Name of the Position: Research Manager, Methods & Pathways

Location: UK, Germany, USA, Mexico - fully remote 

Job Purpose and Background:
The SBTi’s private sector standards guide leaders in the private sector to set ambitious targets for decarbonization of their operations and value chains in line with what climate science says is required.This position provides key leadership in ensuring that the SBTi’s standards are up to date with the latest 1.5C mitigation scenarios and best practice in target- setting methodologies.

This position will report to the Research Lead, Methods & Pathways, based in the United States.

This role plays an important part in achieving rigor and transparency in our technical foundations, ensuring that SBTi’s standards for corporate target setting are up to date with the latest 1.5C mitigation scenarios that reflect ambitious, transformative decarbonization futures.

You are a great fit for this role if you have a strong background in quantitative analysis and scientific writing, with special expertise in the analysis of scenarios; if you are passionate about driving ambitious climate action in the private sector; and if you are committed to inclusive, transparent procedures for research that enable transformative change.

About the SBTi:
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science.

It is focused on accelerating companies worldwide to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050.

The SBTi defines and promotes best practices in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies’ targets.

For more information, please visit www.sciencebasedtargets.org

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the SBTi’s work to continuously evaluate emerging global 1.5C scenarios for climate mitigation
• Develop and improve research protocols for consistent updating of SBTi’s corporate standards in line with up-to-date 1.5C mitigation scenarios and best practice in science-based target setting methods 
• Develop proposals and lead research projects, delivering outputs on time and to an esteemed level of quality and in line with SBTi protocols
• Lead the publication of research findings in gray and peer-reviewed literature
• Provide an expert perspective on global mitigation scenarios and science-based target setting methods in cross-team projects
• Develop and maintain relationships with members of the research community engaged in research that is relevant to mitigation scenarios and corporate science-based target setting methods
• Ensure that research produced by the SBTi is accessible to your colleagues and a diverse group of stakeholders

• Master’s degree in natural or physical sciences, sustainability, or another relevant field
• 5 to 8 years of experience working on climate change mitigation research, including analysis of output from Integrated Assessment Models and other relevant modeling tools
• Excellent analytical and research skills, with a clear understanding of how different research methods can be applied in practice and in conjunction
• Strong demonstrated scientific writing abilities, including experience as lead author and co-author of peer reviewed research publications
• In-depth understanding of how integrated global, regional, and sectoral scenarios are developed, as well as their use-cases and limitations
• In-depth understanding of climate target setting methodologies
• Self-motivated and able to work on your own initiative
• Skilled at building and maintaining relationships across disciplinary lines

• PhD or similar advanced degree in geography, earth/environmental science, sustainability, or another relevant field
• Talented at statistical analysis
• Experience supervising a research group or small team

• Working in one of the most successful and fastest-growing initiatives driving climate action;
• Exciting and challenging tasks in a dynamic, international, innovative, and highly motivated team;
• Training and development;
• Attractive holiday package.