Research Associate (Forestry Landscape Decarbonization)

Carbon Direct is hiring a Research Associate focused on forestry landscape decarbonization in Seattle, WA. The role involves research, analysis, and project management to support clients in carbon management. Candidates should have a background in environmental science or corporate sustainability, with a passion for climate solutions. The position offers remote-friendly work options, emphasizing collaboration and diverse perspectives to tackle the climate crisis.
Join us on the journey to get to net zero

At Carbon Direct, we dedicate our scientific, software, and business expertise to empower organizations around the world to take climate action.

Our Mission

Enable organizations to reduce, remove, and utilize their emissions with carbon science

We are a purpose-driven carbon management firm dedicated to helping organizations around the world reach their climate goals. We make carbon science accessible and actionable with our end-to-end platform.

Global citizens with global impact

Whether a scientist, developer, or carbon markets expert, we are united by our mission to take climate action now. We are experts in our fields and we act with confidence. Located across 4 countries and 10+ states in the U.S., we offer both remote-friendly work options and dynamic, in-person experiences with offices located in Seattle, WA and Oakland, CA.

Diverse backgrounds bring diverse perspectives

We recognize that teams with diverse backgrounds and different experiences are powerful. Bringing together a variety of perspectives only enhances how we can effectively address the climate crisis. Together, we are creating an environment where everyone is celebrated and anyone can succeed.

Overview

Carbon Direct Inc. is seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial, team-focused Research Associate to join our Science & Advisory team(s), with an emphasis on nature-based climate solutions. As a full-time hire at Carbon Direct, this is an opportunity to put your knowledge and expertise to work to help our rapidly expanding client base reduce and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon Direct will consider applicants with a background in environmental science (forestry, agriculture, biodiversity), corporate sustainability, and management consulting. Candidates must have a passion for carbon management and removal, though experience in the voluntary carbon market is not required. This role will support both the day-to-day management as well as content development for complex carbon management advisory engagements. A successful candidate is a self-starter, someone who stays informed about regulatory, policy, and technological developments in the climate space and sustainability more broadly, and is excited to work hard towards the implementation of just climate change solutions.

Responsibilities
• Research and Analysis
• Undertake research, modeling, expert interviews, and/or data analyses, both independently and in partnership with colleagues
• Create high-quality deliverables such as reports, briefs, and visual presentations to effectively communicate research outcomes
• Communication and Collaboration
• Foster clear and collaborative communication across client and internal teams, actively contributing insights during problem-solving sessions
• Translate complex technical findings into accessible, compelling narratives for diverse stakeholders, ensuring understanding and engagement
• Project Management
• Meet deadlines through good time management, foresight about future tasks, and regular communication of work plans with project managers
• Implement and adhere to quality control measures for all outgoing work products and correspondence, ensuring that deliverables meet or exceed established quality standards before submission

Qualifications
• Master’s degree in a related field, or a bachelor’s degree with demonstrated work experience, including relevant academic areas of focus, internships, volunteer experience, fellowships, etc. Degrees or work experiences that include training in research methods (quantitative or qualitative) are a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality research and analytical results with limited direct guidance. Proficiency in Excel and/or other analytical software (e.g., R, GIS, Tableau) preferred.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently with limited supervision when necessary, proactively engaging with project managers, and contributing to multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communicator and cross-functional team builder who creates strong relationships with a global distributed team (including with part-time/academic staff members). You have a point of view but also a healthy respect for others’ experiences and encourage others to generate and explore new ideas.
• Experience in a fast-paced, outcome-oriented professional environment (consulting, startup, not-for-profit, etc.).
• Passion for addressing climate change is critical.
• Fluency with voluntary carbon markets and carbon removal is a plus.

Salary Range

$88,000 - $132,000 a year

Benefits

While we love our work, our lives aren’t defined by it. At Carbon Direct, we offer a robust benefits package that considers the whole person, their partners, and their families – and we’re always looking to improve.

Our U.S. benefits* include:
• Comprehensive nationwide medical, dental, and vision coverage. See a preview of our coverage here.
• Time off as needed: Flexible vacation policy and ten company-wide holidays, plus annual winter break between Christmas and New Year's
• 16 weeks of fully paid parental and family leave with no tenure requirement
• Remote-friendly work culture with annual company-wide retreats
• Reimbursement for your work-from-home setup and monthly work-from-home stipend
• Please note that the benefits described apply to U.S.-based employees only. For our international employees, our benefits package varies by each country and its statutory requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Carbon Direct is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. We adhere rigorously to our equal employment opportunity policies in connection with all employment decisions, including hiring, compensation and promotion.