Climate & Energy Program

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is an independent national nonprofit that uses science to protect our health, safety, and environment. We are scientists, engineers, economists, activists, and everyday people who develop and advocate for innovative, practical solutions to some of our planet’s most pressing problems—from combating global warming and developing sustainable ways to feed, power, and transport ourselves, to fighting misinformation, advancing racial equity, and reducing the threat of nuclear war.

The Climate and Energy Program within UCS is a large team of scientists and analysts, along with campaign, fundraising, and communications staff, who work on science-based solutions to climate change. UCS is seeking a Program Administrator to keep this team working at their best. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Operations, you’ll handle both day-to-day and long-term operational priorities within the program, including planning and coordinating your colleagues’ regular tasks and special projects, updating shared internal websites, and providing administrative support for scheduling, travel, and finances. You’ll also serve as the point of contact and primary resource to the Climate & Energy team.

Your responsibilities will fall under three categories:

C&E Program Director Support:

· Provide administrative support to the Program Director, including scheduling travel and managing logistics including expenses and reimbursements.

· Act as liaison with UCS staff for Program Director; ensure effective coordination and communication on decisions involving Program Director.

· Track projects and prompt the Program Director on upcoming deadlines and commitments.

· Handle sensitive information with a high level of discretion and confidentiality.

C&E Program Communications:

· Identify and implement improvements for internal communication across teams to ensure transparency, clarity, and access to policies and decision-making processes.

· Coordinate and oversee training on any changes to these internal communication processes, implementing “best practices” for the C&E team

C&E Program Operational Coordination

· Provide support to and help ensure programmatic coordination.

· Assist with the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding process for new staff in service of organizational commitment to building an inclusive workspace that centers racial equity and justice in our internal work culture.

· Serve as primary event coordinator for C&E team retreats, and as the point of contact for coordinating professional development offerings for the department.

· Support organizational and programmatic learning on issues of racial equity and justice.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is preferred. Position requires considerable self-motivation, attention to detail, competence in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, and other communications-based tools like Teams and Zoom. Familiarity with project mapping and dashboard management tools is preferred. Organizational abilities and good written and oral communication skills are needed. Excellent personal relations skills are essential. Position must be able to work both independently and in teams, and to interact professionally with UCS colleagues and external contacts on sensitive matters.

A minimum of 3 to 5 yearsof relevant and comparable level of experience as an administrative or executive assistant, and experience with project management and travel arrangements, are required. Familiarity with non-profit organizations is preferred. Bachelor’s degree is preferred.

May spend extended periods at computer.

UCS is an equal opportunity employer actively seeking to diversify its staff. In particular, we’re dedicated to broadening opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy. We’re also committed to building an inclusive workplace culture where talented people of widely diverse backgrounds can thrive. We believe the inclusion of culturally diverse perspectives will improve our work and produce better societal and environmental outcomes for all, including historically disenfranchised communities.

Details: This is a full-time position based in the UCS Cambridge, MA, or Washington, DC, office. For those who meet all position requirements, the salary is around $47,900. UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment.

Information about the organization is available at http://www.ucsusa.org.

Comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.

More about the team:

Our team is made up of a dedicated group of researchers, scientists, communicators, campaigners, and advocates from wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and a collaborative and supportive work environment where all staff can thrive. We continually strive to create an environment which is a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, parents, empty-nesters, and people with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.

A note on the pandemic:

During the coronavirus pandemic our staff are working from home. We will resume working from our offices, travel, and in-person meetings when it is safe to do so.

To Apply: Please visit ucsusa.org/jobs. We know there are great candidates who won’t check all of these boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. Please upload a cover letter and resume. In the cover letter, please confirm that the listed salary meets your expectations. Upload materials in Word or PDF format only.

Deadline: May 31st or until filled.