Sustainable Livestock Scientist, Enteric Methane

About Spark

Spark accelerates progress in emerging, high-impact climate fields. By working directly with scientists, policymakers, and peer organizations, Spark supports the growth of emerging fields with the potential to limit warming, monitor and manage Earth systems risk, and help enable our return to a safe climate. Spark focuses on expanding the portfolio of mitigation and adaptation approaches that enable our return to a safe climate and minimize environmental and social risks along the way.

Spark’s first programs focus on large, under-addressed methane areas that currently represent unmanaged risks to our overall climate trajectory, including work on enteric methane mitigation, atmospheric methane removal research, natural systems feedbacks, and additional innovation areas to assist efforts to mitigate super climate pollutants.

Spark's work is made possible through support from the Grantham Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Spitzer Charitable Trust, Astera Fund, Additional Ventures, and additional generous and audacious funders.

About the Role

Spark is looking for a Sustainable Livestock Scientist to join our Enteric Methane team and support the development of a strategic cross-sectoral roadmap that identifies the key actors and leverage points to accelerate the development of commercial solutions to address enteric methane. We’re looking for a rigorous thinker and doer who likes to dive into the details of science research, understand the realities of the livestock farmers and the commercial interests of the industry. 

The Sustainable Livestock Scientist will leverage strong research skills, a deep curiosity for understanding how all parts of an industry/system influence each other, and technical and/or policy knowledge to advance Spark’s work through research, project management, and relationship building. This role is a unique chance to work as a member of an interdisciplinary team focused on climate impact at a meaningful scale. You will help shape a new, high-impact solution space working across policy and research and development.

Responsibilities

• Support research and co-author a roadmap and strategy to accelerate the development and adoption of commercial solutions to address enteric methane
• Project manage key work-streams identified through the roadmap and strategy
• Scout for new potential solutions and opportunities to accelerate the development of commercial solutions to address enteric methane
• Evaluate science and engineering funding proposals based on their scientific merit, impact-alignment, and contribution to the broader field
• Build relationships with science, policy, and philanthropic partners to collaborate on roadmaps, research agendas, and granting opportunities

Experience and Background

• 3+ years of combined professional and research experience (inclusive of any graduate work, preferably  in agriculture, biology, or biogeochemistry)
• Experience working in livestock agriculture (industry, academic, research, NGO)
• Proven ability to conduct research and contribute to strategy creation 
• Sufficient scientific literacy and comfort working within the relevant scientific context to collaborate with scientists and engineers in this field
• Demonstrated ability to think at a systems level - understanding how policy, funding, research and development, industry, etc all play a role in the development and adoption of commercial solutions to address enteric methane
• Strong written, speaking / presentation, and interpersonal communication skills
• Self-motivated, proactive professional who works well independently and with others and who delivers high-quality work on time.
• Insatiable curiosity about the climate problem; open-mindedness in exploring all possible climate solutions; and the flexibility, creativity, and tenacity to drive the necessary work forward
• Fluency in English

Eligibility

• Able to work as a W2 employee for a US non-profit
• At least 4 overlapping work hours with US Pacific time work day (9am-5pm PT)
  

Location

As with all positions at Spark Climate Solutions, this will be 100% remote. Employees can work anywhere within the United States, or internationally with approval.

Compensation

This is a all full-time positions with benefits. The salary range is $75,000-$95,000 / year.  In addition, Spark Climate Solutions provides exceptional benefits including flexible PTO, sick time, holidays, a 401-k match, generous health insurance coverage, and full-covered dental/vision/life insurance, and parental leave