POSITION OVERVIEW

The Aspen Global Change Institute is seeking a well-organized, outcome-oriented, and collaboration-inclined individual to help coordinate and contribute to cross-organizational climate and environment data stewardship efforts. This is a unique opportunity to support synergies and collective learning across established initiatives and networks focused on the collection and management of data used to inform climate action in ways that promote long-term data quality, accessibility, interoperability, and security.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of facilitating communities of practice, be highly detail oriented and well-versed in project management, and have exceptional communication skills. A general understanding of data stewardship topics is expected, but domain expertise in any one area is not required.

Term: Full-Time for 1 Year

Location: The position can be remote anywhere within the continental United States.

Travel Requirements: Up to 8 domestic trips per year and up to 1 international trip per year

Position Title: Climate and Environment Data Stewardship Fellow            

Placement: The Climate and Environment Data Stewardship Fellow will sit within AGCI’s Engaged Research Team, reporting to AGCI’s Research Director. Day-to-day mentorship and guidance will be provided by leaders from a set of core partner organizations active in the data stewardship space, including Data Foundation and Public Environmental Data Partner’s(PEDP) Co-Founding Member Open Environmental Data Project (OEDP) with additional guidance from other leaders within the climate and environmental data stewardship space.  

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

This fellow will provide dedicated capacity to coordinate across data stewardship efforts, promote collective learning, and reveal possible new approaches to leverage shared cross-organization capacities.  In particular, responsibilities will include:

1. Coordination of the coordinators: support a network of networks approach that builds connectedness across the vast amount of emerging and existing work in the climate and environmental data landscape, help the network identify and act on shared priorities, and coordinate work to leverage strengths of individual organizations focused on climate and environmental data stewardship.
2. Plan and coordinate events and activities: support and help plan network meetings, workshops, and other convenings. An initial task will be helping consolidate the various landscape analysis exercises already underway.
3. Elevate data stewardship work underway: develop a comprehensive understanding and way to share what is needed to sustain data critical to climate action. 
4. Support peer-learning and sharing of lessons learned: facilitate an effort to promote peer-learning and gather and share lessons learned, which can be done in a variety of ways, including surveys, focus groups, or scenario planning efforts that allow for cross-org conversations on possible futures.    
5. Connect evolving data stewardship with climate action and investment: help connect data efforts to the broader climate action ecosystem, providing insights into where and how data can inform efforts. 
6. Support Climate Reserve (described below): contribute to discussions and planning initiatives and participate in professional development programming alongside other fellows supported with Climate Reserve funding.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (required) and Masters or Doctorate degree (preferred)
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in managing communities of practices (working groups, interagency groups, and similar), coordinating multi-organization or network-based initiatives, ideally related to climate or environmental science or policy. Knowledge of the civil society data stewardship space is desirable, yet we expect this to be an opportunity to build awareness and expand networks.
• Familiarity with principles of data stewardship including long-term data quality, accessibility, interoperability, and security, sufficient to support conversations across technical and non-technical partners
• Experience in public speaking
• Experience and desire to collaborate, build trust through facilitating, coordinating, connecting, and mobilizing networks or communities with shared goals and diverse perspectives
• Experience working across different institutional, sectoral, and geographic contexts across science-policy interface
• Public service experience is strongly valued along with commitment to the public value of climate knowledge and climate action.
• Strong organizational and project management skills and attention to detail; ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced dynamic environment
• Ability to take ownership of tasks, manage time independently, and deliver high-quality work on time
• Excellent research, analysis, and synthesis skills, with clear written and verbal communication
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners
• Adaptability, growth mindset, and commitment to equity and inclusion
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Slack, and web-based document tools; experience or willingness to learn new platforms
• Ability and willingness to travel, US and internationally
• Empathy for the challenges operating at different positions in the boundary between science and practice; openness to learning and testing out new ways of doing things
• Ability to thrive in a small, supportive team that values curiosity, attention to detail, flexibility, growth, humor, open communication, self-motivation

Benefits

The anticipated start date is as soon as possible, and no later than October 1, 2026. AGCI operates a physical​, primary office in Basalt, Colorado, with staff working from other states as part of its “Institute Without Walls” approach. Remote work within the United States is permitted in this role.

Anticipated salary range is $85,000 - 100,000. This hiring range is based on the general US market - this range may be adjusted based on an individual candidate's geographic location. AGCI offers a generous benefits package, including organization-paid employee and dependent medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability, 401(k) with up to 10% employer contributions, PTO, paid parental leave, flexible scheduling, wellness benefits, and professional development opportunities.

TO APPLY

Applicants are strongly encouraged to include a cover letter with their resume. For questions, you may contact [email protected] and include "Climate and Environment Data Stewardship Fellow" in the email subject line.

Applications received before August 16, 2026, may receive priority consideration. Additional applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis thereafter until a candidate is appointed.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without work visa sponsorship.

Aspen Global Change Institute is committed to providing an equal employment opportunity for all applicants and to ensuring a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We welcome people of all identities, backgrounds, and experiences to apply.

If you feel you do not meet all the listed qualifications but are capable of accomplishing the aims of this position, we encourage your application. You will have the opportunity to share additional details about your work experience that are not reflected in a traditional resume. Our employment decisions are based on our organizational needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, family or parental status, disability, age, national origin, or any other protected status.

ABOUT AGCI

Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance global change science and solutions. AGCI seeks to improve understanding of human and Earth systems, catalyze solutions at speed and scale, and nurture integrated communities across research and practice. We convene events, conduct research, provide advice to decision-makers, and develop innovative initiatives, including re-granting and fiscal sponsorships, for implementation through a wide network of partners. Running through AGCI’s DNA is a strong institutional commitment to excellence in science that is actionable and accessible. For more information visit agci.org.

AGCI was founded in 1989 and is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) organization that supports staff and partners working to implement a mission that is international in scope yet grounded in local contexts and problem domains. As an "Institute Without Walls," AGCI staff and consultants are based in a variety of locations across the United States.

ABOUT CLIMATE RESERVE

Climate Reserve (CR) is a field-building initiative designed to safeguard and modernize the climate capacity needed for scaled global action. Born from a moment of profound disruption, CR is building a durable community of strategically placed climate experts to sustain critical work across data, science, policy, implementation, and frontline communities, with an eye towards reimagining how knowledge, talent, and institutions coordinate on climate action. By embedding talent in high-leverage roles and connecting those roles through a responsive learning and coordination network, CR is helping rebuild a climate ecosystem that is more resilient, distributed, and built to last.