Director, Digital Economy and the Environment Project

The Environmental Law Institute is seeking a Director for the Digital Economy and the Environment Project in Washington, DC. This role involves leading research and engagement on the environmental impacts of the digital economy, collaborating with Yale and UC Berkeley. The project aims to influence policy and behavior regarding digital technologies and their environmental implications, supported by various foundations and a national interdisciplinary network.
ABOUT NDEEThe Network on the Digital Economy and the Environment (nDEE) is an established project with a six-year history of research and engagement in the digital technology domain. A collaboration of the Environmental Law Institute, Yale University, and the University of California at Berkeley, nDEE’s mission is to catalyze and disseminate research on the energy and environmental impacts of the digital economy and to engage users in the productive application of this research. These three institutions provide the initiative with a national presence and expertise in environmental assessment, management, policy, and law. The nDEE’s activities also include research development, grantmaking, and publishing and are jointly funded by the Internet Society Foundation (ISOC) and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The nDEE also manages a Research Coordination Network (RCN) through additional funding from the National Science Foundation. ABOUT ELIThe Environmental Law Institute (ELI) is an internationally recognized and independent research, publishing, and education center working to strengthen environmental protection by improving law and governance worldwide. The Institute brings together science and policy to deliver just and practical legal and policy solutions for environmental, economic, and social progress across the United States and around the world. Together with our partners, ELI:Build the skills and capacity of tomorrow’s leaders and institutionsResearches, analyzes, and works across sectors to develop and implement laws and policies to protect the environment and societyConvenes people with diverse perspectives to build understanding through robust dialoguePromotes and disseminates the best thinking through print and electronic mediaFor more information on ELI’s programs, visit https://www.eli.org/programs.FURTHER INFORMATIONThe nDEE started with a small investment by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in 2016 to support a workshop to explore the environmental impacts of the sharing economy and has now grown with over $2 million in additional funding from the Sloan, McGovern, Internet Society, and National Science Foundations. Additional work exploring the environmental impacts and implications of digital technologies has allowed our project to build a broad, interdisciplinary network spanning a dozen countries (see ndeercn.org/directory). Our work is currently focused on increasing the impact of research at the intersection of the environment and the digital economy by supporting and building ecosystems around use-inspired research. In addition, we will use interviews, surveys, the research literature, and bibliometric analyses to explore and identify opportunities in the spaces between research and policy/practice. Our goal is to produce action: impacting policy making at the local, regional, national, or international scale; supporting changes in organizational and/or individual behavior (e.g., firm or consumer behavior); facilitating changes in investment patterns, the focus of future research, or technology development;generating further understanding of the environmental impacts of the digital economy, both positive and negative;increasing awareness and understanding of issues in the media, among funders, non-governmental organizations, and stakeholder communities. As a part of ELI’s Research & Policy division, you will interact with interdisciplinary teams to improve environmental outcomes, research, and policy performance. ELI staff work on today’s most challenging issues, including climate change; environmental justice; natural resource management; land conservation and smart growth; biodiversity loss and habitat destruction; and air, water, and soil pollution. A hallmark of the Institute’s work is its long-standing record of working closely with government agencies at all levels and with communities and non-governmental organizations to support achievement of their environmental, sustainability, and justice goals. RESPONSIBILITIESDirect and grow the nDEE project including developing project strategies, managing/supervising multi-disciplinary teams, managing finances, and coordinating with ELI staff and external partners.Advance the understanding of the impacts of digital technologies on the environment by catalyzing the growth of the research community and literature.Lead fundraising efforts for the nDEE project by leveraging existing relationships with foundations and cultivating new partnerships. Develop new relationships with key stakeholders in the digital technology and environmental fields, including funders, researchers, companies, industry groups, non-governmental organizations, and policy makers. Lead a team of project staff and affiliates and provide guidance and support as needed to ensure high-quality work and timely completion of deliverables.Engage with academic, policy, and advocacy communities to stay informed about developments in relevant fields, and promote the organization's output, and build bridges across the science-policy gap of these research topics.Write reports, policy briefs, and other documents that communicate research findings and recommendations to various audiences, including policy makers, industry leaders, researchers in diverse fields, NGOs, and the general public.Strengthen the role of the nDEE as a trusted source of information for topics related to digital technology and the environment. Represent the project and ELI more broadly at conferences, meetings, and other public events.Assist ELI with the creation and development of additional focus areas such as clean energy technologies. QUALIFICATIONSMA degree and 7+ years of experience in environmental policy, digital economy & environment field, technology, business, public policy, or public administration, or equivalent combination of education and experience.Ability to be on-site in our DC office 2 days a week. We are open to the possibility of remote work for the right candidate. Familiarity with the federal policy making landscape. Proven experience raising funds and connecting with foundations and other potential funders. Demonstrated ability to manage a team of researchers and program staff, and to work collaboratively with colleagues and external stakeholders.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex ideas to non-expert audiences.Substantive knowledge of the impacts and benefits of technology on the environment. Strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.Ability to become proficient in new issue areas and contribute to creative, rigorous, analytical approaches to address them.Well-developed collaborative and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.Well-developed judgment to assess needs, develop strategy, establish priorities, and effectively manage multiple tasks at the same time with moderate supervision.HOW TO APPLYTo apply, submit an application package via ELI's online application system at https://www.eli.org/employment. Note that your submission must contain the following uploaded documents (Word or PDF format), as follows: Cover letter Current CV or resume with dates for all listed experience List of 3 referencesRecent writing sampleELI will accept applications for this position on a rolling basis. You must use ELI’s online application system; ELI cannot accept applications submitted by email, USPS or other shipping service, or hand delivery.Please note that to ensure the health and safety of the ELI workforce, any offer of employment from ELI is contingent on candidates providing proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. ELI management will consider requests for religious or medical exceptions, consistent with applicable law. ELI is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to achieving an inclusive, diverse workforce that values every individual. We firmly believe that hiring individuals with varying perspectives and backgrounds contributes to our success as an organization, and we strive to create an environment that fosters inclusiveness. As such, minority candidates and candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.