As Researcher / Senior Researcher, you will join the Chief Science and Advocacy Officer to generate and refine impactful, actionable research and build Carbon Gap’s world-leading expertise in the emerging field of carbon removal, while supporting the advocacy work needed to bridge the knowledge, policy, and ambition gaps on CDR. You’ll work daily with established and respected experts in the field and have frequent exposure to other leaders across government, industry, and academia. Our research aims to be practicable and actionable for policymakers; your findings and ideas will directly feed into EU and country-level policy decision making, and you should be excited and comfortable with the prospect of communicating those findings and insights both in writing and in stakeholder meetings. 

You’ll be deeply immersed from Day 1 in a high-impact, collaborative climate policy NGO, involved in the full spectrum of Carbon Gap’s work across research, policy advocacy, and communication. The role will include research, analysis, writing, strategy, and project coordination. Typical days could see you researching EU carbon farming certification standards or benchmarking the energy efficiency of a variety of DAC techniques, co-creating projects to drive more effective corporate climate action, preparing for meetings with policymakers and subject matter experts, and managing and tracking progress on various research projects. 

This is an ideal role for a candidate with a scientific, engineering, or highly analytical background with a significant focus on climate, environment, and policy issues. Note that we are not solely interested in physical science backgrounds – candidates with backgrounds in social sciences, including those prepared to focus on the social and ethical dimensions of carbon removal, are particularly encouraged to apply. Carbon Gap is a perfect platform for you to grow professionally, building a wide network across the carbon removal and climate fields and be prepared for both business and policy-oriented career opportunities. 

• Conduct dynamic and rigorous applied research across a diverse range of topics related to climate policy, with a particular focus on the physical, social, and economic implications of carbon removal. Examples of responsibilities include but are not limited to: 
  • Analyse and compare established and nascent CDR methods, for example across, resource requirements, and monitoring, reporting and verification methods 
  • Write, edit, and contribute to outward-facing policy reports, briefs, and papers, as well as op-eds, social media and blog posts 
  • Answer time-sensitive research questions with a bearing on live advocacy needs 
  • Interview stakeholders remotely or in the field to generate insights 
• Translate complex research findings into compelling policy recommendations and succinct advocacy messages targeted at decision-makers and stakeholders. 
• Collaborate closely with team members, including policy, advocacy, and communications-focused colleagues, to co-create research questions and projects that maximise our impact. 
• Collaborate with Carbon Gap’s internal research team to develop, manage, and deliver actionable research projects 
• Stay abreast of the latest developments and trends in climate science, policy, and advocacy, and integrate this knowledge into ongoing research and advocacy initiatives. 
• Engage in collaborative projects and initiatives with external partners, including government agencies, NGOs, and academic institutions. 

Requirements

• Experience in a relevant field of research in the physical or social sciences, such as environmental studies, physics, political science, etc. Candidates both with and without advanced degrees are encouraged to apply, providing evidence of high-caliber research products. Relevant experience could include working in government agencies, NGOs, as a researcher within a lab or university, or in a relevant startup or non-profit 
• Proven track record of conducting high-quality research, with a focus on climate change and related policy issues. 
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to tackle diverse research questions and distill complex findings into actionable policy recommendations. Examples include quantitative data manipulation and analysis in Excel, R, or comparable software, and/or experience with data visualisation tools. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate policy asks persuasively to diverse audiences, including decision-makers and the public. 
• Genuine passion for climate change mitigation and a commitment to advancing climate justice. 
• Deep experience or academic training in one or more subfields within climate, such as climate policy or climate justice frameworks, is highly desirable. 
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment, fostering creativity and innovation. Ability to perform and thrive in a fast-changing environment. 
• Familiarity with carbon removal methods and European climate policy is a plus. 

• You’re committed to climate action. You don’t need to be an expert in carbon removal, but the idea that we can take carbon from the atmosphere, stop climate change, and begin repairing the damage we’ve done to the planet excites you. 
• You have some academic/engineering background, in the natural sciences, social sciences, economics, data science, climate policy, or another relevant field. You are familiar with climate science. 
• You’re comfortable with new material. Diving into a new field, learning new acronyms and concepts, and digesting technical content including laws and policies or scientific papers doesn’t scare you. You want to become a master of new ideas and concepts. 
• You get right to the point. Faced with a lot of information, you’re great at figuring out what’s most important, synthesising it into findings and recommendations, and going from there. 
• You love solving new challenges. You’re not afraid to work your way through a new problem, and you’re energized by the idea of finding a solution. You’re the first to volunteer when something unexpected needs to be done. 
• You excel on a small team and are happy playing different roles. Your flexibility lets you move between different projects and switch contexts smoothly. 

• A fixed term, one year, full-time work contract (40h/week) in Belgium or the UK
• Competitive salary package, including benefits such as lunch vouchers, pension plan and medical plan
• Dynamic and supportive team with amazing colleagues and regular team socials
• Modern offices situated in the heart of the European district of Brussels, and in the heart of East London
• Hybrid working regime
• Opportunities for training and personal development

 
Carbon Gap is an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to broadening opportunities for groups that are underrepresented in the climate and carbon removal spaces, and to building an inclusive team where people of different backgrounds can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from people who do not see themselves represented in the current climate ecosystem. If you feel like this description matches you and are able to do so, please mention it in your covering letter, and we will guarantee you an interview.

You don't need to meet all the requirements to be considered and we know you might need to grow into the role. If you feel like this role is the right one for you, please don’t hesitate to apply.