Project Manager, Climate and Energy

Overview

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online supporters. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. For over two decades, the NRDC has worked in China as a thought leader and trusted adviser to our partners. With a highly effective team of more than 40 members based in our Beijing office, we have worked hard at both the national and local levels to recommend, develop, and support the implementation of innovative laws, policies, technologies, and market tools that curb pollution and accelerate China’s transition to a clean, low-carbon economy. NRDC's Beijing Representative Office is registered under the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau and supervised by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China in accordance with applicable laws.

NRDC is seeking a Project Manager to lead our work on reducing methane emissions in the energy sector (coal mining, oil and gas, etc.), to be based in our Beijing office.

Position Summary

The Project Manager will be responsible for leading the management of research projects to support innovative policy and technical solutions to address China’s methane emissions in the energy sector, especially from coal mining, one of its largest sources of methane. The projects will include assessing the existing technical and policy support for reducing methane emissions, including capture and utilization of coalbed methane as well as lower-concentration coal mine methane; assessing the different technologies and costs for capture and utilization or destruction of methane and the barriers to scaling up these technologies; and research on financial and market mechanisms that could boost investment and utilization of methane reduction technologies. The manager may also support other work on energy transition, including reducing coal use in key sectors and provinces to help China meet goals for addressing climate change and pursuing high-quality development.

The Project Manager will serve as the principal liaison to Chinese research partners, collaborating with partners to ensure that research provides quality, science-based analysis to benefit policymaking and the business case for scaling up solutions to addressing coal mine methane emissions. While the work will mainly focus on coal mine methane in China, the Project Manager should also be familiar with international efforts to address coal mine methane and be able to work with international partners.

The position will require business travels when deemed necessary. This position will be based in NRDC’s Beijing office and will be an integral part of the NRDC China Program.

Responsibilities

• Leading engagement with and managing the research projects of multiple research partners, and working with partners to prepare research proposals, budgets, contracts and compliance materials; ensuring quality project implementation that meets the research goals of the project, including organizing expert review meetings and providing expert feedback and guidance to partners to improve the research; collecting mid-term and final narrative and financial reports; and supporting reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the projects.
• Keeping up to date on the latest developments in methane policy in the energy sector in China and internationally, including in key provinces.
• Presenting on behalf of NRDC in conferences and workshops to introduce and discuss research findings and recommendations, and coordinating project communication, report launch and advocacy efforts on methane emissions controls.
• Working with the other members of NRDC’s China Program and US colleagues to enhance NRDC’s research and advocacy efforts and expertise on energy and environmental policy.
• Managing and supporting other work as needed related to China’s transition from fossil fuels to low carbon energy in key sectors and provinces.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in energy, environment, business/public administration, international development, or a related field (or bachelor's degree with 3 additional years of relevant experience).
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant, full-time work experience related to energy and environment.
• Preference for someone with existing experience on methane policy and/or in the coal mining sector.
• Excellent research and writing skills in both Mandarin and English.
• Self-motivated with an ability to juggle multiple priorities, handle assignments independently, and work under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, universities, companies, and NGOs.
• Ability to communicate clearly and consistently with a variety of technical and non-technical audiences including staff, stakeholders, and donors.
• Care for details, accuracy and high-quality output.
• Commitment to NRDC’s values and mission.

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

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming a diversity of voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

To apply, please visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your resume and cover letter through our online portal. We would like you to upload any additional papers or project work that you think would showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications NRDC receives, we will only contact candidates we would like to progress through the search process. Please no phone calls, emails, faxes, or in-person resume drop-offs. Please reference where you saw this posting. NRDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applications will be accepted until filled. For further information about NRDC, please visit www.nrdc.org and www.nrdc.cn.

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