UNPAID VOLUNTEER - (Deputy) Director of Research (Energy and Environment)

Role Title : Deputy Director of Research (Energy and Environment)

Role Nature : Volunteer

Location : Home-based

The Blockchain & Climate Institute (BCI) is an international volunteer-led think tank supporting and advocating the application of blockchain and other emerging technologies in the global fight against climate change.

We are looking to recruit a highly experienced and enthusiastic VOLUNTEER (or what we call a ‘pro bono officer’) who will serve as the Deputy Director of Research (Energy & Environment) , managing the focused research function of the organization, and further developing the division with key objectives of operationalizing growth strategy and strengthening BCI positioning as the preferred thought leader of digital technology development trend and research into its influence or potential value in global climate policy actions.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter and experienced, and looking to make a difference in international climate change governance. The successful candidate will be a competent leader or senior executive with rich experience in working with globally distributed teams, managing ecosystem partners, and executing capability development projects from inception to completion. Working with initiative and having the desire to find solutions to climate-related actions should be second nature. Experience as a researcher or most senior thought leader in an academic organization will be highly beneficial, as will research experience in a non-profit environment.

We are currently seeking a motivated, experienced, and innovative leader to join our growing organization. Reporting to the Director-General (DG), you will be responsible for leading applied research on a wide range of environmental and energy policy innovation and driving the enhancement of existing capabilities, socializing it for stakeholders across the various climate-related actors. Research and evidence underpin all projects designed and implemented by the BCI on various climate change policy areas, including green finance, renewable energy, carbon emissions trading, biodiversity conservation, environmental law enforcement, etc. You will drive BCI's growth by forging new working relationships and synergies across the contextual organizational knowledge and establishing BCI as a leading player across the climate ecosystem of stakeholders. The key responsibility for this role is to ensure that BCI leadership has the evidence, insight, and understanding of industry issues and trends that allow them to provide the most appropriate support to governments and international organizations in terms of applied digital technology use cases and research-based policy innovation. You must be a natural communicator who can gain consensus, be accurate, and understandable, and provide actionable plans to guide BCI’s research activities to be more functional, more agile, adding to BCI’s core growth aspirations.

Responsibilities : Strategic planning

• Working closely with the Director-General for further developing Research Division II with the primary focus on climate adaptation, energy, and environmental policy;
• The identification, investigation, and reporting of the latest research on energy, digital technology, and climate policy development worldwide;
• Monitoring and evaluation of how existing climate policies and regulations impact digital innovations in particular jurisdictions;
• Liaising with other divisions across BCI to conceptualise and develop proposals / project ideas;
• Contributing research expertise to projects, external speaking engagements, and networking opportunities as appropriate; Active participation in webinars, climate forums, and sectorial engagement activities to effectively communicate the BCI research agenda;
• Developing or strengthening existing research (including technical knowledge and skills) of relevant institutions with roles to play in climate policy, through regular webinars or other engagement channels;
• Understanding situational interpretations and analyzing data to identify and understand challenges, present and explain findings to the Executive Committee and Advisory Board.

Research leadership :

Team supervision :

Requirements

Education & training

Relevant experience

Skills & abilities

General & Specialist Knowledge :

Benefits

Blockchain and other emerging technologies. Climate change and sustainability. These are two hot topic groups that have been headlining media outlets, dominating conferences & events, and gaining increasing traction in research and pilot projects. BCI is here as an expert platform to help governments, inter-governmental and regional organizations as well as relevant corporates to negotiate the complex landscape of emerging technologies for environmental good. We cement our expertise by putting in the hard work in researching, identifying, and analyzing the applications of emerging technologies so that informed decisions can be made by the stakeholders in the climate change and action network.

Benefits you will get from volunteering with BCI are enormous and some include :

Before you apply

Please apply with your CV and cover letter. If shortlisted, you will be contacted by one of our recruiters to complete assessments related to the role. If successful, you will be asked to complete an in-tray exercise based on the role you have applied for prior to an interview with the Division Director. Please note that your details will be held in respect of GDPR compliance, for future volunteering opportunities with the BCI.