Welch Environmental Innovation Fellow

~ The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is the nation's most effective environmental action organization. ~

We use law, science and the support of 1.4 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.

Founded in 1970 by a group of law students and attorneys at the forefront of the environmental movement, NRDC has helped write a number of America's bedrock environmental laws. Today, our staff of more than 430 lawyers, scientists and policy experts work out of offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.

NRDC's Center for Market Innovation (CMI) advances market mechanisms that channel capital toward environmentally sustainable and economically profitable investments. Our goal is to help finance the shift to a green economy. We do so by engaging with the business community, articulating and demonstrating value propositions across interrelated sectors in energy, shelter, water and food. 

To learn more about NRDC, please visit our website; and click here for further information about NRDC's Center for Market Innovation.  

Position Overview

CMI is seeking an outstanding candidate to work on CMI's environmental infrastructure financing initiatives. This is a two-year position, and the candidate's time will be split between municipal water-related infrastructure finance and energy infrastructure finance work at the state, local, and national level.

The selected candidate will receive a two-year fellowship with CMI commencing in November 2014. This will be a full-time staff position based in either NRDC's New York or San Francisco office.

The position will focus on both CMI's work in urban green infrastructure finance as well as next-generation energy infrastructure finance. Broadly, the aim of our infrastructure finance work is to partner with cities and local and national stakeholder groups to develop the policies, pilot programs, and financing mechanisms needed to accelerate private investment in green/ infrastructure across the water and energy space.

CMI's water infrastructure work encompasses a broad spectrum of actions along the project pipeline, from project finance to policy research and analysis, advising local decision-makers, and convening stakeholders.

Click here for more details on CMI's urban water infrastructure financing work, including our team bios and recent thought-leadership pieces.

In the area of energy infrastructure finance, CMI plays an important role in providing research and analysis on the merits of specific approaches to infrastructure finance as well as intervening strategically in approaches on specific projects.

CMI's work in the energy area dovetails with the water work, but is more broadly aimed at facilitating the creation of state and federal level institutions that can help leverage private investment/private public partnerships in water and energy infrastructure projects. 

Responsibilities  

• Provide financial modeling capability and use data to drive quantitatively-based project discussions.
• Lead and support, as needed, research and analysis of effective business models to advance green, distributed infrastructure solutions with a primary focus on water, renewable energy, energy efficiency.
• Help lead a diverse stakeholder group in the origination and build-out of innovative infrastructure work.
• Act as convener and point of contact between NRDC and external stakeholders on specific projects, including an important role interfacing with public sector representatives.
• Take a pro-active role in shaping the direction and substance of NRDC's existing infrastructure finance work.
• Take an entrepreneurial approach to work and bring new ideas to the team. 

Qualifications 

We are looking for a candidate with strong quantitative and writing skills, possessing the following qualifications: 

• Practical experience with building financial models and performing financial /cash flow analysis.
• Demonstrated proficiency in quantitative analysis.
• Demonstrated excellence in verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to be effective as both a team player and a team leader, as needed.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to author or co-author peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience working successfully on a team in large institutions (banking, finance, government, etc).
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to consistently produce high-quality deliverables.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet aggressive project deadlines.
• Experience or strong interest in emerging financing and ownership models (pay for performance, social impact bonds, community ownership, crowd funding, impact investing).
• Transactional experience a plus. 
• Masters Degree in Business Administration, or equivalent experience a plus.  

Compensation: We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a pleasant working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with experience.  

To Apply 

• Please click below: "Apply Here!" to create a profile and upload your cover letter (include salary requirements) and resume.
• Please no phone calls, emails, faxes or in-person resume drop-offs.
• Please reference where you saw this posting.  
• If you are having technical difficulty while applying, please reach out to Customer Care by dialing 1-866-927-2472. 

~ NRDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NRDC is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. ~