Climate Fellow

This is a paid, 6-month fellowship open to candidates based and authorized to work in the US or Canada.

About the Organization

ReFED is a national nonprofit working to end food loss and waste across the food system by advancing data-driven solutions to the problem. ReFED leverages data and insights to highlight supply chain inefficiencies and economic opportunities; mobilizes and connects supporters to take targeted action; and catalyzes capital to spur innovation and scale high-impact initiatives. Starting with the 2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste, ReFED has developed a trusted history of producing first-of-their-kind tools and resources, providing a full-supply-chain picture of U.S. food waste, cost-effective solutions to reduce it, and methods to track progress. In February 2021, ReFED launched its new Roadmap to 2030 and Insights Engine, an online data center designed to serve as the next generation of data, insights, and guidance on U.S. food waste reduction. Solving this problem will have a significant impact on mitigating climate change, optimizing use of water, land, and other resources, and providing meals for the over 50 million people in the United States who currently face food insecurity. 

ReFED's vision is a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system that optimizes environmental resources, minimizes climate impacts, and makes the best use of the food we grow. Learn more at www.refed.com.

About The Position

Food waste is estimated to account for 8% of global GHG emissions and reducing food waste is ranked the #1 solution to climate change by Project Drawdown. ReFED has commissioned more specific GHG factors for the US food system that drill down by supply chain stage, product type, and waste destination. While quite a bit of research has been done on the food waste and climate connection, a more detailed understanding is warranted. 

The Climate Fellow will be responsible for deepening our understanding of the underlying science and remaining research needs, which food waste solutions are most impactful for climate goals, and how to integrate food waste emission results into other tools and programs. Some key activities will include: 

• Comparing existing research, answering outstanding questions, and identifying where research conflicts or further research is needed.
• Helping integrate greenhouse gas emissions frameworks for food waste into investment tools, EPA tools, and other impact calculators.
• Assisting with other efforts, such as establishing an offset methodology for food waste reduction. 
• Responding to inquiries and conducting specific GHG impact calculations as necessary. 
• Synthesizing information into reports and analyses.

The Climate Fellow is a limited 6-month term position who will report to the VP of Data and Insight Products. 

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is able to glide easily from discussing the science behind land-based climate impacts to applying that science to real-world tools.  The Climate Fellow should be someone who believes in the power of data to illuminate solutions and is passionate about using research, data, and analytics to drive influence, as well as social and environmental impact.

You are a good fit if you:

1. Have a solid background in climate science
2. Understand the real-world applications of GHG emissions factors
3. Like to geek out in research papers or spreadsheets
4. Know how to question data, evaluate its quality, and think strategically about how it can drive action 
5. Thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth organization
6. Are driven to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing society today and positively impact food security, economic growth, and climate change
7. Hate wasting food

You may have a mix of internship or professional experience from roles such as:

1. Earth or climate scientist
2. Environmental consultant
3. Research analyst
   
   
   

Primary Responsibilities

• Comparing existing research, answering outstanding questions, and identifying where research conflicts or further research is needed.
• Helping integrate greenhouse gas emissions frameworks for food waste into investment tools, EPA tools, and other impact calculators.
• Assisting with other efforts, such as establishing an offset methodology for food waste reduction. 
• Responding to inquiries and conducting specific GHG impact calculations as necessary. 

Qualifications

• B.S. in earth or climate science, or similar degree; M.S. preferred
• Advanced skills in Excel
• Demonstrated aptitude for seeking, analyzing, modeling, interpreting, and synthesizing complex data and information from multiple sources.
• Solid professional writing & communications skills.
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to thrive in a fluid, entrepreneurial environment, and willingness to “roll up the sleeves” and extend beyond formal responsibilities as needed.

Strongly Preferred

• Internships or other work experience with climate science
• Working knowledge of food systems, waste management, sustainability, and/or broader ESG initiatives 
• Experience with data visualization and creating powerful and readable views into complex data. Familiarity with one or more common visualization/BI tools (Tableau, Power BI, Looker, Qlik, etc.)
• Entrepreneurial spirit

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion

ReFED is an equal opportunity employer. It believes that everyone has a seat at the table, and that this table always has room for growth. The success of the organization is rooted in the visible and invisible qualities of its people. Its people embody a variety of views, perspectives, and backgrounds to push the envelope of what is possible and better meet the needs of the community in the hopes of building a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system. Community is more than a word here. As stewards of this food system that benefits from the inclusion and enhancement of diverse voices, ReFED recognizes that systemic barriers limit opportunities for certain groups which contributes to ongoing disparities. Furthermore, it accepts that its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) means a commitment to constant learning, listening, and interaction in all aspects of its work. Intrinsically, ReFED is an organization that seeks to attract exceptional and dedicated talent to advance its mission, and it firmly believes that inclusion through recruiting, hiring, developing, training, and promoting employees of all genders, races, religions, ages, national origins, political affiliations, ancestries, sexual orientations, disabilities, and veteran status, creates an atmosphere that enables it to lead with an entrepreneurial spirit and innovate with enterprise.

Working at ReFED

This is a paid fellowship. Learn about our values, team, and commitment to employees at refed.com/careers. 

ReFED is a virtual organization with staff located across the U.S. and Canada. This temporary employment position will work virtually and remotely with the option of working from a dedicated co-working space. During the COVID pandemic, all ReFED employees are working remotely. 

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé submitted in PDF format. Cover letters must be responsive to the vision of ReFED and the needs of this position.