Application Guide

How to Apply for Director, Economics Analysis Hub

at The Environmental Defense Fund

🏢 About The Environmental Defense Fund

The Environmental Defense Fund uniquely combines rigorous science with market-based solutions and strategic partnerships to drive measurable environmental impact globally. Unlike purely advocacy organizations, EDF operates at the intersection of research, policy, and practical implementation, making it an ideal workplace for economists who want their analysis to directly influence real-world environmental outcomes.

About This Role

As Director of the Economics Analysis Hub, you'll lead a team producing policy-relevant economic analysis for EDF's climate and environmental initiatives, establishing modeling best practices and maintaining a library of tools like CGE frameworks and IAMs. This role is impactful because it directly shapes the economic evidence base that informs EDF's advocacy, partnerships, and market-based environmental solutions worldwide.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing modeling outputs from your team on a climate policy analysis, meeting with EDF's advocacy staff to align economic insights with upcoming campaigns, and refining best practices for the Hub's CGE framework. You could also spend time mentoring graduate research assistants or collaborating with external partners on a joint research project.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who The Environmental Defense Fund Is Looking For

  • Holds a PhD with 5+ years in environmental/energy/climate economics and has published in top-tier journals like Journal of Environmental Economics and Management or Climate Policy
  • Has hands-on experience managing collaborative research projects and teams of economists/research staff in policy-oriented settings
  • Demonstrates advanced proficiency in algebraic programming (GAMS/Matlab) and experience with CGE models, IAMs, or distributional analysis tools
  • Has a track record of engaging with stakeholders through policy testimony, advisory panels, or similar channels to translate research into impact

📝 Tips for Applying to The Environmental Defense Fund

1

Highlight specific environmental economics projects where you used GAMS, Matlab, CGE models, or IAMs—EDF values technical modeling expertise

2

Quantify your team management experience (e.g., 'managed 3 economists and 2 research assistants on a 2-year climate policy project')

3

Tailor your research examples to EDF's focus areas like market-based approaches, carbon pricing, or equitable climate solutions

4

Mention any experience with stakeholder collaboration or policy testimony, as this role requires bridging research and real-world impact

5

If you have publications, prioritize citing those in environmental/climate economics over general economics journals

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience leading economic analysis that informed policy or market-based environmental solutions', 'Specific examples of managing teams and collaborative research projects in environmental/energy economics', "How your modeling expertise (e.g., with CGE frameworks or IAMs) aligns with building EDF's analytical tools library", "Why EDF's science-and-solutions approach resonates with your career goals in environmental economics"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → EDF's current initiatives like methane reduction, carbon markets, or ocean conservation to understand where economic analysis is needed
  • → Recent EDF publications or reports that involve economic modeling (e.g., on carbon pricing or climate equity)
  • → EDF's partnerships with businesses, governments, or NGOs to grasp how the Hub's work supports collaboration
  • → The structure of EDF's teams (e.g., Office of the Chief Economist) to see how the Hub fits into the organization

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you establish best modeling practices for the Hub, given EDF's need for policy-relevant analysis?
2 Describe a time you managed a team of economists on a complex project with tight deadlines
3 How have you used CGE models or IAMs to analyze environmental policies, and what were the key insights?
4 How would you collaborate with EDF's science, partnerships, and advocacy teams to ensure the Hub's work drives impact?
5 What experience do you have engaging with external stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, industry) to translate economic analysis into action?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on academic research without showing how it informs policy or real-world solutions—EDF values applied impact
  • Vague descriptions of modeling skills—instead of saying 'experienced with economic models,' specify tools like GAMS or IAMs
  • Neglecting to highlight team management or stakeholder collaboration, as this is a leadership role requiring both technical and interpersonal skills

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

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Good luck with your application to The Environmental Defense Fund!

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