Associate, Climate and Energy

Why FAS?  

Does FAS sound like an organization that you would be energized to join?  Is it aligned to your values?

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) takes quite seriously our role as a beacon and voice for the science community.  

FAS has a rich history: after the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, a group of atomic researchers – deeply concerned about the use of science for malice – created an organization committed to using science and technology to benefit humanity.  

The group they created – the Federation of Atomic Scientists – soon became the Federation of American Scientists in recognition of the hundreds of scientists across diverse disciplines who joined together to speak with one voice for the betterment of the world.  

Today, we are a group of entrepreneurial, intrepid changemakers, forging a better future for all through the nexus of science, technology and talent. We value equity, inclusion, and transparency.  As a collective, we are building an organization focused on being impact-driven, customer-focused, and growth-oriented as a force for good in the world.

Skills and Expertise: Must Haves

What skills and expertise do you need to show proficiency in (or higher) to be a strong candidate?

Skills and Attributes

• Strong planning and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple timelines and deliverables
• Ability to take initiative – to independently set goals and develop strategies for meeting them; to identify needs and propose solutions
• Strong writing, presentation, and communication skills
• Collaborative within a team and comfortable working with diverse partners
• An entrepreneurial mindset, with a passion for navigating complex systems to drive change
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and pursuing it within the mission of FAS
• Familiarity with or interest in learning about cross-cutting dimensions of U.S. government operations and policymaking, especially related to:
  • Scientific research and development and technological innovation
  • Electrical utility regulations
  • Siting and permitting for energy infrastructure
• Familiarity with or interest in learning about electrical grid technology and operations (e.g., generation, transmission, distribution, and storage)
• Familiarity with or interest in learning about electrical grid resilience (e.g., to natural hazards, demand overloads, or cyber threats)
• Familiarity with or interest in learning about clean energy technologies and their impact on the electrical grid (e.g., electric heating and cooling, electric vehicles, clean fuel production, computational demand, clean power connection)

Expertise

• 5-8 years of professional experience in one or more relevant domains, such as engineering, computer science, operations, public policy, or public administration.
  • Each year of higher education beyond high school is considered equivalent to one year of professional experience. 

Nice to haves

• Experience working with or within federal government
• Experience working with or within state, regional, Tribal, or local government
• Experience working with or within an electrical utility or for a company focused on grid technology or grid services
• Familiarity with various mechanisms of supporting technological innovation, such as prize competitions, venture capital funding, or advance purchase commitments
• Understanding of drivers and impacts of climate change, especially as these relate to the electrical grid
• Experience with event planning and/or convening

To Sum It Up…

What’s the “elevator pitch” for the role?

The Associate, Climate and Energy will support FAS activities to strengthen the U.S. electrical grid. The Associate will work across FAS’ Clean Energy and Climate/Environment teams on initiatives aimed at (1) ensuring the U.S. electrical grid is prepared to meet future demand and threats, and (2) positioning the U.S. as a leader in grid technology.

Factors including the transition to a clean-energy economy and expansion of data centers are driving exponential growth in national electricity demand. At the same time, the U.S. electric grid faces increasing threats of cyberattacks and extreme weather. Accommodating  this demand and ensuring a reliable, secure energy system requires building out and upgrading existing grid infrastructure at scale. The Associate will work with the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors on FAS-led efforts to enhance grid resilience and advance grid innovation.

You should apply for this role if the following responsibilities match your strengths and sound like work that you would love to be doing: 

• Learning about all aspects of the U.S. electric grid, especially federal policies and programs related to grid operations and resilience.
• Thinking creatively about how policy and cutting-edge technology can combine to address present and future challenges facing the grid.
• Exploring intersections between grid technology and other domains, such as AI, climate policy, and economic competitiveness.
• Identifying local, regional, and international approaches to grid management that could be adapted to the U.S. federal government.
• Helping organize workshops and roundtables to catalyze progress on grid solutions.
• Helping coordinate projects involving multiple FAS teams and external partners.

Work Environment 

This position will be a hybrid role. Meaning that both remote and in-person work can be accommodated, generally two to three days per week on-site, and two to three days per week remote depending on the needs of the organization.

Please note that this position is grant funded for 12 months. We are pursuing additional funding sources so that the role can continue.

This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to collective bargaining.

Salary Range

• $60,000 – $65,000

Hiring Statement

Don’t check off every box? Apply anyway! Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every listed qualification. At FAS we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and developing new voices. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway – you might just be the right candidate.

The Federation of American Scientists is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The Federation of American Scientists  prohibits discriminating against employees and job applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose the compensation of the employee or applicant or another employee or applicant.  Employment is contingent on successful verification of eligibility to work in the United States.