Aviation researcher (data analyst)

Are you concerned by transport’s climate impact and continued reliance on fossil fuels?

Transport & Environment (T&E) is looking for a talented and dynamic data analyst to join the team to work on aviation. The programme is part of a wider strategy to ensure the aviation industry pays its fair share of energy and climate taxation. As part of this, you will help our

Travel Smart campaign, analyse aviation emissions, passenger movements, and legal obligations on fuels and contrails.

Aviation is a challenging sector to decarbonise. We need a researcher to quantitatively analyse available options and their economic feasibility, scalability, and climate, environmental, and social impacts. We need convincing and compelling charts, analysis, reports and presentations to convert complex information into advocacy and media friendly material. Finally, we need to convince European lawmakers to set ambitious but achievable goals to drive the sector from being the fastest growing climate problem to one of sustainability.

This position requires an engineer, scientist or economist with experience in environmental science or related fields.

Main functions of the role:

● Taking a leading role on T&E’s analytical work on aviation emissions, fuel and ticket taxation as well as sustainable aviation fuels .

● Taking a leading role in the maintenance and continuous improvement of the aviation emission model and databases

● Developing briefings and inputting into advocacy and campaign materials based on robust data, evidence and argumentation in order to reduce the climate impact of the aviation sector.

● Analysing or developing models that project changes in aviation demand and revenues available to European countries.

● Analysing and dissecting data as well as complex policy issues from a variety of sources including scientific studies, European Commission reports and models being used to shape EU policy. From this, develop a detailed understanding of the issues from an environmental, economic and societal perspective.

● Support the aviation team in developing socially just measures for tackling aviation emissions

● Support the organisation with ad hoc requests and fast technical responses for both internal and for third party stakeholders, such as policy makers and journalists.

● Being a key part of the Trends & Analysis team - where all analysts in the organisation sit - and the Aviation policy team.

Requirements:

The successful candidate would ideally meet the following criteria:

● At least one year relevant experience in the field of energy and/or transport.

● Expertise in and knowledge of economic impacts of environmental taxation.

● Have strong analytical skills, an ability to quickly grasp technical issues, assess data, and good knowledge of Excel or other modelling tools

● Relevant professional experience working on technical issues in the environmental or energy sectors, or in a research institution

● Project management experience including strong interpersonal and team-working skills and an ability to deliver to tight deadlines.

● Excellent communication and presentation skills and an ability to write in English fluently, accurately and concisely. Other European languages are considered a bonus

● The confidence to think and act with initiative, to engage and influence policymakers of different stripes, industry representatives and other stakeholders at the highest level.

Practicalities

This position is advertised as a permanent, full-time position based in Brussels.

While we offer a flexible working environment, there is an expectation that there are at least two days per week spent in the office.

Candidates can also be based in cities in our nearby national offices. For candidates based in those cities, there is an expectation that they will work in the T&E offices at least three days a week, and will spend several days per month in Brussels. Further, as part of an induction into the team, an extended period of time in Brussels is envisaged.

The start date would be as soon as possible, from 1 April 2025.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit your CV and a motivation letter by 28th of February to jobs.transportenvironment.org.

First-round interviews are planned for the week of 10th March; selected candidates will be notified by the start of that week.