Senior Energy Economist

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Golden - United States
S: Competitive

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is seeking a senior energy or environmental economist to join the Strategic Energy Analysis Center. Building on the Analysis Center's strong capabilities in energy-economic modeling and analysis, the senior level researcher would be responsible for developing a strategy for, implementing, and leading a new program that applies economic analysis to inform national and international policy, renewable and energy efficient technology evolution, and the economic impacts of transforming energy systems.

The Strategic Energy Analysis Center engages in economic analysis of energy sector issues – applying econometric analysis, partial-equilibrium models, computable general equilibrium models, input-output models, and analytical approaches to a broad range of local, state, federal, and international energy problems. These capabilities have historically been spread across a number of programs. The Senior Economist will work to develop a dedicated program with the mission of providing best in class, robust, and objective economic analysis on a broad set of energy and environmental issues. The program will consolidate and build on the Analysis Center's current capabilities, and will have the direct support of the director as well as current staff engaged in economic analysis. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing leadership on all aspects of program development, including strategy development, technical leadership, business development, mentoring of junior and mid-level staff, and all forms of communication – frequently speaking at external conferences and meetings and publishing in the peer-review literature.

NREL will consider candidates from any field in economics with deep knowledge and experience in energy, environmental, resource, or labor economics. In particular, we seek candidates with deep experience in:
Application of CGE or other models to understanding the economic impacts, including changes in domestic and international trade, employment, manufacturing competitiveness, and output of energy system transformation,
Reduced form econometric analysis of domestic and international energy system and environmental issues,
Analytical analysis of environmental and energy policy and regulation, in particular wholesale electricity markets, and
Detailed modeling of the impacts of tax reform on the energy-economic system.
The successful applicant will report directly to the Director of the SEAC.

Core Duties:
develop and execute the strategy and mission for the new program,
identify capability gaps and staffing plans to meet new capability needs,
raise funds through both existing and new clients,
serve as primary program liaison across the lab on the program initiatives and selected projects, including grant reporting, budget allocations, and project communications,
maintain working knowledge of research across other centers through regular contact with laboratory program managers,
work closely with finance team to track budgets, expenses and deadlines; solicit external consultants as applicable
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Required Education, Experience, and Skills
Relevant PhD and 9 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 12 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 14 or more years of experience. Demonstrated extensive knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Excellent leadership, communication, problem solving and project management skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.
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Preferred Qualifications
Exceptional collaboration and teaming skills
Deep knowledge of the energy system and related international, federal, and state policy and regulatory issues
Track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals
Track record of successful fundraising

Job summary