VC Associate @ Pollination in Washington DC

Pollination

Pollination is a bold and different climate change advisory and investment firm without legacy and without boundaries. Learn more about Pollination here

Our people and culture are borne out of our mission and passion to build solutions for a Net Zero world. Our exceptional team includes individually recognised world leaders across the climate change ecosystem, with deep experience in climate finance, investment, business, policy law and government.

Our values are at the core of our culture at Pollination: We strive for Intellectual Rigour, believing in the power of deep thinking; Courageous Creativity, understanding that transformation takes courage; Catalytic Collaboration, forging new paths together with others; Relentless Tenacity, marked by our perseverance, resilience and grit; and Thoughtful Transformation, believing that impact must be significant and measurable.

The Opportunity

Pollination is looking for an Associate to join our dynamic office in Washington, D.C. or Chicago, Illinois. In this role, you will work alongside a friendly and experienced team to advise corporates, financial institutions and governments on all aspects of the transition to net zero and building climate resilience. Working as a team, you will drive value for clients in a wide range of sectors.

Responsibilities

  • Contributing thought leadership and analysis on the latest carbon market developments, from global compliance schemes to voluntary market approaches.
  • Supporting national climate policy analysis and preparing policy recommendations related to climate finance, carbon pricing and nature-based solutions with a focus on reducing deforestation in select countries, including Cambodia, Cameroon, Indonesia, Brazil, and Colombia.
  • Preparing policy recommendations for operationalizing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and developing REDD+ nesting frameworks.
  • Conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis to develop evidence-based outputs.
  • Sourcing and processing commercial, environmental, financial and social data and leveraging Pollination’s expertise to develop new insights for clients.
  • Owning the production of final materials, including spreadsheets and models, slide decks, reports and data presentations.
  • Helping clients to manage internal engagement, including having regular contact with senior clients, managing meetings and other client contact, and communicating the conclusions of key pieces of analysis.
  • Assisting in the development of problem-solving strategies across client groups, including developing Pollination IP and thought leadership.

Who we’re looking for

  • Deep knowledge of carbon markets and climate policy and the ability to track, analyze and synthesize complex and rapidly evolving carbon market developments
  • Proven and demonstrable work experience specializing in carbon markets and/or climate policy at a management consulting, private finance, development finance, law, policy or science organization
  • Strong interest in climate change and sustainability fields, ideally with experience or qualifications working in international contexts
  • Experience with the UN climate negotiations and national climate policy development processes
  • Exceptional communication and writing skills and the ability to interact effectively with senior management during client engagements
  • Excellent research skills including the ability to design engaging presentations to communicate complex ideas, and to produce polished communications, including reports, slide decks, and models
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a global team environment and across time zones
  • Ability to work to tight deadlines, on multiple projects, and produce high quality outputs with attention to detail
  • A drive to find strategic solutions that help our clients deliver net zero and build climate resilience

The successful candidate is likely to have an advanced university qualification in environmental studies, public policy, economics, business, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, law or a closely related field, and some relevant experience in in-house strategy, management consulting or investment banking or related fields.

You must hold the right to work in the United States without sponsorship and must be based in Washington, D.C. or Chicago or willing to relocate. Pollination follows a hybrid work model in the U.S. with staff expected to work from the office at least 3 days per week to benefit from in-person interactions with colleagues.

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