[ES_JOBS_NET] Director, AQLI; Energy Policy Institute at U Chicago

Thu Jul 20 12:35:07 MDT 2023

Dear Colleagues,

Sharing this opportunity below.

In this case, I'm more than the messenger. This is my current role, and it
is opening up as part of an *exciting* expansion of EPIC’s air quality
work, including building out EPIC's new Air Quality Programs, under which
this position will exist.

For the Director, AQLI, we are seeking an entrepreneurial leader, who can
help make our work achieve greater impact for communities around the world
seeking cleaner air to breathe.

Appreciate you sharing this with your relevant network, especially those
located in South Asia.

Best,
Christa

****

Director, Air Quality Life Index
<https://uchicago.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Director--Air-Quality-Life-Index_JR23005>

*Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)
<https://www.uchicago.edu/en/education-and-research/center/energy_policy_institute_at_chicago>*

*Location: *Open to candidates located worldwide, and we especially
encourage applications from those in South Asia, most especially Delhi.

*Context:* The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)
is conducting a worldwide search for an innovative and entrepreneurial Air
Quality Life Index (AQLI) Director to grow our capacity in helping the
public and policymakers determine the benefits of clean air, especially in
the world’s most severely PM2.5-polluted regions. This job is perfect for a
self-starter who is committed to addressing global air pollution and who
has a compelling vision for how to use the AQLI and the considerable
resources within EPIC and the University of Chicago to do so. To attract
the greatest talent possible to the role, we are open to candidates
worldwide, but we especially encourage applications from those in South
Asia, most especially Delhi, where EPIC India offices are located.

*About the AQLI*

The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) <https://aqli.epic.uchicago.edu/>, is an
award-winning, first-of-its-kind initiative that develops frontier research
on pollution’s impact on life expectancy and communicates that research to
policymakers, media and citizens around the world. Developed by the Energy
Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), the AQLI is based on
cutting-edge research by EPIC’s director Michael Greenstone that quantifies
the causal relationship between human exposure to air pollution and reduced
life expectancy. Combining this analysis with highly localized pollution
measurements yields unprecedented insight into the true cost of air
pollution in communities around the world. Through a virtual platform,
users anywhere on Earth can zoom in to their community and understand the
effect of the air they breathe on their life expectancy. Equipped with this
data, policymakers and members of the public can determine the benefits of
policies to reduce pollution and take informed action. The AQLI’s virtual
platform is fully available in English, Hindi, and Mandarin Chinese. Its
data has been used to produce detailed pollution analysis for countries
around the world in local languages, including Urdu, Indonesian, Thai and
more. These findings have been used to brief senior government leaders in
some of the most polluted countries, and have received coverage from more
than 300 media outlets, reaching more than 1.1 billion people globally in
both top-tier and local outlets across print, digital, television, and
radio platforms. Since its launch in 2018, the AQLI has featured
prominently in air pollution discussions around the world and has played a
role in clean air policy developments in multiple countries.

*Job Summary*

This position manages a team of professional staff responsible for
scientific research projects and research facilities. Ensures compliance of
research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory
policies, procedures, directives, and mandates. Manages the production of
articles, reports, and manuscripts, and presents research findings at
meetings and/ or conferences.

*Responsibilities*

   - Defines the overall mission of the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI),
   metrics for success, and quarterly and annual goals.
   - Produces a steady stream of original, creative, and timely
   AQLI-related content through research and data analysis.
   - Establishes an internal strategy to guide scale-up in 5 to 7
   heavily-polluted markets.
   - Forms strategic partnerships to amplify communications impact and
   policy dialogue in new markets as well as globally.
   - Presents the AQLI to audiences, including at conferences, television,
   podcasts, etc.
   - Expands the AQLI’s network of collaborators working on air pollution
   research and related topics, potentially through hosting virtual and
   in-person panel discussions, identifying other ways to feature related
   third-party work, or participating in forums and groups organized by other
   parties.
   - Engages with policymakers to ensure that the AQLI is used to create
   meaningful changes.
   - Manages the overall development of the AQLI website with EPIC’s
   (Energy Policy Institute at Chicago) communications team, while regularly
   vetting and exploring new ideas to improve the design of the website and/or
   extend the scope of the platform to ensure that it remains dynamic and
   relevant.
   - Secures new sources of funds to enable rapid growth in outreach in
   multiple countries.
   - Manages the overall AQLI budget, as well as the activities of staff
   working on the AQLI scale-up, including data analysts and outreach staff.
   - Collaborates with EPIC, EPIC India, and UChicago colleagues to conduct
   original research on topics that will directly complement the primary AQLI
   responsibilities listed above.
   - Engages with senior management and serves as a liaison to relevant
   academic departments, professional organizations and administrative units
   of the University.
   - Approximate time commitment: 30% on the development and production of
   AQLI content; 30% on fundraising, partnership development, and public
   speaking; 30% on research and knowledge creation; 10% on management and
   administrative tasks.
   - Reviews research of others, and may conduct own research, in area of
   expertise. Edits and approves articles, reports and manuscripts.
   - Develops goals and operating procedures, practices, and guidelines for
   research activity based on department strategy
   - Manages the laboratory facilities, including the purchase of new
   equipment and the maintenance and repair of laboratory equipment.
   - Performs other related work as needed.

*Minimum Qualifications*

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related
field.

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+
years of work experience in a related job discipline.

*Preferred Qualifications*

Education:

   - Advanced degree in a field that relates to air pollution, energy,
   climate, or the environment is desired, but equivalent experience can
   suffice.

Experience:

   - 5-7 years of relevant experience working in the global air quality
   landscape, especially with a focus on the most highly polluted areas such
   as South Asia, from any one or more vantage points: atmospheric science,
   environmental epidemiology, environmental economics, environmental policy,
   think tank, non-profit, or philanthropy.
   - Demonstrated program management experience implementing environmental
   data-driven projects, such as leading reports, writing white papers, and/or
   building compelling data visualizations. If you do not have this
   experience, a list of potential ways you would like to change or grow the
   Annual AQLI report or the AQLI tool on aqli.epic.uchicago.edu should be
   included in your cover letter.
   - Demonstrated experience writing op-eds or policy-focused blog posts or
   writings on environmental issues. If you do not have this experience, a
   list of potential AQLI related op-ed topics you would be excited to write
   about should be included in your cover letter.
   - Demonstrated public speaking experience on related topics with a
   public track record of giving presentations and/or on-the-record interviews.
   - Demonstrated experience building and maintaining strategic
   partnerships as well as having a willingness to fundraise. Partnerships
   could include engaging with governments (e.g. pollution control boards),
   philanthropies and/or the private sector.
   - Adapt to evolving priorities and deadlines, while also setting and
   implementing long-term AQLI strategy.
   - Comfort in managing team members with differing sets of technical
   expertise (e.g. those with software, atmospheric science, and/or economic
   backgrounds).

*Preferred Competencies*

   - Develop and maintain strong partnerships with external collaborators,
   funders, journalists, or other important constituencies.
   - Engage closely with policymakers, media, researchers, and NGOs.
   - Demonstrated experience successfully growing and leading a team.
   - High degree of enthusiasm, energy, and creativity.
   - Successful leadership skills.
   - Evidence of strategic planning; ability to align tactical work efforts
   with strategic vision.
   - Project execution skills, including managing deadlines and projecting
   financial statements.
   - Proven ability to multitask and successfully complete projects on
   tight deadlines with little supervision.
   - Willing to work hard, self-motivated, and learn is essential for doing
   well in this position.
   - Excellent oral and written communication and public speaking skills
   including the ability to translate technical ideas into non-technical
   content.
   - Understand how to support student and faculty researchers.
   - Support building relationships across diverse cultures and
   backgrounds, within the University, the regional ecosystem, and globally.
   - Entrepreneurial approach and operate in start-up mode, adapting to the
   changing needs of a new and evolving organization.

*Working Conditions*

   - Work some early mornings/evenings, as needed, given cross-time zone
   collaborations, especially in Asia, the EU and the US.
   - International and domestic travel approximately 20% of the time,
   especially to Chicago, Delhi, Kathmandu, and other areas across South Asia
   or globally.

*Learn how to apply here
<https://uchicago.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/details/Director--Air-Quality-Life-Index_JR23005>
*(Note: Location of position is listed incorrectly in this listing. To be
clear, we are able to hire worldwide, it is not constrained to Chicago.)

-- 

507.246.2097
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