Research Specialist, Water & Climate Equity

About the role

We are seeking a strong, mid-career research professional to support multi-year applied research and writing on water and climate issues in the United States.

The ideal candidate is a researcher first: someone who enjoys intellectual inquiry, sustained project ownership, and producing high-quality analytical work, while also bringing the generalist range needed to collaborate across disciplines, translate findings for diverse audiences, and support applied research initiatives.

This position is well-suited for candidates who are committed to continuous knowledge development and are driven by the intellectual demands of long-term research.

Responsibilities

• Conduct rigorous applied research on water-climate-equity topics using mixed methods
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data from primary and secondary sources
• Conduct literature reviews, landscape scans, and interviews to inform projects
• Collaborate on multi-year research projects, including co-design, planning, and execution
• Synthesize interdisciplinary research across social and natural sciences
• Prepare high-quality project deliverables, including reports, briefs, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations tailored to technical and non-technical audiences
• Translate technical findings into accessible materials for practitioners, policymakers, and community partners
• Ensure project outputs meet high-quality standards of rigor, ethics, and relevance
• Contribute to the development of decision-support tools, frameworks, and resources for practitioners and policymakers
• Share project outputs with key internal and external partners and communities
• Coordinate team meetings, project workflows, timelines, and deliverables
• Document decisions, track progress, and communicate next steps
• Support fundraising activities and funder relations, including researching funders and contributing to proposal development and grant reporting
• Track and report progress against funder requirements and organizational commitments
• External Engagement
• Work with external research partners to advance shared research agendas
• Represent Pacific Institute at convenings, partner meetings, and public forums relevant to water, climate, and equity
• Contribute to a collaborative, respectful, and research-driven team culture

Requirements

• Minimum 7+ years of experience in applied research related to water, climate, environmental science, environmental justice
• Master’s degree with thesis in a relevant field (e.g., water resources, climate sciences, environmental sciences, sustainability, social sciences, natural resource management)
• Minimum 4 years of continuous employment with a single organization, demonstrating long-term commitment and the ability to contribute to multi-year initiatives
• Significant experience working in the United States on US water and climate issues working with US-based partners, agencies, or frontline communities (minimum 2 years)
• Research and Technical Skills
• Proficient subject matter expertise in water-climate-equity research, with demonstrated ability designing and significantly contributing to applied multi-year research projects
• Strong interdisciplinary research skills across social and natural sciences
• Expertise in using qualitative and quantitative methods
• Expertise in managing and analyzing complex datasets
• Track record of producing high quality research outputs, including at least two lead author peer-reviewed publications
• Strong proficiency with Zotero or similar citation management tools
• Communication, Project Coordination, and Fundraising
• Excellent writing and editing skills for both technical and non-technical audiences; demonstrated ability to independently prepare high-quality deliverables
• Strong oral communication and presentation skills
• Intermediate experience with fundraising and resource development, including contributing to proposals and funder reports
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate project teams and partners, manage project work plans, and deliver high-quality outputs on schedule
• Demonstrated success navigating ambiguity, shifting priorities, and funding cycles
• PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Proficiency with GIS, QDA software, or advanced quantitative data tools
• Experience working with Tribal Nations/Indigenous peoples, low-income communities, or communities of color on water or climate issues
• Experience contributing to large-scale assessments (e.g., National Climate Assessment)
• Experience developing decision-support tools or data visualizations
• Expertise in nature-based solutions, public health, or water affordability