Sequoia Climate Foundation is a new philanthropy that seeks to decarbonize the world economy at a speed and scale equal to the challenge. We support bold strategies and efforts that will have both a near-term impact and the greatest probability of long-term success. We believe that solving climate change requires the adoption of ambitious, evidence-based policy solutions that transform markets, advance clean technology, and lead to large-scale change. 

Our focus areas include power, transportation, buildings, industry, land use, agriculture and forestry, finance, communications, movement building, and public engagement. Sequoia Climate Foundation is active in major emitting geographies, including China, the United States, India, and the European Union, among others. We are dedicated to building the political will and powerful coalitions needed to achieve these bold policy solutions. 

We are looking for a Research Officer who will conduct cutting-edge, timely policy research and quantitative analyses on the potential and realized impacts of climate mitigation strategies (across major greenhouse gas emitters).  This role will support Sequoia’s Program teams to develop cutting-edge, impactful strategies for the transformation of climate action based on quantitative analysis.  The Research Officer will design and analyze policy scenarios in Sequoia’s in-house tool, as well as other external tools (including Energy Policy Simulator, En-ROADs, and, where appropriate, integrated assessment models). 

Location:                Irvine, CA (Preferred Location) or Washington, DC

Type:                      Hybrid Role (In-person at our Irvine, CA location and Remote)

Compensation:      $130,000 annually

What You Will Do:

• Co-design and implement a novel framework for the use of impact evaluation in philanthropic decision-making that aligns with Sequoia’s broader Evidence and Learning agenda.
• Lead quantitative and mixed methods approach to evaluate the systems-wide impact of climate mitigation actions, with a focus on the speed, scale, likelihood of success, and cost of emissions reductions.
• Supports the development and execution of Sequoia’s strategies, goals, policies, and initiatives.
• Collaborates closely with Sequoia’s Operations team with a specific focus on areas where the Evidence and Learning portfolio interacts with our operations functions. 
• Engages with the Evidence and Learning Community of aligned donors and practitioners working to advance the goals of Sequoia.
• Identifies partners and collaborations to advance grantmaking strategies, including, as appropriate, active participation in collaboratives, conferences, and workshops.
• Foster a culture of iterative experimentation and learning among Sequoia staff and our partner by providing technical support, guidance, and thought leadership on novel uses of impact evaluation to inform decision-making.
• Informed by targeted impact evaluations and portfolio-wide Bayesian-probability models and monitoring, lead the development & implementation of Sequoia’s impact reporting.
• Coordinate evaluation processes across Sequoia Climate Foundation’s program teams.

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, or mathematics required. Advanced degree preferred.
• A minimum of three years working in energy or climate policy modeling, or a related field is required.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing models in VenSim, Python, or R required. 
• Experience with collaborative model building preferred.

What You Will Enjoy:

You will be a part of an organization that promotes positive change in the world to minimize the impacts of climate change.  We provide competitive wages, health, and wellness benefits, paid vacation, holidays, and other perks to promote work/life harmony. We operate in a hybrid model, which means both workdays from home and in the office located in Irvine, California.

Other Information:

COVID-19 Update: Sequoia Climate Foundation requires its employees to be fully vaccinated and up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines unless they are approved for an exemption as allowed under federal and applicable state law. Unless approved for an exemption, new hires must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination at the time of hire, and offers of employment will be contingent on compliance with Sequoia Climate Foundation’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.  

We believe in cultivating teams with diverse backgrounds and offering equal opportunities. We strive to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where every team member feels valued, and diversity is celebrated. Sequoia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or legally protected status.