Job Description:

Third Derivative Overview:

Third Derivative is seeking a Senior Associate to join our Research team. Founded by RMI and New Energy Nexus, Third Derivative ("D3") is the Rocky Mountain Institute's climate technology innovation engine, accelerating the rate of climate innovation through our inclusive ecosystem approach, which rapidly finds, funds, and scales promising climate tech solutions globally, with a particular focus on hard to abate sectors and a focus on staying ahead of emissions globally.

By uniting and aligning committed investors, large corporates, and market and policy experts with the world's most promising climate tech startups, D3 bridges finance and resource gaps to increase speed to market. Our flexible and highly curated accelerator program enables startups to focus on their unique needs and opportunities.

Since founding in 2020, today D3's collaborative ecosystem has grown to include corporate partners with a combined $4T in market capitalization, VC funds and equity investors with a combined total of >$7B AUM (across five continents), and a network of >150 mentors with deep functional and sector expertise. Since 2020, D3 has supported nearly 200 startups addressing climate challenges across all major emissions sectors. Together, we are moving markets to achieve a brighter, more equitable climate future.

Now, our high-performance team of climate enthusiasts is growing, and we're seeking a highly motivated Senior Associate to join us in our mission.

This role provides flexibility in employment options and can be filled either as an RMI employee globally or as an India-based contractor, based on the candidate's location and employment eligibility. Kindly indicate your preference in your application based on your geography.

Position Overview:

As a Senior Associate on the Research team, your work will center around (a) building a knowledge base and investment theses in impactful climate-tech innovation areas (b) undertaking a robust due diligence process to select startups for our program that is also aligned with interests of our capital and asset partners and (c) championing our startups to our partner ecosystem of corporates and VCs.

You will gain broad experience with a wide range of new technologies and business models as well as use your research to publish insights that are relevant to our partners and broader climate-tech ecosystem. In this position, you will be an independent contributor and work closely with colleagues under the direction of more senior staff.

Responsibilities:

• Leading and supporting research on impactful climate-tech within heavy industry (e.g., hydrogen, steel, industrial heat), buildings (e.g., cooling, insulation, heat pumps), electricity (e.g., power electronics, energy storage), and/or transportation (e.g., electric mobility, charging infrastructure, motors). The outputs for this research typically take the form of detailed investment theses guiding D3's work and public facing perspectives on important climate innovation areas, and are presented to our partners

• Conducting due diligence of startups that apply to the D3 program from technical, business/commercialization, organizational, financial and climate impact perspectives

• Collaboratively write blogs, articles, reports, and thought leadership collaterals on the research to help the investment community and climate tech commercialize impactful climate technologies

• Identifying and sourcing promising startups from around the world to apply to the D3 program

• Representing D3 and championing our startups to stakeholders in our ecosystem and beyond as an expert in your area(s) of focus

• Supporting the preparation of proposals and pitch decks for specific business development opportunities

• Supporting the development and program delivery of focused cohorts - which brings together the required industry members, asset/ capital partners, technical, business, and policy experts, and other key actors from across the value chain to support a specific innovation area (e.g., clean mobile power or direct air capture). Activities include stakeholder relations, coalition development, and creation of performance criteria for the targeted innovation area

Minimum Qualifications:

• Undergraduate or graduate degreein an applicable field such as science and engineering with some focus on/interest in energy and sustainability related fields

• 3+ years of relevant work experience

• Ability and willingness to engage with technical material and deep dives into new technology areas, and provide qualitative and quantitative evaluation/assessment

• Outstanding quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, detail-oriented, organized, proactive, and self-motivated

• Outstanding communication skills for working effectively on teams and clearly communicating results and key takeaways.

• Strong creative problem-solving skills. Comfort working with uncertainty and unfamiliar disciplines

• Experience working among diverse groups with varying perspectives and comfort with 100% remote work environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ideal candidates will have relevant work experiencein the buildings, transportation, electricity, or industrial sector

• Candidates with highly technical backgrounds and PhD level training in industrial chemistry, biology, materials science, electrical or mechanical engineering are greatly preferred

• Demonstrated ability to perform techno-economic analysis in Excel

• Entrepreneurship/startup experience in technical or product management roles, or new technology commercialization and investment experience

Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance

• 403b retirement options (up to5% match immediately)

• Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability

• Professional and personal development (including LinkedIn Learning access)

• Generous paid time off

• Parental leave

• Work from home and commuter allowance

• Casual work environment

Location:

We are a remote-ready organization with team members around the globe. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby. Our U.S. offices are in New York City; Washington DC; Oakland, California; Boulder, Colorado; and Basalt, Colorado. This role can be located anywhere in the continental United States.

We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one-time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies.

We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in-person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs).

This role provides flexibility in employment options and can be filled either as an RMI employee globally or as an India-based contractor, based on the candidate's location and employment eligibility. Kindly indicate your preference in your application based on your geography.

Compensation:

RMI compensates based on the level and requirements of the role. Salary within our ranges may also be determined by experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary range for this position is $84,170 to $103,740 (USD). You would also have an additional 5% bonus target!

Diversity:

Increasing the diversity of thought, perspectives, ideas and opinions within RMI is a critical change element supporting our long-term sustainability and mission to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future.

We strive for a level of diversity that reflects the communities we serve. Achieving this-regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic class, educational attainment or other social identities-is critical to the success of eachRMIerand collectively as an organization. This ensures that we:

• Have the different array of thinking that comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling us to solve some of the world's greatest challenges.

• Strive for a culture of inclusion and belonging by treating others with dignity, respect and appreciation enabling them to feel welcomed, supported and valued.

• Effectively connect, communicate and build long-lasting relationships with decision makers, stakeholders and constituents within diverse communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Visit our DEI page for more information on our DEI initiatives and commitments.

About RMI:

RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world's most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing. RMI-India, a sister organization, has an office in New Delhi.

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.