Berkeley Lab Job Opportunity: Energy/Environmental Policy Researcher

Berkeley Labs


Posted February 9, 2024

Position Overview: As an Energy Policy Researcher, you will be a key player in the EMP Department which conducts technical, economic, and policy analysis, and provides technical support to a broad range of stakeholders. The role involves leading quantitative and qualitative research efforts, managing projects, and engaging with stakeholders. The position will focus on the energy services company (ESCO) research area, with potential involvement in Strategic Energy Management and other demand-side management/distributed energy resources program and policy topics.

Responsibilities:

Level 2 Policy Researcher:

  • Contribute significantly to Berkeley Lab’s ESCO industry research, supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's goals.
  • Develop and conduct policy-relevant research projects, including analyses of ESCO project trends, market studies, and ad hoc data analyses.
  • Identify and define research needs, contribute to funding proposals, and present research results in webinars and at conferences.
  • Manage project budgets, schedules, tasks, and deliverables, working with internal and external teams, including researchers, subject matter experts and the development team of the eProject Builder (ePB)/eProject eXpress web-based energy project tracking and reporting system.
  • Foster partnerships and collaborations with industry stakeholders.

Level 3 Policy Researcher, in addition to the above:

  • Lead Berkeley Lab’s ESCO industry research and related technical support projects.
  • Identify research needs, develop funding proposals, and procure project funding from primary and non-DOE funders.
  • Lead internal and contractor project teams, lead research, author technical reports and journal articles, provide oversight, and ensure high-quality, timely results
  • Direct the development of complex technical concepts, methods, and research.
  • Foster partnerships with a broad range of industry stakeholders and make significant contributions to nationwide working groups.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

For Level 2:

  • Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent knowledge) in Energy & Resources, Public Policy, Economics, Business Administration, City & Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with increasing responsibility in program/project administration and research, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience related to the U.S. ESCO industry, electric utility demand-side management programs and policies, distributed energy resources programs and policies and/or electric utility regulation.
  • Strong project management, communication and analytical skills.
  • Experience with stakeholder engagement.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

For Level 3 (in addition to Level 2 requirements):

  • Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience with increasing responsibility.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience managing interactions with clients/funders and fostering partnerships with public agencies, industry organizations and other stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop, lead, complete and present research.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects and teams effectively.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree in relevant discipline.
  • Familiarity with the ESCO industry and energy savings performance contracting.
  • Experience with data analysis software (e.g., R, Python, Stata).

For full consideration, please apply by February 25, 2024.

CLICK HERE to read the full job description and apply.