Lead Researcher – Sustainability & Environmental Systems

7385BR

Golisano Institute for Sustainability

GIS Sustainability

Job Summary

The Senior Researcher – Sustainability & Environmental Systems is responsible for conducting sustainability research in a variety of application areas, including Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and circular economy. Reporting to the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) Director, the selected candidate will lead the NYSP2I ESG research focus area and will serve as subject matter expert for the NYSP2I Sustainable Supply Chain program. The Senior Researcher will also serve as a subject matter expert for the broader Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) Applied Research Center and will assist the GIS senior leadership team in development of the Applied Research Center Sustainability & Environmental Systems Research program strategy and the execution of that strategy, including leading the GIS LCA team, and researching and developing innovative tools and models to further realization of a circular economy. The person in this role will mentor other engineers/scientists, provide expert advisement to companies and other organizations developing strategies and implementation plans, work with the team to conduct sustainable supply chain, life cycle, and other assessments, and develop approaches/solutions to reduce impacts, including product and system design.

The Senior Researcher will write research reports and other publications and documents and will also develop proposals for new project funding.

Job Responsibilities

Management and leadership:

• Develop and lead the GIS Applied Research Center Sustainability & Environmental Systems research program; responsibilities include:
  • Develop and execute a strategy for the research program in alignment with the overall GIS mission and Applied Research Center Strategic Plan
  • Build capacity and lead the LCA team
  • Provide the larger GIS Applied Research Center organization with sustainability insights, which may include developing tools and methods to collect, update, summarize, and share data.
  • Prepare white papers and articles for peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed publication
  • Lead proposal writing activities to secure research funding
• Manage the NYSP2I Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) Research Area, including developing environmental and economic impact goals for the State program in collaboration with the NYSP2I Director/Associate Director, and tracking and reporting progress toward goals.

Research:

• Conduct circular economy, environmental engineering, ESG, and sustainable systems related research projects through all stages: ideation, modeling, data collection, data analysis, data visualization, and reporting
• Develop analysis and impacts tools
• Write and submit research papers for peer reviewed publication

Technical Assistance:

• Provide expert advisement to companies and other organizations, and conduct assessments of environmental and social issues, evaluate the sustainability impacts of supply chains, from manufacturing, to transportation, to consumer use, to end-of-life, and develop approaches/solutions to reduce impact. Assist companies with ESG planning.
• Provide subject matter expertise for the NYSP2I Sustainable Supply Chain Program, working with the team of P2 engineers to provide NYS companies with assistance, such as:
  • Supply Chain Sustainability Assessments and Sustainable Supplier Program development
  • ISO 50001, ISO 14001, & Sustainability and Environmental Program (SEP) Readiness Assessments
  • Support for USDA Organic Certification & NSF/ANSI 305 Label and other eco certifications
  • Sustainability Plan Development, including Zero Waste to Landfill, Zero Waste Roadmapping
• Deliver workshops and/or training on related topics
• Create content for outreach and education material.

Participate in activities of the Circular Economy 100, as a representative of RIT-GIS; Build relationships with relevant research and other sustainability-focused organizations to conduct research, share ideas, and keep abreast of and understand emerging environmental trends, challenges, approaches, and technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Technology, Science (Environmental or Environmental Science or Chemical or Mechanical or Industrial or Industrial ecology) or other related quantitative discipline, and 6-8 years of academic or industry research experience, conducting sustainability research and/or driving sustainability improvements.
• Must have direct experience conducting a published peer-reviewed LCA study or report
• Must have experience conducting and managing R&D projects.

Specialized Skills

• Knowledge of various sustainability concepts, such as circular economy, sustainable design, end-of-life processes, sustainable supply chain, ISO 50001, ISO 14001, ESG, eco certifications, Zero Waste to Landfill, etc.
• Strong environmental systems acumen
• Expertise in conducting Life Cycle Assessments and/or serving as an expert panel reviewer
• Expert-level knowledge in building scalable analytics, models, and applications
• Experience leading a team, professional mentoring, and/or supervising staff
• Strong project/program management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Highly motivated and self-directed

The successful candidate will have strong analytical skills and the ability to apply systems thinking to complex, fast moving problems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a related field preferred
• LCA certified professional strongly preferred
• Peer-reviewed publications
• Experience developing and delivering workshops and/or training on related topics
• Experience with proposal development and securing grant funding

The ideal candidate will have industry experience conducting LCAs of products and services, and detailed knowledge of manufacturing, design, development, and/or sourcing.
 

Required Minimum Education Level

Masters-Other

Work Location

Henrietta Campus — 100%

Employment Category

Fulltime

Required Application Documents

Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume

What do we believe at RIT?

Rochester Institute of Technology is a diverse and collaborative community of engaged, socially conscious, and intellectually curious minds. Through creativity and innovation, and an intentional blending of technology, the arts and design, we provide exceptional individuals with a wide range of academic opportunities, including a leading research program and an internationally recognized education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. We are dedicated to building a diverse community, one where employees feel a sense of belonging, and are valued for their contributions and the perspectives they bring.

As a member of the RIT community, you’ll receive a comprehensive employee benefits package that offers multiple options and access to additional employment advantages. You can tailor your benefit elections to meet your needs (affordable medical/dental/vision benefits; paid vacation/sick time/retirement saving plan with exceptional employer match; and tuition assistance for you and your family, to name a few).

Department/College Description

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute is part of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, an applied research organization at RIT whose mission is to undertake world-class education and research programs in sustainability with major foci on sustainable production, sustainable energy, sustainable mobility and ecologically friendly information technology systems. NYSP2I is staffed by a passionate team of scientists, engineers, and administrative personnel who collaborate with companies in New York State to provide technical assistance and solutions to complex sustainability problems. More information on the Institute can be found at https://www.rit.edu/affiliate/nysp2i/

How To Apply

In order to be considered for this position, you must apply for it at: http://careers.rit.edu/staff . Click the link for search openings and in the keyword search field, enter the title of the position or the BR number.

Additional Details

The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity, pluralism and inclusion in the work place. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to [email protected] . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Commitment To Safety

COVID 19: Please familiarize yourself with the requirements of the RIT Safety Plan . Information on the responsibility for each employee can be found on the RIT Ready website. As per the RIT Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Policy , all university employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Vaccination exemptions may be granted: (1) to employees who are unable to be vaccinated due to a medical condition or disability; (2) on the basis of an employee’s sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance, or (3) to employees who are fully remote and sign an Employee Attestation stating that they will not be on campus for any reason, nor will they participate in any in-person university-sponsored activities.