Senior Technical Research Lead, Transmission and Markets

Job Description

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days/month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position in US, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the program:

The WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition has ambition to accelerate the energy transition by driving innovation, spurring economic growth, and making sustainable energy reliable, accessible, and inclusive for all. Its approach focuses on pragmatic strategies that turn bold ideas into real-world results by addressing policy, economic, and technical barriers across diverse contexts.

WRI helps speed the transition to a clean and inclusive energy future through objective and well-supported thought leadership and uplifting stakeholders interested in the same. To decarbonize the power, industry and transportation sectors, WRI’s Polsky Energy Center engages with policymakers, regulators, utilities, large energy buyers, and key stakeholders at the local, state and federal levels. WRI undertakes research to support action on topics related to overcoming barriers to clean energy development, including cost-effective grid expansion, evolving power markets to enable the clean energy transition, leveraging demand-side flexibility, and scaling new technology adoption to accelerate progress towards 100% clean energy.

WRI’s work on grids and markets has included engagement with state and local stakeholders to advance solutions to enabling grid and market reforms to enable deployment of clean energy and facilitate grid decarbonization. WRI has also worked with large energy buyers to identify how they can advance grid and market solutions to meet their clean energy goals. WRI’s work on grids also includes research examining siting practices, benefits to communities, and exploring whether there are win-win solutions to engagement and provision of benefits to enable more rapid deployment of needed infrastructure.

Job highlight:

You will integrate equity into your work.

Reporting to the Director of Clean Energy Implementation and help implement projects related to grids, transmission, and power markets. You will facilitate expansion and upgrades to grids and advance needed reforms through development of thought leadership reports and articles as well as strategic interventions with decision-makers and key stakeholders. You will help us identify avenues for education and educate key state and local stakeholders on technical issues and needed reforms. Additionally, you will engage with federal and state regulators, utilities, market operators, and others on grid and market issues, and align our work with other NGOs and actors.

You will play a leading role in implementing WRI’s US work to advance grid and power market solutions to enable decarbonization. As a senior technical expert, you will take a leading role in implementing our grid- related work, including current projects and supporting development of new lines of work. You will lead research, provide technical expertise on grid related projects across the team and help grow capabilities on these topics across the organization.

You will deliver quality research and analyses, working with the WRI team and subcontractors. You will write issue briefs, contribute to blogs and WRI knowledge products, author external articles, and educate policymakers, utilities, and other stakeholders on how to address barriers. Working with the team, you will ensure high quality delivery of products for current projects and support fundraising proposals for new work.

Working closely with management on strategy and project development, you will be in a position to help identify new opportunities to expand this work. You will also leverage partnerships and expertise across WRI’s programs, centers, and international offices, while cultivating partnerships with community organizations, external experts, and government officials.

Candidates should be innovative and entrepreneurial thinkers with an ability to identify and pursue new opportunities. You should also be able to effectively communicate insights from technical research to non-technical audiences both verbally and in writing.

What you will do:

Program Management and Strategy (20%):

• Identify solutions to expand and decarbonize grids to enable an affordable, reliable and clean energy future
• Manage research projects to accelerate solutions to expanding grids and evolving markets for grid decarbonization
• Engage WRI research staff to ensure that shared insights are incorporated into ongoing workstreams to maximize alignment
• Review and supervise the work of junior researchers and interns
• Coordinate across WRI programs and issue areas to leverage institutional expertise and build internal support for the team’s work
• Oversee research teams to ensure delivery of high-quality work products in a timely manner

Research and Analysis (60%):

• Develop thought leadership resources to advance solutions that facilitate grid expansion, methods of meeting electricity needs, and the evolution of power markets to enable clean energy deployment
• Ensure high quality research projects are developed to accelerate solutions to expanding grids and evolving markets for grid decarbonization
• Develop high-quality, high-impact reports, issue briefs, case studies, and blogs working with research staff and external consultants
• Help incorporate insights into WRI’s broader portfolio of work on the power sector by participating in internal and external peer review processes for publications and papers

Stakeholder Engagement (20%):

• Use our research and analysis to educate key decision-makers to identify solutions to addressing grid and market barriers
• Build partnerships with other NGOs and key stakeholders to maximize impact of our work, build new lines of work, and drive collective impact
• Serve as a technical expert and represent WRI in major stakeholder dialogues, conferences and events around transitioning power markets, and convene WRI dialogues where appropriate
• Speak at conferences, workshops, webinars, and other public events
• Build and execute a high-impact strategy for WRI engagement with decision-makers to address grid-related challenges that can impact decarbonization

What you will need:

• Education: You have a completed master’s degree in a related field or PhD. Relevant work experience is accepted in lieu of a degree
• Experience: You have 10+ years of relevant professional work experience
• Experience with and understanding of transmission regulation and policy, and wholesale power market operations
• Candidate must be self-motivated and entrepreneurial thinker with an ability to identify new opportunities while juggling multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines
• Project management experience
• Strong research, writing and oral presentation skills are essential
• Experience engaging and educating stakeholders, such as states, utilities, and power market operators is preferred
• Position will require some domestic travel
• Languages: You have verbal and written proficiency in English. Other languages are desirable but not required.
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

Potential Salary: US salary range is between 116,000 and 139,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of 16 June 2025. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of qualified applications.

We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter in addition to your resume.

You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure
• Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution

About Us:

World Resources Institute works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyse change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.