GEM Seeking Researchers ($40.27/hr) to Map Global Energy Ownership & Power Flows
The Researcher (Ownership) position at Global Energy Monitor is a remote, full-time role focused on building and maintaining one of the most important global datasets on energy infrastructure ownership. The role supports climate accountability research by mapping who ultimately controls fossil fuel assets worldwide.
This position is part of GEM’s Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a major initiative designed to improve transparency around the corporations, governments, and financial actors behind coal, oil, gas, steel, and mining infrastructure.
Organizational Context and Mission
Global Energy Monitor is a research-driven non-profit network that develops open datasets used by climate scientists, journalists, policymakers, and advocacy organizations worldwide. Its work contributes directly to global climate monitoring efforts, including use by institutions such as the International Energy Agency and climate research bodies.
The organization’s central goal is to provide accurate, accessible, and standardized data on energy systems to support the global transition away from fossil fuels.
Purpose of the Role
The Researcher (Ownership) will contribute to mapping and verifying ownership structures of global energy infrastructure. This includes tracing complex corporate relationships to identify ultimate controlling entities behind major emissions sources.
The role is designed to strengthen GEM’s datasets by improving:
- Transparency in energy asset ownership
- Consistency of entity-level data across datasets
- Accuracy of corporate and financial linkages
- Integration of ownership data with climate tracking tools
Ultimately, the work supports efforts to understand who is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions at a systemic level.
Key Responsibilities
The researcher will work as part of a distributed research team and contribute to multiple ongoing data projects.
1. Data Collection and Management
The role involves gathering and maintaining structured data on energy infrastructure ownership. Tasks include:
- Collecting ownership information from public sources
- Validating and cleaning datasets
- Updating structured databases with new or corrected information
- Ensuring consistency across GEM’s global datasets
2. Knowledge Building and Wiki Development
A key responsibility is contributing to GEM’s public-facing knowledge platform by:
- Creating and editing wiki pages on energy projects
- Standardizing entries using GEM’s data formatting systems
- Linking ownership data across multiple infrastructure types
This ensures that complex data is accessible to researchers and the public.
3. Analytical Research
The researcher will also analyze environmental and social impacts associated with energy assets. This includes:
- Summarizing reported environmental and community impacts
- Tracking developments in energy infrastructure projects
- Identifying trends in ownership structures and investment patterns
4. Collaboration and Reporting
The role requires close collaboration with other researchers and analysts across different thematic teams. Responsibilities include:
- Supporting report writing and data-driven analysis
- Contributing to presentations and publications
- Coordinating updates across datasets and trackers
Required Qualifications
Candidates are expected to demonstrate foundational experience in environmental or energy-related research. Minimum requirements include:
- At least 1 year of experience in energy, environmental, or industrial decarbonization research
- Strong fluency in English
- Ability to conduct structured research using online and public data sources
Attention to detail and strong fact-checking discipline are essential.
Preferred Skills and Experience
While not mandatory, the following skills strengthen a candidate’s application:
- Understanding of energy systems and industrial decarbonization pathways
- Knowledge of corporate structures and ownership analysis
- Experience summarizing and presenting research findings
- Familiarity with wiki-based documentation systems
- Strong analytical and writing abilities
- Multilingual capability
- Commitment to environmental and social justice
Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time remote role with competitive compensation:
- Approx. USD $40.27 per hour (US-based rate)
- Comparable salary structures for international hires where applicable
- Flexible home-based working arrangement
For US-based employees, benefits include:
- Fully paid health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement plan with employer matching
- Generous paid vacation and holidays
- Parental and medical leave benefits
- Remote work support and home office setup assistance
These benefits reflect GEM’s emphasis on long-term researcher sustainability and retention.
Working Conditions and Location
- Fully remote role (global eligibility depending on hiring infrastructure)
- Preference given to candidates in the United States
- Employment through a professional employer organization (PEO) where applicable
- 40-hour work week
The organization does not operate from a central office, allowing researchers to work from home while collaborating globally.
Application Process
Applicants are required to submit:
- A tailored resume highlighting relevant research experience
- A cover letter demonstrating alignment with GEM’s mission and methodology
Applications are reviewed in the order received, and early submission is encouraged.
Why This Role Matters
The work of Global Energy Monitor plays a critical role in the global energy transition. By identifying who owns and controls high-emission infrastructure, the organization helps:
- Increase corporate accountability for emissions
- Support climate policy and regulatory design
- Provide open data for researchers and journalists
- Strengthen transparency in global energy markets
This research directly informs climate action strategies and supports evidence-based decision-making across multiple sectors.
Final Summary
The Researcher (Ownership) role is a data-intensive, mission-driven position at the intersection of climate research, corporate accountability, and energy systems analysis. It is ideal for early-career researchers with strong analytical skills and a commitment to environmental transparency.
Through rigorous data collection and ownership mapping, the position contributes to a global effort to understand—and ultimately reduce—the environmental impact of energy infrastructure worldwide.
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