Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Associate Researcher, São Paulo

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) is proud to have been recognized as a 2023 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For award winner. We are an award-winning, independent global non-profit research organization dedicated to supporting the effective design and implementation of policies that address the impacts of the global transportation sector on climate change and public health. At the ICCT, we provide high-quality, timely, data-driven research to public officials at all levels of government—city, state, national, regional, and international—as well as to civil society and the media. Our mission-driven and culturally diverse workplace values intelligence, flexibility, transparency, and good humor. Join our growing team of talented researchers, with offices in Beijing, Berlin, New Delhi, São Paulo, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

The ICCT is pleased to announce an immediate opening for a highly dedicated and motivated Associate Researcher to support clean fuels and vehicle policies in Brazil. This position offers an opportunity for a recent graduate or an early-career professional with two to five years of experience to pursue their interests in transportation, climate change, and energy transition topics in Brazil. This role will support ICCT’s ongoing work in Brazil on strategies and projects to enhance the environmental and energy performance of transportation in the country.

This position will focus on vehicle inspection developments, national vehicle emission standards, and other strategies to improve the environmental and energy performance of Brazil's transportation fleet. The role will particularly emphasize policy approaches and technologies necessary to reduce emissions from non-road transport sectors and heavy-duty vehicles, with a focus on vehicle inspection rules and practices.

The ideal candidate will bring knowledge of the transportation sector and environmental or energy topics, strong modeling and/or analytical skills, fluency in both written and spoken English and Portuguese, strong written and verbal communication skills, and a demonstrated interest in addressing our most urgent global health and environmental challenges. This opportunity in São Paulo is ideal for proactive professionals with a strong capacity for learning and a passion for tackling challenges.

You Will:

• Evaluate alternatives for vehicle inspection programs, including experiences in Brazil and globally, as well as advancements in vehicle and inspection technology.
• Collect and analyze data on vehicles, fuels, and transportation activities in Brazil and Latin America.
• Develop quantitative and qualitative analyses of technologies and operational strategies to reduce vehicle emissions.
• Write clear and concise technical reports, policy briefs, and articles to summarize ICCT’s research for key stakeholders.
• Engage and collaborate effectively with the ICCT team and key partners in Brazil to gather information and communicate relevant ICCT research findings to support policy development.
• Synthesize technical information into policy-relevant documents and presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences.

You Have:

• A desirable background or experience in mechanical engineering.
• A master’s degree in engineering, economics, environmental sciences, or related fields, or 2 to 5 years of comparable work experience (preferred).
• A technical understanding of and interest in air quality, climate change, and transportation emissions, including vehicle and fuel regulations.
• Knowledge of vehicle inspection programs (preferred).
• Excellent research, analytical, and quantitative skills, with strong written and verbal communication skills and high emotional intelligence.
• Proficiency in data manipulation and analysis (required); experience and skill in computer modeling and programming (R and/or Python) are desirable.
• The ability to work independently with limited supervision, being highly organized, self-directed, and strategic in problem-solving.
• Fluency in Portuguese and proficiency in English (required).
• Availability for occasional national and international travel.

Our Benefits:

This role is based in São Paulo, Brazil, and is a full-time position (40 hours/week) at the ICCT’s São Paulo office. This position offers a monthly salary of R$ 10,700.

Application:

To apply, please send a resume, a cover letter indicating your interest, one or two writing samples or relevant technical research publications primarily written by the applicant (in English), and the names and contact information of two professional or academic references (letters not required). The position will remain open until filled.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We take pride in being an equal-opportunity workplace