Researcher: Workforce Analysis, Wind Energy – National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Location: Boulder, CO

Overview:

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation’s primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL emphasizes a well-integrated, interdisciplinary team approach to addressing the unique, fundamental research challenges for developing market-relevant, renewable energy technologies.

The Human Dimensions in Wind Energy team at NREL’s National Wind Technology Center located at our Flatirons Campus between Golden and Boulder, CO has an immediate opening for a mid-career researcher to support projects related to wind energy workforce. NREL’s workforce development activities range from analysis and pathway development to industry engagement and outreach. The successful candidate will work with an interdisciplinary team of experienced NREL researchers with a focus on conducting workforce analysis projects to reduce deployment barriers for land-based and offshore wind energy technologies.

This position will work with the NREL team to support a variety of projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office. The candidate will also work collaboratively with other National Laboratories, industry, and university partners.

A successful candidate will have prior experience assessing workforce and economic development, and a strong interest in wind or renewable energies. The candidate will work with other analysts and senior staff to develop novel methodologies, collect and analyze data, map entity networks, compile insights, and create reports and resources to advance wind workforce development research.

Roles/Responsibilities: 

A candidate will specifically:

• Conduct local and regional indicator and workforce assessments.
• Expand workforce analysis capabilities through methods and approaches that analyze qualitative and indicator data.
• Lead engagement and outreach efforts to collect workforce insights from wind and workforce practitioners.
• Support economic analysis at the community, state, regional, and national levels with a focus on energy labor markets and trends.
• Collect and analyze data to assess the impact of workforce programs and projects.
• Have excellent writing, interpersonal, and communication skills. Exhibit a high degree of professionalism, curiosity, and initiative.
• Contribute to and prepare reports, presentations, and group communications for internal and external entities.

Qualifications: 

Relevant PhD . Or, relevant Master’s Degree and 3 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor’s Degree and 5 or more years of experience . Demonstrated full knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Strong leadership, communication, problem solving and project management skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Qualification Requirements: 

• Ability to develop a clear understanding of regional or national energy workforce needs, gaps, and opportunities.
• Familiarity with working in cross-organizational, multi-disciplinary teams to execute projects in coordination with diverse entities, such as state or federal agencies, research institutions, and program implementers.
• Interdisciplinary background with an understanding of the social and economic impacts of energy systems.
• Experience communicating results of work to a wide range of audiences and ability to prepare professional project communications that are appropriate for internal and external partners.
• Involvement with managing tasks and taking initiative especially when given limited direction.
• Demonstrated ability to work well within a team and independently with guidance from senior staff.
• Experience working directly with clients to identify needs and requirements for deliverables.

Additional Qualification Requirements: 

• Proficiency in the use of systems dynamics approach to model workforce systems.
• Understanding of land-based or offshore wind energy technologies and trends.
• Demonstrated knowledge of wind energy industry practices and workforce development strategies.
• Prior experience or coursework in energy, economics, workforce planning and trends, or community planning, or entity engagement.
• Proficiency in tools such as Excel, Tableau, or other data analysis resources.