[Hiring] Director, Global Ag Methane @Environmental Defense Fund

Role Description

The Director, Global Ag Methane will work across EDF’s matrixed team of scientists, and experts in global and regional policy, livestock systems and business to accelerate EDF’s work to drive scientific evidence, policy success and investment commitments to deploy animal health interventions that have proven climate wins.

Bringing a strong policy, emissions modelling, and animal science background, this position will provide scientific and technical leadership across the ongoing development and application of two foundational intellectual products under AH&C:

• The Animal Health and Climate Scientific Framework for quantifying the impact of animal health on climate
• The Policy Guidelines for incorporating animal health into national climate policy

This role is central to translating science on animal health and climate into products that researchers, policymakers, and multilateral institutions can use. The position requires someone who brings together high-caliber expertise in animal science, demonstrated experience in scientific writing, and applied technical assistance.

This position is a senior-level individual contributor, accountable for independently delivering specialized scientific, technical, and policy-related work. The Director is also expected to contribute to the strategic development of new technical initiatives, partnerships, and scientific opportunities, influencing the Livestock Methane and overall Agriculture program strategy through subject-matter expertise.

This position reports to the Senior Director, EU Agriculture Program.

Key Responsibilities

• Framework Publication:
  • Spearhead scientific writing leadership for EDF’s animal health and climate research framework manuscript through to peer-reviewed publication, integrating co-author contributions, graphics, and review.
  • Work collaboratively with EDF's Science & Innovation team on scientific content, ensuring alignment between the external author perspective and EDF's internal scientific review.
  • Coordinate with the GRA, specifically the Animal Health Network, and the GRA Flagship Coordinator based at Edinburgh Napier University on framework content and its translation into applied use.
  • Work closely with EDF's Science & Innovation team on internal review procedures prior to submission and liaise with co-authors including external collaborators.
• Policy Guidelines:
  • Serve as lead writer for the policy guidelines based on Phase I country assessments (New Zealand, Uruguay, Kenya, Cambodia, Vietnam).
  • Incorporate feedback from country stakeholders and partners (Agriculture Emissions Centre, GRA network).
  • Document country assessments and identified policy pathways and provide technical assistance as countries use and interpret the results.
  • Contribute to the application and uptake of the Policy Guidelines across additional countries as well as any further revisions that improve them.
• Applied Resource Development:
  • In partnership with the Animal Health & Climate program lead, help define the strategy, priorities, and sequencing for moving the framework and policy guidelines from development into country application and broader scale.
  • Support the translation of the framework and guidelines into user-friendly, externally facing products that countries, research institutions, and multilateral partners can apply.
  • Provide ongoing technical expertise and direct assistance to partners applying the framework and guidelines in country contexts, including the GRA Flagship research initiative (targeting 8+ countries), CLIFF-GRADS placements and additional independent research stays, and country projects.
  • Support the development of applied tools, guidance materials, and resources that enable non-specialist users to operationalize the framework.
  • Engage with the World Bank, IFAD, FAO and other multilateral institutions to support uptake and operationalization of the framework and guidelines.
• EU Science to Policy:
  • Provide scientific leadership on reviews characterizing the methane emissions profiles and solutions available for the beef sectors across farm typologies in EDF Europe’s core strategic countries (Belgium-Flanders, Denmark, Ireland, France, Spain, Poland, Hungary, UK).
  • Provide independent scientific assessment of the expected methane reduction outcomes from the beef and dairy sector projects led by Climate-KIC with EDF Europe’s participation on farms in Cork County, Ireland, including site visits.
  • Advise the Senior Director, EU Agriculture Program on livestock methane priorities, scientific opportunities, and the design of future EU technical workstreams.
• Technical Coordination and Communication:
  • Participate in Coordination Committee meetings and contribute to scientific discussions on framework application.
  • Contribute technical inputs for funder reporting and partner communications as needed.
  • Coordinate regularly with EDF lead scientists and other experts to ensure scientific coherence and shared decision-making on technical matters.
  • Collaborate through the Senior Director, EU agriculture program with EDF’s EU region team to bring learnings and key messages from the activities above in EDF’s European program.
• Building Internal & External Capacity:
  • Participate in advancing EDF’s organizational effectiveness and culture goals, so people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered.
  • Contribute to EDF’s work advancing global capacity building and knowledge development (CLIFF-GRADS and research stays at international institutions, mainly in the EU).
  • Engage with external partners, with particular focus on European research institutions and leading researchers on the main topics of EDF’s ag methane programs.
  • Serve as a technical and modelling resource to the EU Agriculture program and broader EDF agricultural methane programs on questions related to livestock health, productivity, and emissions quantification.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience in animal science, veterinary science, agricultural systems, environmental science, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience with livestock systems modelling and greenhouse-gas quantification methods.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity.
• Demonstrated experience in scientific writing and peer-reviewed publication.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate quantitative modelling, policy analysis, and technical writing into applied products.
• Proven experience turning complex scientific concepts into accessible, applied products for non-specialist audiences.
• Ability to independently execute and deliver multiple complex technical work streams on accelerated timelines.
• Experience working across cultures and time zones with international research partners.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities on parallel timelines.
• Ability to communicate, including through effective presentations, to diverse audiences.

Preferred

• Knowledge of climate policy frameworks, particularly NDCs and livestock sector policies.
• Experience with the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases or similar international research networks.
• Prior experience developing technical guidance documents, toolkits, or applied resources for policy or practitioner audiences.
• Familiarity with climate finance, multilateral organizations, international financing institutions, and development bank processes.

Travel Expectations

• Limited travel to conferences, meetings, etc. as relevant to the Animal Health & Climate Program and EU Ag Program.
• Less than 10% of time both Europe and global.

Benefits

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant to be converted into any other currency.

75,600 - 83,600 EUR