Policy Researcher Jobs

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s (LBNL) Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Division has an opening for a Policy Researcher to join the team.
The EMP Department conducts technical, economic, and policy analysis of energy topics centered on the U.S. electricity sector. Our research seeks to inform public and private decision-making on public-interest issues related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, demand flexibility, electricity system planning, electricity reliability and resilience, and utility regulation.

In this exciting role you will develop and apply methods of conducting energy, economic, market, and/or technical research within an area of specialization that informs the development of energy/environmental policies (e.g., in support of a U.S. Department of Energy policy program). You will work with an interdisciplinary team of researchers who will define the needs of projects or advanced analyses and determine appropriate methods to satisfy technical objectives. You will lead and/or support research projects, provide assistance to community, local, state, and federal decision-makers and stakeholders on complex issues, and contribute to the development of EMP departmental organizational goals and objectives.

What You Will Do at level 2:

• Present research at conferences and meetings.
• Assist in the development of short- and long-term research priorities and preparation of proposals and budgets to secure funding from the DOE and other sponsors to perform the research.
• Provide technical assistance to state, local, and community policymakers, state energy offices, utilities, and public utility commissions on electrification of buildings and transportation, DERs, reliability, resilience, energy equity, and/or environmental justice.
• Contribute to technical reports and other written products.
• Develop, assign, conduct, and manage work scopes, budgets, and tasks to ensure completion of projects on time and on budget.
• Develop partnerships and engage with industry stakeholders including building owners, operators, designers, builders, utilities, service providers, manufacturers, energy service companies, and others.
• Conduct analysis of data as required for in-depth evaluation of technical and policy topics.
• Manage sub-contracts with external consultants.
• Develop and manage advanced research projects on electrification of buildings and transportation, distributed energy resources (DERs), reliability, resilience, energy equity, and/or environmental justice and impacts of electrification, DERs, and renewable energy investments on the reliability and resilience of rural, remote, island, and indigenous communities.

In addition to above, what you will do at level 3:

• Write or oversee the writing of sections of policy documents and supporting technical documentation. Describe details of analyses performed; prepare tables and figures for supporting documents.
• Develop and direct advanced research projects on electrification of buildings and transportation, distributed energy resources (DERs), reliability, resilience, energy equity, and/or environmental justice and impacts of electrification, DERs, and renewable energy investments on the reliability and resilience of rural, remote, island, and indigenous communities.
• Develop and apply complex methods using technical research tasks that inform the development of energy / environmental policies
• Lead one or more initiatives under the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program to support the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s efforts to improve the resilience, reliability, and affordability of energy systems in rural and remote communities across the country.
• Lead execution of projects. Develop, assign, conduct, and manage work scopes, budgets, and tasks to ensure completion of projects on time and on budget, and review and provide feedback on staff work.
• Resolve complex issues for development and implementation of state and local policies and regulations and utility programs.
• Lead one or more initiatives under the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) to support the DOE’s efforts to improve the resilience, reliability, and affordability of energy systems in remote and island communities across the country.
• Present complex technical concepts, methods and results to policy makers and stakeholders at conferences and meetings
• Direct analysis of data as required for in-depth evaluation of complex technical and policy topics.
• Identify and define research needs and develop short- and long-term research priorities. Prepare proposals and budgets to secure funding from the DOE and other sponsors to perform the research.

Additional Responsibilities as needed at level 3:

• May supervise the activities of exempt and nonexempt personnel.

What is Required at level 2:

• Knowledgeable and skilled in program/project planning, resource management (budget and staff) and scheduling
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to both work independently with minimal supervision and work effectively with a team
• Familiarity with interdisciplinary research methods and data analysis tools and techniques
• Demonstrated experience with leading partnerships and managing day-to-day interactions with clients/funders, government agencies, industry partners and stakeholders
• Proven ability to work on innovative R&D projects, including ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as work effectively with a multidisciplinary team.
• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent knowledge) in Energy & Resources, Public Policy, Economics,Business Administration, City & Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Engineering, or a related discipline and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with increasing responsibility in program administration, planning, and conducting research projects, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and provide clear technical and policy guidance to a project team
• Demonstrated experience with project management.
• Demonstrated abilities to determine program requirements, estimate budget requirements, arrange for subcontracts where necessary, develop organizational and program plans
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high quality results on time and within budget
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including proven ability to identify and obtain information from diverse sources, conduct interviews, lead the production of high-quality, policy-relevant reports, and collaborate with other researchers
• Strong quantitative skills to conduct technical analysis
• Proficiency with MS Office suite
• Demonstrated experience with rural, remote, island, and indigenous communities.
• Demonstrated experience with electrification of buildings and transportation, DERs, reliability, resilience, energy equity, and/or environmental justice.
• Demonstrated familiarity with electric power systems.

In addition to above, what is required at level 3:

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent knowledge) in Energy & Resources, Public Policy, Economics, Business Administration, City & Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Engineering, or a related discipline and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience with increasing responsibility in program administration, planning, and conducting research projects, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong technical skills to conduct technical analysis.

Desired Qualifications:

• Ph.D degree in Energy & Resources, Public Policy, Economics, Business Administration, City and Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Engineering or a related field, or Master’s degree in Energy & Resources, Public Policy, Economics, Business Administration, City and Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Engineering or a related field with a minimum 3 years of experience.
• Demonstrated familiarity with renewable energy project development.
• Demonstrated experience with using energy-related software tools, datasets and/or databases, and engineering, environmental, or energy system models.
• Familiarity with programming languages.
• Professional experience, ideally working with utilities, states or local governments, rural or remote or island or indigenous communities on electrification of buildings and transportation, DERs, reliability, resilience, energy equity, and/or environmental justice.

In addition to above, desired qualifications at level 3:

• Ph.D degree in Energy & Resources, Public Policy, Economics, Business Administration, City and Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Engineering or a related field with a minimum of 3 years of experience, or Master’s degree in Energy & Resources, Public Policy, Economics, Business Administration, City and Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Engineering or a related field with a minimum 6 years of experience.

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Notes:

• This position is eligible for remote work. Remote workers are defined as individuals that reside in the United States, but 150 miles away from Berkeley Lab. There may be an expectation to intermittently conduct work, attend meetings and training on site at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. Work schedules are dependent on business needs.
• This is a full-time, career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Level 3: The full salary range for this position is $130,680.00 -$159,720.00. The budgeted salary range that the Lab reasonably expects to pay for this position is $137,940.00 -$152,460.00. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, and certifications, and also aligned with the internal peer group.
• Level 2: The full salary range for this position is $89,100.00 -$108,900.00. The budgeted salary range that the Lab reasonably expects to pay for this position is $94,050.00 -$103,950.00. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, and certifications, and also aligned with the internal peer group.

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