Lead Environmental Risk Modeller (UK)

Company details

Risilience is seeking to employ a Lead Environmental Risk Modeller to join us in our mission to help businesses manage environmental risks and climate change – the two biggest systemic threats facing the economy, now.

We have developed a unique modelling and analytics platform, founded on more than a decade of influential frameworks pioneered by Risilience’s founders at the Centre for Risk Studies at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, to help international corporations assess and navigate the risks and opportunities presented by the transition to a low-carbon, nature-positive economy.

Our SaaS solutions help companies produce climate- and nature-related analytics to navigate their pathway to net zero and sustainable business practices, through science-based cost benefit comparisons of emission reduction strategies versus their risks.

The Risilience client base comprises a growing list of globally recognised brands, including Nestlé, Burberry and Reckitt. The pedigree of our solutions is supported by our deep academic and science-based roots and the close ties we maintain to the Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies.

Our business received Series B funding earlier this year and is growing rapidly.  Benefits include competitive basic salary, bonus, pension, remote and flexible working, and a commitment to staff diversity.

Role details

We’re looking for a senior quantitative modeller to lead the development of environmental and natural capital risk modelling efforts. The successful candidate will be responsible for determining the technical direction of our models and providing innovative solutions to quantify a company’s impacts and dependencies on nature. In this role you’ll work alongside our talented team of modellers, economists, data scientists, and software engineers, as well as the wider company and client base.

It’s a great opportunity for an ambitious individual looking to join a rapidly expanding company and to work on innovative and leading analytics. You will have the opportunity to work with some of the largest and most ambitious corporations to help them improve their environmental impacts and build resilience to environmental risks. You will also work alongside industry bodies such as the Task Force on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures, to help drive a major change in the global economy towards more responsible stewardship.

In this role you will be expected to:

• Provide strong leadership through a clear and compelling vision
• Drive the technical areas of the model development agenda for natural capital risk, including geospatial analysis

• Develop models using novel techniques to assess nature, build forward-looking nature scenarios, distilling these complex scientific concepts into quantified nature-related financial impacts relevant to business
• Scope model development plans that are actionable and communicate strategic project aims and operational objectives, including project planning and resource requirements
• Deliver compelling analytics and insights to corporate clients
• Act as point of contact for nature-related risks and opportunities within the business and externally
• Establish and nurture collaborations with academic institutions and corporations

Essential skills

• Deep understanding of the concepts of environmental risks and opportunities, including the physical science and its relevance to businesses and the economy
• Proven ability to think creatively to solve complex modelling problems
• Proficiency in scientific programming languages, such as R, Python, JavaScript and SQL
• Manipulation, analysis and visualisation of geospatial datasets
• Excellent communicator with ability to translate complex scientific concepts to various audiences
• Inquisitive and creative mindset – willing to learn new concepts
• Team player with good communication and collaboration skills
• Good time-management skills

Desirable Skills

• Experience quantifying the economic impact of nature related risks to help businesses or governments enable decision making, corporate finance experience a plus
• Comprehension of relevant climate and environmental datasets, for example CMIP6, SSP, NGFS and/or other forward-looking scenarios
• Development of scientific modelling in both a waterfall and agile development framework
• Knowledge and expertise in relevant domain areas, for example in natural sciences, agronomy, or environmental economics
• Delivery of environmental risk analytics to corporations in the food and/or apparel value chain

Diversity and Inclusion 

Risilience is committed to a proactive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture and values diversity. Entry into employment is determined by personal merit and by the application of criteria required for the post.  No applicant for an appointment or member of staff will be treated less favourably than another on the grounds of sex (including gender reassignment), marital or parental status, race, ethnic or national origin, colour, disability (including HIV status), sexual orientation, religion, age or socio-economic factors.

Information if you have a disability 

Risilience welcomes applications from individuals with disabilities and is committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. Adjustments will be made, wherever reasonable to do so, to enable applicants to compete to the best of their ability and, if successful, to assist them during their employment.

We encourage applicants to declare their disabilities in order that any special arrangements, particularly for the selection process, can be accommodated. Applicants or employees can declare a disability at any time.

Right to work

You must have full permission to live and work in the UK without time limit, restriction or sponsorship.