Job Purpose and Background:

The Science Based Targets initiative is updating its financial sector target setting framework to introduce a comprehensive net-zero standard. Establishing a holistic standard for near and long-term targets that ensures financial sector targets can contribute to real decarbonisation and effectively align financial flows with the goals of the Paris Agreement is a key priority of the SBTi’s climate action framework.

The role sits within SBTi’s Financial Institutions team and the SBTi Research team, focusing on the methodology research and development as part of the ongoing Financial Institutions Net-Zero (FINZ) Standard project. The Senior Research Manager will report to the SBTi Finance Research Technical Lead and will be expected to work as part of a team and also independently on projects in support of this initiative.

The Senior Research Manager will help the SBTi Financial Institutions team to design and deliver an overarching work package that centers on target setting metrics and methods for use by Financial Institutions when setting portfolio level targets.

The role is also outward-facing at times - representing SBTi at conferences and on external advisory working groups and driving methodological convergence with other net-zero alliances.

About you: Do you have an understanding of financial sector climate action and are you passionate about guiding the transition to a net-zero economy?

About the SBTi:

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a joint initiative between CDP, UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and World Wildlife Fund, aiming to catalyze change towards a net-zero economy by driving the adoption of GHG emission reduction targets in the corporate sector that are consistent with the ambition required to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Over 1,500 of the world’s largest and most influential companies have joined the Science Based Targets initiative to date. Please visit www.sciencebasedtargets.org to find out more.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead innovative, quantitative research to evaluate and identify the target setting metrics that can be used to track financial sector portfolio alignment.

• Working as part of the team leading technical development of SBTi Finance methodologies. This includes management of projects to design, test, and deliver new target-setting methods.

• Lead the research and development of key workstreams, including climate taxonomies, alternative portfolio alignment methods, among others.

• Work as part of a team and independently to develop papers, methods and criteria covering a wide variety of financial assets - derived from banking, insurance, private equity, asset managers, etc., activities. You will be expected to both lead and provide detailed input to other team members in their work as part of this process.

• Perform independent and collaborative analysis of the implementation of different approaches to target setting across different financial asset classes e.g., investment and lending, securitized products, securities underwriting, among others.

• Distill concepts into written documents, procedures, and presentations, ensuring that research is accessible to your colleagues and a diverse group of stakeholders

• Deliver written outputs on time and to an esteemed level of quality and in line with SBTi protocols.

• Provide an expert perspective on climate change mitigation in cross-team projects

• Represent SBTi as an expert adviser on international working groups and at conferences, as requested, providing technical guidance on the international financial standard development and ensuring SBTi positions are reflected in their decision-making.

• Work on behalf of SBTi to build partnerships with other organizations and initiatives that can help support the delivery of the project objectives, to road test SBTi proposals and co-design new methods.

Essential skills and experience needed:

• 5-7 (manager) / 7-10 (senior manager) years of experience working on climate change mitigation research and/or environmental programs

• Deep technical and applied knowledge of relevant concepts and standards around GHG accounting as well as financial sector climate target-setting and implementation

• Understanding of the drivers for and practical challenges of implementing climate action strategies across businesses’ operations and value chains.

• Experience creating tools, products, and resources for finance and corporate audiences; with advanced excel and coding skills a bonus (python, R).

• Excellent analytical and research skills, and ability to communicate complex concepts clearly, both orally and in writing, with fluency in English.

• Demonstrated awareness of research and debates related to financial sector climate change mitigation.

• Creates consistency and can prioritize, flexible and able to work independently in an international and multi-cultural remote work environment.

• Skilled at building and maintaining relationships across disciplinary lines.

Desirable criteria:

• Demonstrated people and project management skills

• Talented at statistical analysis

• Experience supervising a research group or small team

• Experience as an author of major reports and/or peer-reviewed journal articles

This is a full-time role based in UK, Europe or USA. The salary for this role will be dependent on location and level of experience. This role is a fixed-term contract for 12 months with the possibility of extension and it will be reporting to the FI Research Lead. Interested candidates should be legally allowed to work in the countries specified. The SBTi cannot sponsor any working visas.

What we offer:

• 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;

• Salary Range, depending on location and experience:

  • Manager: - €46,640 - €69,960 in Europe, £37,643 - £56,465 in the UK and $55,770 - $87,001 in the USA

  • Senior Manager: €55360 - €83040 in Europe, £45,538 - £68,307 in the UK and $68,952 - $107,585 in the USA

• Training and development;

• Attractive holiday package.

About the team: The Financial Institutions team develops methods, criteria, and other key resources for FIs to set SBTs. This position would also be part of the SBTi Research Team, which develops transparent cross-sector technical outputs that contribute to the integrity of SBTs and maximize climate action. These include research outputs such as articles and reports, cross-sectoral guidance, as well as the curation of 1.5°C-aligned pathways and target setting methods. The Research Team draws from a variety of peer collaboration approaches, which includes ongoing technical partnerships, maintaining a network of expert advisors, and convening research forums.

Please email your CV and a cover letter setting out how you meet the required skills and experience or key responsibilities, which should be no more than two pages together, to careers@sciencebasedtargets.org