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The Carbon Leadership Forum, a research organization based out of the University of Washington's College of Built Environment, is seeking a collaborative LCA Researcher to help execute our mission to accelerate the decarbonization of the building sector through eliminating the embodied carbon in building materials and construction through collective action.
Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of construction materials used in buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. We need to reduce embodied carbon by 40-65% by 2030 to meet the reduction scenarios set by the IPCC to avoid catastrophic effects of climate change, and yet current building design and construction practice is failing to adequately address embodied carbon and make meaningful progress. We believe that robust, multi-disciplinary, collaborative research on embodied carbon and decarbonization pathways paired with accessible tools and resources is critical to making progress across the building sector.
The Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) has three strategic pillars to help us reach our mission:
1. Advance Data and Methods: We align, assess and advance life cycle assessment data, tools, and methodology to increase access and availability of robust data for effective decision-making; and
2. Inform Effective and Just Policy: We develop research, analysis, and model policy language and act as a technical advisor to inform policy development. Our work spans local, state, federal and corporate policy.
3. Building Community for Impact: We build and convene a diverse network of leaders through our online forum and regional hubs to enable widespread action to reduce embodied carbon
The LCA Researcher will be responsible for leading research and providing technical support to an integrated team with backgrounds in architecture, engineering, policy, environmental science and material science. The researcher will also engage with external collaborators from policy and industry. This role will be responsible for development and application of emerging research related to LCA tools, data, and methods that support reporting, evaluation and reductions of carbon emissions from buildings and infrastructure across the US and globally. The researcher should have professional or academic experience with LCA modeling, and expertise in one or more materials or product systems (e.g. concrete, steel, bio-based materials, agriculture, or energy). Interest and experience in education is applicable, but is not required.
Position Complexities:
-The position requires the ability to work independently and without regular direction in a remote working environment.
-The position requires excellent communication skills in explaining technical work, and an ability to work with collaborators and stakeholders with diverse backgrounds, skills, and expertise.
-Building sector integration of LCA and embodied carbon reductions are emerging disciplines. This position will require problem-solving, innovation, and collaboration to develop new tools and methods and assist in the development of new approaches to problems encountered.
-Assignments are of moderate complexity involving potentially conflicting requirements; Must be able to identify problems & related technical issues leading to long term solutions.
-Contributes to embodied carbon research development activities; may lead a portion of the activity.
-Monitors the work of others & redirects efforts to achieve task/project objectives or enhance quality.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
80% Research Lead:
-Research to support development of accessible, reliable, and trusted LCA tools, frameworks, methods and data, and the adoption of that knowledge in practice. This includes:
-Participate in multiple projects including their planning, scheduling and execution. Depending on the project scale this will require sole ownership of the project execution or the responsibility to manage and monitor the work of others to ensure the project meets its objectives.
-Help develop new knowledge, data and resources to advance LCA data and methodology.
-Advance the state of LCA practice and carbon accounting by developing and leading projects that include:
- Development of methods and data for novel materials, supply chain or processes (e.g. bio-based materials, low carbon cement, dynamic LCA methods, whole life carbon assessments)
- Novel and/ or improved methods to conduct whole building LCAs
- Integration of embodied carbon reduction strategies in practice.
- Development of open-source LCA background data, models, and tools
- Research on novel carbon storage or sequestration technologies and their representation in carbon accounting
-Interface and collaborate with clients, partners and UW research teams. Monitor the work of others and redirect efforts to achieve task/project objectives or enhance quality. Mentor junior staff in development of technical, project and business development skills.
-Management of project meetings and workflows for research projects
-Review and track relevant research and reports
-Lead or delegate the preparation and review of reports, articles, and presentations to communicate project updates and research results, including visual representations of data
-Conduct or delegate literature reviews and develop summary reports of the state of the industry including both evaluation of current practices and recommendations for future development.
10% Organizational Development
-Understand the broad strategic objectives of the Carbon Leadership Forum and contribute to their execution and refinement.
-Support ongoing CLF administrative needs such as grant development, copy editing, writing articles, etc.
10% Education and Outreach
-Build capacity for embodied carbon accounting and LCA modeling internally at CLF as well as externally for the architecture, engineering and construction community through presentations and trainings.
-Help grow CLF staff’s capacity to engage with primary LCA models.
-Deliver presentations on climate literacy, LCA, decarbonization strategies, the results of CLF studies.
-Present at webinars/events.
-Respond to requests for technical expertise and guidance from designers, industry, NGO partners, and other stakeholders.
-Develop educational resources and tools that support adoption of LCA and carbon accounting on design projects including: case studies, primers, reports, tool reviews, technical briefs, and trainings.
-Serve on embodied carbon/building material advisory boards for industry NGOs and government agencies.
Lead Responsibilities:
-Conduct research related to the use of Life Cycle Assessment models for the building industry.
-Conduct research related to the development and implementation of embodied carbon data, tools, and methods in the building industry.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
-Monitors the work of others & redirects efforts to achieve task/project objectives or enhance quality.
-Mentors junior staff in development of technical, project and business development skills.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
-Masters Degree in engineering, building science, computation, environmental science or related field.
-Minimum 2-3 years of experience
Bachelor’s degree in education, communication, business, public health, or related field plus four years of work experience, or equivalent combination of education/experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Experience in the following:
-Established technical understanding of primary LCA modeling to serve as a technical resource to the Carbon Leadership Forum, College of Built Environments and UW
-Knowledge of relevant LCA standards
-Experience contributing to complex projects and diverse teams with demonstrated examples of successful completion
-Demonstrated commitment to value diversity and contribute to an inclusive working and learning environment
-Project leadership experience mentoring and managing junior staff
-Ability to analyze and visualize data using tools such as Excel, Tableau and/or other database systems.
-Experience leading complex projects and diverse teams with demonstrated examples of successful completion
-Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
-Has broad knowledge of principles, practices & procedures of embodied carbon research/ practice
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
-Master’s degree or PhD in environmental science/management, engineering, architecture, or field related to life cycle assessment and carbon accounting with specific coursework in life cycle assessment or equivalent professional experience. May also consider Bachelor’s degree with sufficient professional LCA experience.
-Experience using, developing and/or evaluating LCA software and data, including reporting formats such as whole life carbon assessments for buildings, or Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for products.
-Understanding of current challenges and opportunities for Life Cycle Analysis to support reduced emissions in the building/construction industry
-Project management experience including budget oversight, staffing, delegation, partner communication, etc
-Experience with one or more of the following LCA tools: OpenLCA, SimaPro, Gabi
-Experience with one or more of the following WBLCA tools: Tally, OneClick, GREET, BHoM
-Experience with scripting using one or more of the following: Python, R, Java D3 or any similar tool
-Experience with academic research
-Experience developing and executing educational resources such as coursework and/or practice guides.
-Experience collaborating with diverse industry stakeholders
-Graphic design/representation skills
-Non-profit and/or academic experience
-Experience with grant writing and development of relationships with funding organizations