Environmental Scientist /Engineer

Environmental Defenses Alliance for Environmental Innovation works in partnership with major corporations to develop market-based strategies that generate both economic and environmental benefits. Alliance partnerships require real change from the partner companies and significant Alliance technical and managerial resources to complete. Information on Alliance projects is available at: www.EnvironmentalDefense.org/Alliance


Responsibilities:

This position will play a central role in the execution of our partnership project with FedEx Express. The Alliance is working with FedEx to create a fundamentally new kind of pickup and delivery truck with an improved environmental and energy profile. The immediate goal of the project is to create a new truck that decreases emissions by 90% and increases fuel efficiency by 50% while maintaining full functionality and lifetime cost-competitiveness. Over the long term, we seek to replicate the project with other large truck fleets, and to create new projects to promote advanced technology vehicles. The selected candidate will work initially with the FedEx project team on the following tasks:

* Identify and pursue opportunities for replication of the FedEx project with other fleets.

* Provide technical advice and analysis throughout the project. For example, this person would be expected to advise the evaluation of pre-production trucks to be developed for FedEx (e.g. functionality, cost, environmental, etc.) and work with truck suppliers and FedEx to refine and improve new truck designs.

* Work to identify barriers to the success of the new truck technology throughout the project (e.g., potential lack of widely available low sulfur fuel) and develop and implement plans to overcome these barriers.

* Develop and implement plans for advocating regulatory or policy changes that could ease the adoption of new truck technology (e.g. tax credits for new vehicles, whole vehicle emissions testing).

In all aspects, the candidate will provide technical oversight to ensure that project outcomes are analytically rigorous, technically sound, practical from a business and operational perspective, and aggressive environmentally. The candidate will participate fully in overall Alliance activities, including fundraising, strategic planning, and new project development, and will coordinate closely with colleagues in Environmental Defense working on similar issues.

Requirements:

* Masters in engineering or science with strong business skills, mechanical or vehicle engineering a plus;

* Three to five years relevant professional business experience working on vehicle issues;

* Project management skills ability to set goals and schedule, manage work plans, communicate with team members, track progress, set budgets, etc.;

* Strong technical, business and environmental analysis skills and experience in performing rigorous analysis in support of highly visible work;

* Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and partners of varied background and experience;

* An understanding of environmental issues including both the basic statutory and regulatory structure in the US and the principles of corporate environmental management;

* Understanding and appreciation of the potential role that business can play in solving the environmental problems of the future;

* An ability to work both independently and as a member of small teams in a dynamic, fun and creative environment;

* A desire to work in a public interest environmental advocacy organization;

* An ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.

Please submit a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to:

Carolyn Green

Office Manager

Environmental Defense

18 Tremont Street

Suite 850

Boston, MA 02108

Fax: (617) 723-2999

Email: carolyngreen@environmentaldefense.org

Environmental Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities and the physically challenged are encouraged to apply.