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a non-profit global organization dedicated to the near-elimination of climate pollution from Earth’s energy, agricultural, waste and forest management systems.

CATF is highly respected for its deep expertise and research on energy and industrial systems and potential strategies, technologies, and policies that can radically shrink their impact on the planet’s atmosphere. Our team of 50+ experts and advocates (and global network of subject matter experts and civil society partners) put this research and knowledge into action by designing and supporting public policies that drive toward zero emissions. We also work directly with private industry to innovate in technology to make the path to zero emissions swift and affordable.

CATF is chartered in the US and Netherlands, and operates globally throughout Europe, Asia, Canada, Latin America, and in multilateral international forums. CATF’s super pollutants initiatives aim to reduce pollutants, such as methane and black carbon that will have the greatest impact on warming the planet over the near term and offer the most promising targets for immediate cleanup. Taken together, efforts to reduce super pollutants globally could prevent more than half a degree C of warming, while also delivering numerous additional public health and ecological benefits.

A key focus of CATF’s Super Pollutants Program is to address the oil and gas industry, which releases millions of tons of methane and other harmful pollution into the air each year. Working in collaboration with other groups, CATF plays a unique role, using our extensive technical knowledge and analytic capabilities to advocate for the most effective policies to reduce emissions from this industry. We advocate directly with regulators and as participants in multi-stakeholder groups and international forums, while collaborating with partner groups to effectively encourage decision makers to move policies forward.

The Technical Advocate’s core responsibility will be to provide technical and analytical work that supports the goals of the Super Pollutants (SP) Program. They will use their technical and scientific expertise, and work in close coordination with the SP team (scientists, analysts, advocates, and lawyers), consultants, and external collaborators, to design proposals for strong public policies.

They will bring knowledge of technical solutions and regulatory precedents from around the world and synthetise the latest science on oil and gas air pollution and on technical solutions to advocate and negotiate for ambitious, technically sound regulations and other concrete policies to reduce emissions as much as possible.

They may also represent CATF in a variety of venues including public hearings, conferences, stakeholder meetings, and media events.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Collaborates with Senior Scientist and Senior Analyst to perform the analytical and technical work of the SP Program:

• Gather and interpret data on emissions and mitigation and on air pollution from a range of sources, such as peer-reviewed journal articles, official inventories and projections, regulatory documents, commercial reports, etc.
• Analyze diverse data and scientific literature to quantify current and project future emissions of methane from the oil and natural gas industry, and to assess the potential technologies and practices to mitigate the emissions and costs of those reductions.
• Present results clearly, using professional writing for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Collaborates with International Director and Government Affairs Manager to perform direct decision-maker advocacy:

• Provide science-based inputs for public consultation and for policy changes.
• Advocate for ambitious regulations to reduce emissions of super pollutants in a variety of different policy venues.
• Meet regularly and follow up with staff from key agencies and institutions to present technical information, policy-relevant research and reports, and to advocate for and report back to CATF on the status of policies to reduce emissions of methane and other super pollutants.
• Identify opportunities to answer policy-relevant questions through research and analysis.
• Draft and present regulatory comments and consultations.

Represent CATF in meetings and public venues:

• Advocates effectively on behalf of the organization before a wide range of stakeholders, at conferences, meetings and webinars, among other activities.
• Communicate with members of the media on policy matters, in coordination with the Communications Director

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in engineering, physical science, or life science OR Master’s degree in public policy, environmental policy, or related field with a strong analytical/quantitative focus.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Technical familiarity with one or more of the following subjects:
• Oil and gas industry processes, emissions, or regulation;
• Processes, emissions, or regulations applying to another industrial sector with significant greenhouse gas emissions.
• Self-starter who enjoys taking initiative and helping others.
• Consistent follow-through, and a commitment to high-quality work.
• Facile communicator skilled at building trust with a wide range of people.
• Ability to take complex issues and convey them to policymakers and other stakeholders in understandable ways in both written and spoken interactions.
• Experience with environmental lobbying/advocacy a plus; strong interest required.
• Excellent written and oral communications and interpersonal skills.
• Passion for CATF’s mission.

COMPENSATION AND LOCATION:

This is a full-time, funding-dependent position. CATF offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience. The location for this position is flexible within the European Union. CATF provides equal employment opportunities.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please follow this link to submit a resume and cover letter referencing the position title.