Researcher, Water Efficiency & Reuse

Location: Remote (must reside in the US)

Job Type: FLSA Exempt: Regular Full-time 35 hours per week  

Travel: Some business travel may be required, including overnight stays 

Start Date: Available immediately. 

ABOUT US 

The Pacific Institute is a global water think tank that combines science-based thought leadership with active outreach and engagement to influence local, national, and international efforts in water sustainability and resilience. Our vision is to create a world in which society, the economy, and the environment have the water they need to thrive now and in the future. Since 1987, we have worked with diverse groups ranging from major corporations to frontline communities with a mission of creating and advancing solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. Our work is routinely featured in national and global top-tier media, and we engage more than 270 partners, including NGOs, utilities, policymakers, businesses, and others. 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION 

The Pacific Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Diversity is a core value at Pacific Institute. We are dedicated to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our team and culture for two reasons: 

To stay true to our values and principles: We recognize that historical and current injustices have left out certain voices and perspectives from decision-making about accessing and managing water resources. We acknowledge that the representation of these groups in water-related decision-making and careers is an important step towards addressing past and current injustices. Because Pacific Institute participates in water-related decision making, we acknowledge that hiring and retaining a diverse staff can contribute to a broader need to address systemic injustices.  

To better achieve Pacific Institute's mission and vision: We know that having diverse perspectives makes for better research, creative solutions, and can help us achieve our mission. We recognize that a diverse team with varied perspectives, skills, and experiences is essential for generating and scaling innovative ideas that solve increasingly complex challenges. We make an active effort to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected, heard, validated, empowered, and celebrated across different identities and cultures. We aim to constantly evolve our approach to DEI to reflect best practices in this work, just as we do with our water and climate research. As part of this commitment, we request that all candidates include a short statement in their cover letter to address how your addition to our staff would contribute to our DEI efforts. 

ABOUT THE ROLE: 

We are seeking a collaborative and impact-focused Researcher to support interdisciplinary research and analysis that advances water sustainability, resilience, and equity. The ideal candidate will have a passion for water efficiency and reuse; strong technical, analytical, and project management skills; ability to work independently and in collaborative teams; and a willingness to support a variety of tasks from project management to rigorous qualitative and quantitative research, writing, and oral presentations. They must also be skilled at working across disciplines, cultures, and different ways of knowing and communicating. 

The Researcher will support projects focused on evaluating the potential, performance, and effectiveness of water efficiency and reuse strategies. Preferred candidates will have significant experience monitoring and evaluating water conservation and efficiency practices, including landscape transformation projects, conducting multi-benefit/co-benefit assessments, and documenting findings. They will have an aptitude for communicating strategies for advancing water sustainability and resilience among diverse audiences, including natural resource managers, environmental and community-based organizations, and policy makers. Preferred candidates will have experience advancing policies and engaging with networks to encourage and enable positive investments and implementation measures to advance water efficiency and reuse. 

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Gather information and data through analysis of primary and secondary data, literature reviews, and contacts with other researchers, practitioners, and organizations; 
• Support development of analysis methods and perform analysis tasks using measured and modeled data;  
• Document and write up results of work performed, including synthesizing complex information and preparing final reports and other written products;  
• Prepare non-technical materials on research topics, such as blog posts, issue briefs, opinion articles, and oral presentations; 
• Collaborate with a diverse group of individuals to meet project objectives within established timelines; 
• Support fundraising activities, including preparing proposals and periodic reports for project funders; and 
• Engage in other programmatic and project tasks as needed, including developing and tracking project teams’ work plans and deliverables, coordinating internal meetings with project teams and external meetings with partners and stakeholders, documenting meetings, and summarizing and communicating next steps. 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE/ MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

• Proficient knowledge of water efficiency and reuse standards and practices; 
• Advanced degree (Master’s level minimum) in environmental or sustainability sciences, natural resource management, environmental economics, hydrology, or engineering; 
• Minimum five years of professional experience conducting interdisciplinary research and writing synthesis publications in a relevant field;  
• Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, including proficiency with interdisciplinary research and literature reviews and managing large/complex datasets;  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, statistical software, database management, citation databases, and Geographic Information Systems software (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS, QGIS); 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to create compelling presentations to summarize and visualize findings; 
• Demonstrated ability to translate technical information to non-technical and lay audiences; 
• Great organizational and time management skills including an ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously and meet ambitious deadlines; excellent attention to details; and 
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. 

PREFERRED/DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Experience with monitoring/evaluation of conservation and efficiency strategies; 
• Strong understanding of economic methodologies, tools, and approaches; 
• Experience working at the research and policy interface to advance evidence-based strategies;  
• Proficiency with QDA (e.g., Atlas.ti, NVivo, MAXQDA), and data visualization programs; and  
• Advanced interdisciplinary degree, such as combined social-natural sciences. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS  

This position is eligible for paid vacation and benefits. The Pacific Institute offers an excellent compensation package, including a generous health, dental, and Institute-matched retirement plan and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience and reflects the field. Hiring Range: $66,000-$80,000 (if selected for an interview, a salary range within our hiring range that is specific to the candidates' geographic location will be shared). 

TO APPLY 

Please submit include: 

• A cover letter of no more than two pages, including: 
• Your interest in the work of the Pacific Institute and specific fit for this position; 
• A summary of your qualifications; 
• A personal DEI statement as stated above; 
• Your CV/Resume; 
• We encourage you to remove your school name 
• A writing sample should be a published piece as solo or lead author and 5 to 10 pages in length maximum (references pages are not included in page count) that demonstrates proficiency of the required qualifications. 

No immigration or relocation assistance is available for this position. 

No phone calls, please. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

ABOUT OUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS: 

Here’s what you can expect: 

• Application review 
• Schedule a call with the HR Manager 
• Schedule a group interview with Hiring Manager and Team 
• Schedule a second group interview with Hiring Manager and Team 
• Reference calls 
• Offer 

We don’t expect a perfect fit for every requirement we’ve outlined. If you can see yourself contributing to the team, we want to hear your story.