Senior Fellow, Energy and Environment

Senior Fellow, Energy and Environment

R Street Institute

Washington, D.C.

The R Street Institute—a free-market think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. and with staff located across the country—seeks a collaborative Senior Fellow for its Energy and Environment program. If you are the right fit, you will report to the Energy and Environment Program Director. If you want to join a mission-driven organization and work toward pragmatic policy solutions, this may be the opportunity for you!

Your typical day at R Street may include producing research and written work on market-driven approaches to disaster mitigation; educating state and federal legislators on potential efficient environmental regulations; presenting at events on water scarcity policies managed through clearer water rights and markets rather than mandates; engaging with the media; and coordinating with allies, both in the EcoRight space and the wider environmental community. 

Other Aspects of Your Role 

• Develop and advance market-driven approaches to environmental challenges, grounded in the evidence on climate change and in R Street’s commitment to limited, effective government 
• Conceive, manage, and coordinate environmental policy projects, including those led by R Street’s other energy and environment subject matter experts 
• Monitor state and federal environmental policy developments and adapt engagement strategy in a fluid legislative and regulatory landscape
• Work with the Government Affairs and Communications teams to engage target audiences, from the informed public to expert stakeholders and policy makers on practical solutions such as resilience and adaptation to natural disasters
• Provide regulatory and legislative testimony and brief state and federal policymakers and regulators directly
• Support director in program strategy and meetings with donors and other stakeholders
• Remain vigilant against ninja infiltrations

Skills and Qualifications

• Deep environmental policy expertise, including knowledge on resilience and adaptation methods to address the effects of natural disasters and knowledge of limited, efficient, and effective government regulation structures that address environmental issues without overreach
• Top-notch writing and editing skills in both short- and long-form products that translate complex analysis for policymakers and the public
• Exceptional communication and advanced writing skills, including experience speaking with legislators and regulators 
• Demonstrated ability to work productively with a wide variety of groups and individuals including state and/or federal policymakers, even those with whom you may disagree
• Willingness to speak publicly and/or appear on camera, including in interviews
• Ability to provide strategic, research-backed policy insights
• Knowledge of permitting and siting policies related to energy and environmental issues is preferred, but not required
• Knowledge of market-based carbon accounting policies/proposals is preferred, but not required
• Knowledge of the relationship between insurance markets and natural disasters and climate change is preferred, but not required
• No particular educational background required—a proven record of achieving results is far more meaningful than credentials
• Support for R Street’s passion for free markets and limited, effective government
• A sense of humor and a desire to grow within a multifaceted organization

The R Street Institute consistently offers pragmatic, real solutions that foster American innovation, bolster competition, and safeguard individual liberty—all with the understanding that life in a democratic society sometimes requires compromises that don’t necessarily represent first, best solutions. We focus on deep scholarship and pragmatic policy solutions that many groups tend to neglect. Our goal is to publish timely, relevant research and analysis that advances a market-oriented society and limited, effective government. To that end, our motto is “Free Markets. Real Solutions.” Read more about our mission and impact.

Workplace

Some travel is required, including to Washington, D.C. and state capitals to meet with lawmakers and stakeholders as well as nationwide for relevant conferences and professional engagements.

We offer a flexible working arrangement. This is a full-time position that can either work the majority of the week in our D.C. office or be fully remote. 

Compensation, Benefits, and Perks

R Street strives to offer a compensation and benefits package that is competitive, transparent, and supportive of employee well-being. The salary range for this position is $160,000–$170,000, commensurate with experience. In addition to this competitive salary, we provide the following:

• Unlimited paid time off, including all federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, and two weeks holiday closure in December
• Alternating Fridays off
• A health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families)
• Dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) contributions with up to a 4 percent match
• HSA employer contribution match
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement
• Mobile equipment/mobile plan reimbursement
• Home internet subsidy
• Annual educational and professional development reimbursement
• A choice between child care assistance, pet care assistance, and student loan repayment assistance

At R Street, we strive for preeminence in every area in which we engage, driven by our commitment to excellence and innovation. Our culture thrives on action, creativity, and courage, with an unwavering focus on quality, credibility, and impact. We believe progress requires diverse experience and expertise, which is why we champion non-traditional yet prudent approaches to public policy. This principle guides how we build our programs, recognizing that each team member’s uniqueness strengthens our collective identity.

We approach our mission with intellectual rigor, embracing free inquiry and honesty to ensure our work is grounded in solid research and thoughtful analysis. While serious about our purpose, we value the joy of collaboration and the fun that comes from working together. Our collaborative spirit fosters trust and transparency, with respect and openness guiding our actions. We celebrate our individual contributions while recognizing that we are stronger as one team, united in our work and relationships.

Thus, R Street does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, era of military service, gender identity or expression, relationship structure, or anything else that’s illegal, immoral, or stupid to use as a basis for hiring.

We plan to accept applications for this job until filled. We will contact qualified individuals for telephone screenings and conduct them on a rolling basis. Interviews take place virtually via Zoom. 

To apply, please copy and paste your cover letter into the text box and upload your resume as a Microsoft Word document or PDF. We encourage thoughtful use of AI tools. If you use them, please describe how they contributed to your work.

The R Street Institute stands for free markets, limited, effective government and pragmatic solutions to difficult problems. We envision:

A free society, where public policy begins with freedom as its initial premise and governments exist primarily as guardians of inherent, inalienable rights.

An inclusive society that provides a place, a voice, and equal opportunity for all.

A just society that holds everyone accountable to the same laws.

Our Values

The following values are the principles that guide how R Street fulfills its mission and operates. Our organization believes in these values and we live them:

Always be better

We want to achieve preeminence in every area where we work. We encourage a bias for action, innovation, creativity, and courage in everything that we do. We measure ourselves by the quality, credibility and impact we achieve as a result.

Different is good.

We believe that great minds think differently and building broad coalitions has made us who we are. Making progress on policy requires that we operate outside of the echo chamber and take non-traditional approaches to policy making. We apply this same principle to the way we operate and how we build our teams: with a focus on diversity and inclusion. We are all unique but belong to the same team.

Serious(ly)

We’re serious about our work, but don’t take ourselves too seriously. We believe in the intellectual rigor, free inquiry and honesty, that is required to achieve our mission, but having fun doing it is equally as important.

One Team

We all work together and work with humility. We strive to cultivate trust and transparency at all levels, between ourselves as individuals and as an organization, with our stakeholders, and in our work. We demonstrate respect and openness in our actions at all times. We are all unique but belong to the same team.