Social Scientist

The Role

Carbon Direct is seeking an experienced Social Scientist to join our Community Impacts team. This role will lead and support the social science dimensions of Carbon Direct’s advisory work, with a focus on understanding, evaluating, and advancing the community impacts of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), carbon management and decarbonization projects globally.

The Social Scientist will play a central role in evolving and refining the firm’s social impacts review methodology. They will lead social impact diligence and scientific reviews and advise clients on the social harms, benefits, and environmental justice dimensions of carbon projects. The Social Scientist will serve as a bridge builder and translator, moving between multiple business lines in the company to increase trust, share expertise, and develop capacity with other technical experts. The ideal candidate has experience combining academic social science rigor with applied, real-world practice, and is adept at translating complex qualitative insights into actionable guidance for clients operating in rapidly scaling climate technology sectors. Experience working on climate, community resilience, natural resource governance, or infrastructure development, particularly in regions like Central and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia, is highly desired.

The Social Scientist will bring deep subject-matter expertise across relevant fields such as: environmental anthropology, political ecology, human geography, science and technology studies, sociology, or related disciplines. The candidate might also have non-academic experience or training in fields like sustainable or international development, applied economics, or natural resource management. While an academic background and training are key to the role, applied experience with net-zero strategy and/or global climate policy and decarbonization will shape success in this position. The Social Scientist will balance academic rigor and social theory commitments with practical, client-facing insights in a demanding and complex corporate climate action landscape. 

This is a highly matrixed and multidisciplinary role that requires collaboration across engineering, carbon science, environmental justice, product, and client-facing teams.

Responsibilities

• Conduct key social impact evaluations and support other scientists across the company, on carbon removal reviews and deep diligences, assessing community impacts, social risks, human rights considerations, and potential co-benefits, including participation in site visits when appropriate.
• Refine and expand social impact methodologies including qualitative and mixed-method frameworks, risk matrices, governance assessments, and tools that evaluate the social dimensions of carbon projects across diverse geographies.
• Serve as subject matter resource on the human dimensions of carbon management, advising internal teams and clients on emerging best practices in community impact assessment, environmental justice, equitable project development, siting, land and resource governance, and community engagement.
• Analyze and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data, including fieldwork findings, interviews, demographic indicators, policy landscapes, and social science literature, to generate rigorous insights into social difference, grounded risks, and project feasibility.
• Support project developers and investors on social safeguards, FPIC, benefit-sharing arrangements, and culturally grounded approaches to project design and implementation.
• Collaborate across interdisciplinary teams to integrate community impact considerations into technical assessments and client-facing recommendations while serving as a key member of the Community Impacts team and supporting climate and environmental justice initiatives. 
• Communicate complex social science insights clearly and effectively, producing high-quality client deliverables, presenting to interdisciplinary audiences, and building relationships with key external stakeholders across the corporate climate landscape and civil society. 

Experience & Qualifications

• PhD in environmental anthropology, political ecology, human geography, sociology, STS, environmental studies, or a related social science discipline; Master’s Degree with significant applied experience also encouraged to apply.
• Experience evaluating social impacts of environmental, climate, or infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience conducting fieldwork, ethnographic research, community-based research, or qualitative inquiry in diverse cultural and political contexts.
• Applied professional experience in at least one of the following:
• Federal or state agencies
• Tribal governments or Indigenous organizations
• Land management organizations
• International development organizations
• Environmental or climate consulting
• NGOs or multilateral institutions
• Strong grounding in environmental justice, social equity, or human rights frameworks, and ability to apply them to decarbonization contexts.
• Experience working with communities in Central/South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, or South Asia is a significant plus.
• Ability to synthesize complex qualitative data and communicate insights effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to work independently in a fast-paced and interdisciplinary environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience evaluating social risks in carbon removal, carbon markets, land-based climate solutions, or climate infrastructure.
• Familiarity with international safeguards frameworks (e.g., FPIC, IFC, Equator Principles), development finance, or ESG standards.
• Experience designing or participating in community engagement processes.
  
  

Salary Range

$133,000-$163,000 a year