SBTi - Impact Research and Evidence Lead

Job Purpose and Background:

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is seeking an Impact Research and Evidence Lead to devise and drive internal analysis and external research collaborations to assess and report on the current impact of the SBTi, model and project SBTi s future impact, leverage evidence to strengthen SBTi s partnerships and engagement initiatives, and oversee SBTi s monitoring, evaluation and learning function. This role sits at the exciting intersection of research, data analytics, communications and strategic engagement, working to support the development of SBTi s strategy and communications with key insights and evidence.
This role will report to the Director of Strategy & Partnerships and will supervise one Impact Evidence Analyst and one Data Analyst in addition to managing a number of external research partnerships with NGOs, think tanks, consultancies and academic institutions.

About the SBTi:
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling corporations and financial institutions to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science. It is focused on accelerating companies worldwide to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050.
The SBTi defines and promotes best practices in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies targets.
For more information, please visit

About the Team:
The Impact Department plays a crucial role in engaging stakeholders across the corporate, financial, and NGO sectors to promote the work of SBTi and support the development and refinement of the SBTi s standards, with the goal of advancing ambitious corporate climate action to achieve emissions reductions at scale.
The department has one of the broadest remits among those within the SBTi, as it is responsible for delivering SBTi s organizational strategy, fundraising and cultivating donor relationships as the SBTi expands, facilitating stakeholder engagement groups and public consultations as part of the standards development process, soliciting feedback from the market on standards relevance and implementability, strengthening partnerships to address systemic barriers to decarbonization, and integrating SBTi s standards within the broader climate action ecosystem to drive collaboration and harmonization.
The Impact Department is led by the Chief Impact Officer and currently consists of a team of Regional Leads in Europe, North America, and Latin America, Stakeholder Engagement Managers, and Financial Institutions (FI) Leads all working together to ensure SBTi has the greatest impact possible in reducing emissions and limiting the effects of climate change.

Key Job Responsibilities: Impact Evidence Strategy
Working closely with the Chief Impact Officer, Director of Strategy & Partnerships, Head of Financial Institutions (FI) Impact and Engagement, Communications Team, Research Team, and the Standards and Sector Development teams:

• Develop an overall strategy and approach to research and evidence integration to further the strategic goals of the Impact Department and SBTi.
• Leverage data analysis to identify potential areas of greater impact, thus informing strategic discussions and workstream prioritization across the Impact Department and the SBTi as a whole.
• Support the development of a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) strategy through the identification and management of a credible MEL consultant.
• Partner with the MEL consultant and other departments to operationalize the strategy, including plans for modeling, data gathering and analysis, and reporting.

Research, Data Analysis, and Insight Generation

• Initiate and drive research projects to assess the impact of science-based targets (SBTs) and the SBTi s work both quantitatively and qualitatively.
• Develop research propositions that support priority engagement efforts, for example, collecting insights and using data to inform how the SBTi can accelerate target setting in hard-to-abate sectors.
• Directly manage one Impact Evidence Analyst to harvest and analyse internal and external data sets to identify trends, patterns, and key insights.
• Identify, source, and oversee the integration of external data sources as required, working in close collaboration with the Data and Compliance teams.
• With the Data team, ensure that any data projects support the gathering of impact evidence and are aligned with SBTi s strategic goals.

Data and Research Partnerships

• Develop and maintain partnerships with data and research entities such as academic institutions, consultancies, think tanks and other NGOs to access critical market insights and assist in the development of models, scenarios and projections to inform SBTi s strategic and sector development priorities.
• Facilitate the exchange of data insights and analysis with partners, working with Legal and Compliance to develop and implement agreements that comply with all data sharing and privacy requirements.
• Develop resources and act as a support for ecosystem partners and external stakeholders interested in understanding and utilizing SBTi data.

Impact Reporting and Communications:
In close partnership and collaboration with SBTi s Communication Team:

• Promote evidence-based impact reporting for the SBTi, contributing to the development of SBTi s Annual Monitoring Report.
• Craft comprehensive, evidence-driven reports for SBTi leadership and key stakeholders, including donors and founding partners.
• Support in the development of evidence-driven positions and communication strategies, underpinned by internal and external research, with the goal of increasing SBTi s credibility and thought leadership.
• Contribute to the development of thought pieces, press releases, social media posts, etc. that capture the essence of impact research findings.

Strategic Engagement Support

• Execute deep-dive analyses to extract meaningful insights from engagement initiatives, strengthening the Impact Department s contribution to the evolution of standards and methodologies.
• Support regional and financial institutions (FI) engagement teams in the use of data-driven insights to refine regional strategies and enhance engagement approaches.
• Direct the efforts of the Impact Evidence Analyst and Market Insight Analyst to provide insights and data for engagement content for various platforms, in collaboration with Regional Engagement teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration, Team Support, and Capacity Building:

• Act as the Impact team s ambassador in cross-organizational initiatives involving data to align with and amplify impact objectives.

• Mentor the Impact team on the effective use of data systems.

Essential skills and experience needed:

• Demonstrable expertise in data analysis, research, or a related discipline.
• Experience designing and overseeing data-centric research projects.
• Experience translating research into reports and persuasive communications documents for non-technical audiences.
• Expertise in building and maintaining stakeholder relationships and partnerships.
• Strategic mindset focused on generating impact and achieving tangible outcomes.
• Strong leadership abilities and experience in team management.

• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently in an international and multicultural remote work environment.

Desirable criteria:

• Background and experience in the climate action or sustainability field.

• Experience working for a standard setter or NGO.
• An advanced degree in Environmental Science, Data Analytics, Sustainability, or a related field.

This is a full-time role based in the UK. Strong candidates in other countries are welcome to contact the recruiter to determine if their candidacy can be considered. The salary for this role will depend on location and experience level. This is a full-time, 24-month contract position with the opportunity to extend.
Interested candidates should be legally allowed to work in one of the countries specified. The SBTi cannot sponsor working visas.

What we offer:

• Working in one of the most successful and fastest-growing initiatives driving climate action;
• Exciting and challenging tasks in a dynamic, international, innovative, and highly motivated team;
• Competitive NGO Salary
• Training and development;
• Attractive holiday package.

How to apply:

Please send your CV and a cover letter to Kris Kobi at

SBTi is an equal opportunity employer - committed to building an inclusive workplace and diverse staff, where all can thrive. We understand that no candidate will meet every single qualification. If you re passionate about our mission and believe you have relevant skills to contribute, we welcome your application. We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all identities and backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.
Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they do not meet 100% of the job requirements . click apply for full job details