Remote Director, Science Policy & Strategy

Civic Science Media; United States; Remote; USD 129,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is seeking a Director of Science Policy for a full-time remote role based in the United States. You will provide leadership and guidance to advance rigorous science in policy, lead strategic initiatives, and advise senior leadership on priority scientific and policy issues.

The position offers a competitive remote salary and opportunities to influence national science policy.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant scientific field, and sophisticated understanding of science's role in shaping policy.
• 5+ years of relevant management experience and commitment to excellence in science policy.
• Excellent leadership, project management, and communication skills.
• Expertise in global environmental change issues.
• Experience with science advocacy in nonprofit settings.
• Ability to engage with scientists, policymakers, and the public.
• Strong reputation and collaborative abilities.
• Clear writing for diverse audiences under tight deadlines.
• Experience with media and scientist organizing strategies is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and coordination of UCS strategies to bring scientists and robust science to bear in UCS research, advocacy, and communications.
• Lead organization-wide strategic initiatives and UCS-relevant rapid response activities and communications that don’t fit squarely within a UCS program or campaign.
• Provide counsel to the President, Vice President for Programs, Policy, and Advocacy, the Executive Team, and the UCS Board of Directors on scientific and strategic issues of priority concern, including troubleshooting, and assessing possible emerging opportunities for UCS engagement with the scientific community.
• Identify and lead UCS initiatives to advance UCS scientists and analysts’ effectiveness and professional growth in the scientific community.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key scientists, leaders, and science policy experts in academia, government, NGOs, and relevant scientific societies and institutions.
• Represent UCS and enhance UCS participation and standing in prominent scientific and science policy spaces, such as scientific society conferences, Congressional activities, and National Academies events.
• Encourage and facilitate the introduction of members of UCS’s scientific community to these networks and individuals.
• As appropriate, lead and/or participate in major external scientific initiatives.
• Advise senior staff leadership in the deployment, coordination, and opportunities to strengthen UCS’s networks of physical, natural, social, and health scientists, engineers, and economists, and recruitment of these professionals as volunteers, members, colleagues, and advocates.
• Contribute to peer-reviewed literature, as appropriate.
• Develop policies and procedures to promote, support, and ensure rigorous, independent science
• Establish new (or update existing) policies and procedures for ensuring scientific excellence at UCS, including expectations for rigorous scientific and analytic methods, scientific ethics in data handling, and effective interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborations.
• Bring transparency and equity to all policies and procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Written communication

Verbal communication

Strategic thinking

Education

PhD in a relevant scientific field

Job description

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is seeking a Director of Science Policy for a full-time remote role based in the United States. You will provide leadership and guidance to advance rigorous science in policy, lead strategic initiatives, and advise senior leadership on priority scientific and policy issues.

The position offers a competitive remote salary and opportunities to influence national science policy.