Position Title: Researcher in Residence, Solid Carbon

Location: Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, Victoria, BC

FTE: Four-year term, full-time, non-renewable

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications

Start Date: 3 February 2020 (preferred, but negotiable)

Application Deadline: 1 December 2019

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) new Researcher in Residence position offers an exceptional opportunity to be at the nexus of climate solutions research and engagement focusing on negative emissions technologies. We are a multi-university institute encompassing the four major research-intensive universities in British Columbia: University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Northern British Columbia. Our mandate is to produce leading climate solutions research that is actively used by decision-makers to develop effective mitigation and adaptation policies and actions. PICS has a global remit, but a focus on BC.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Researcher in Residence will mobilize knowledge between research and decision-makers to maximize the utility of climate solutions developed under the Institute’s new Research Engagement Program. The Researcher will also work to attract new partners, and link new opportunities, with PICS research teams. The Researcher will act as a primary interface to government, industry and other partners who are seeking to implement climate change solutions. The successful candidate will be a conduit through which those parties can engage with the academic community with a special focus on the PICS-supported Solid Carbon Climate Mitigation Partnership.

The overarching objective of Solid Carbon is to conduct research in three interconnected areas that will, together, advance a Solid Carbon negative emissions technology, build capacity for this technology, and establish British Columbia as the international technology hub for this climate mitigation solution. This Solid Carbon negative emissions technology would remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and provide permanent sequestration in the world’s largest reservoir for CO2 sequestration—ocean basalt. The Solid Carbon solution brings together six separate proven technologies with the aim of developing a fully integrated system.

This is a four-year, non-renewable full-time contract position with a focus on negative emissions climate mitigation technology. PICS currently supports a multi-year, multi-institutional project on this subject. The incumbent will be expected to support this work as well as other projects and extend their reach into the non-academic community. This is one of three positions that will focus on different climate change solutions areas in the new Researcher in Residence program.

The position is based at the University of Victoria, and requires travel within BC, and occasionally within Canada and internationally.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Facilitate and establish strong engagement between climate solution decision-makers and the research community.
• Lead the development of publishable survey or synthesis reports related to the negative emissions technology that will serve the broader academic community.
• Become the go-to person on climate solutions in negative emissions technologies so that external partners can rely on PICS to provide relevant information when needed or provide a link to experts who can provide such information.
• Work proactively with the PICS and UVic communications teams to create original content and pull content from researchers to communicate the latest thinking about negative emissions to a broad audience.
• Work with event managers to develop a suite of interactive and dynamic seminars and meetings that will engage researchers and partners with relevant and challenging ideas.
• Participate in relevant workshops, conferences, industry organizations, standards councils, government solicitations etc. relevant to the negative emissions technology. Provide briefing to researchers and partners.
• Assist in hiring and mentoring additional PICS Researchers in Residence for other Theme Partnership topics.
• Assist with the management of PICS research and student engagement programs.
• Prepare and deliver public-facing talks, seminars and workshops etc. to maximize impact of research results.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD or Master’s Degree in a field that could advance climate change mitigation using negative emissions technology.
• Skilled in the application of a systems engineering approach.
• Experience working at the interface between science and engineering.
• Dynamic, people and results-oriented with a passion for implementing climate change solutions.
• Ability to communicate complex technology to broad
• Demonstrated leadership and project management skills.
• Knowledge of ocean technology and/or renewable energy expertise an asset.
• Ability to initiate and execute plans to ensure smooth financial operations of research activities within multi-partner projects.
• Strong analytic capability.
• Ability to travel (generally 1-3 days/trip) within BC, but also Canada and internationally as needed.

To apply: send a CV and cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the position to <email address removed> by 1 December 2019.