Job posting

Position: Fellow, 'Fast and Fair' Energy System Innovation
Organization: Cascade Institute
Location: Victoria, BC  The Fellow will have the option of working in-person at our offices on Royal Roads University campus or fully remotely, but must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

The Cascade Institute seeks a Fellow to contribute to our Scale Up & Acceleration research stream. The Fellow will identify pathways to accelerated energy system innovation that simultaneously promote justice, equity, and reconciliation—that, in other words, reconcile fast innovation with fair innovation. The fellow will grapple with the most difficult trade-offs between advancing energy transitions sufficient to meet the challenges of climate disruption and ensuring the wellbeing of the people and ecosystems most impacted by transition strategies.

Deadline to apply: Friday, October 3, 2025

The role is a two-year position with the possibility of renewal depending on performance and funding. The Fellow will have the option of working in-person at our offices on Royal Roads University campus or fully remotely.

Cascade Institute Fellows are not conventional postdoc positions (see our Team page to get to know some of our other fellows). Fellows conduct solution-oriented research and analysis to help governments, communities, industry, and frontline actors trigger a rapid shift in humanity’s trajectory towards a healthy, just, and resilient world. We value team members that are adaptable, intensely curious, and driven by impact.

Within the broad framework of “fast but fair” energy system innovation, we welcome diverse forms of expertise, research approaches, and potential entry points into this topic. Examples of possible entry points include:

• Regulatory streamlining (e.g., Can we cut red tape in some areas to create more time for community participation, etc.?)
• Industrial policy (e.g., How do we make R&D faster and more participatory, equitable, etc.? Are certain energy technologies more scalable than others? More aligned with energy justice than others?)
• Participatory democracy—but quick (e.g., Are there strategies to streamline community participation in decision-making without cutting corners?)
• Greener and fairer supply chains (e.g., How do we clean up energy technology supply chains without compromising speed and cost-competitiveness?)
• Legal levers (e.g., What legal levers exist to strike a better balance between fairness and speed?)
• Financial mechanisms (e.g., How can financial instruments, incentives, and funding mechanisms accelerate innovation?)
• Other pinch points (e.g., How do we address the hurdles to clean energy innovation created by fossil fuel companies and other entrenched interests?)

Primary Position Outcomes

Development of research and analysis products

• Works both independently and with other members of the research team(s) to collect data, conduct analysis, and write high-quality deliverables (academic and non-academic papers, reports, briefings, system mapping tools)
• Collaborates with other members of their research team(s) to scan the knowledge frontier for high-impact research and analysis opportunities
• Contributes to the development and execution of new strategies and projects in collaboration with the research team(s)
• Builds new, and expands current, national and international networks of experts and changemakers to shape and sometimes co-develop research and analysis

Knowledge mobilization

• Collaborates with other members of their research team(s), as well as the Communications and Impact team to mobilize knowledge, findings, and recommendations to maximize their impact

Teamwork and project management

• Provides regular progress updates to the Research Director, project team, and various advisory teams/boards
• Contributes to the tracking of project evaluation metrics and helps to fulfill project reporting requirements
• Integrates inclusion, diversity and accessibility in processes, activities, and resources

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• A doctorate in a relevant discipline (e.g., public policy, political science, human geography, economics, environmental science, engineering, quantitative social science, qualitative social science). Applicants with a master’s degree and significant professional research/analysis experience will also be considered.
• Demonstrated expertise (e.g., writing, publications, other research/analysis outputs) in two or more of the following areas:
  • Energy policy and regulation
  • Energy justice
  • Indigenous reconciliation
  • Industrial policy
  • Legal dimensions of energy systems
  • Participatory democracy
  • Technology innovation and diffusion
  • Socio-technical transitions
  • Green finance
• Experience working on collaborative/team projects
• Experience working on interdisciplinary projects
• Demonstrated ability to write with exceptional analytical clarity
• Demonstrated ability to effectively tailor outputs for different types of readers
• Experience communicating research/analysis findings beyond journal articles and academic conferences
• Demonstrated ability to present research/analysis findings orally in a clear and compelling manner—and to engage critically and constructively with other experts in a meeting/workshop/webinar setting
• Demonstrated ability to build broad networks of other experts and practitioners
• Demonstrated ability to leverage networks to improve the quality of research/analysis outputs and maximize the impact of knowledge mobilization

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working at a research institute, think tank, or research-focused NGO
• Experience managing complex projects

Apply now through Royal Roads University's HR platform by selecting "Apply Now" here:

https://cascadeinstitute.org/opportunities/fellow-fast-and-fair-energy-system-innovation/

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Additional Information

This is a two-year temporary, full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, with the possibility of renewal depending on performance and funding. This position has been evaluated at MPT-C with a salary range of $76,430 (minimum) to $89,820 (midpoint) to $103,209 (maximum) per annum. Employment offers will normally be made between the minimum and midpoint of the range and are determined by knowledge, experience and internal equity. The University is pleased to offer a comprehensive benefit package. Royal Roads University is strongly committed to fostering diversity within our community. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our faculty and staff including, but not limited to, women, visible minorities, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

While Royal Roads University values all applications we receive, only those candidates shortlisted for further consideration will be contacted. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. However, you will need to be legally eligible to work in Canada for the duration of the employment contract. If you require any form of accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us directly at human.resources@royalroads.ca attention: Abbi Rogers or 250-391-2600 extension 4408 so we can offer you individualized assistance and ensure equity in our recruitment and hiring process. ALL COMPETITIONS WILL CLOSE AT 10.00 P.M. ON THE DATE OF CLOSING.