Job Description

Are you passionate about decarbonization and looking to help transform the US electricity system Do you enjoy tackling complicated problems with robust analysis and thoughtful communication If yes Synapse has a position for you.

Synapse is a consulting company that has been providing rigorous analysis on behalf of public interest clients in the energy sector for more than 25 years. Our work includes expert analysis reports and high-impact expert witness testimony in docketed proceedings before public utility commissions across the country and in Canada. Our clients are primarily environmental non-profits state agencies federal agencies and consumer and environmental advocacy groups.

Synapse Energy Economics is seeking an ambitious and creative researcher with exceptional quantitative and writing skills. The ideal candidate is eager to learn about Synapses wide range of expertise and has a strong interest in analyzing large data sets to uncover key insights about the electric industry. Candidates should be committed to advancing sustainability environmental justice and consumer protection. This role is hybrid and based in Central Square in Cambridge Massachusetts.

Job Responsibilities

The Associate will provide economic analyses to support Synapse project work on a wide range of topics. Topics may include energy efficiency renewable energy technologies resource planning electricity rates electric vehicles environmental regulations and electricity markets. This person will also play a lead role projects related to policy and planning electricity modeling and future of gas.

• Perform analytical and research tasks under the supervision of project manager or other team members.
• Research and analyze energy efficiency programs and strategies as well as energy technology costs savings and market penetrations.
• Perform economic analysis including cost-benefit analysis and job impact analyses of energy resources.
• Maintain use and modify spreadsheet-based tools to analyze energy efficiency technologies programs and portfolios.
• Perform economic analysis including cost-benefit analysis of energy resources.
• Perform electric sector modeling tasks using various software and in-house models including utility planning software and job and economic development impacts models.
  

Technical Skills

• Ability to develop and implement research strategies to support project and client needs.
• Excellent math and spreadsheet skills including attention to detail related to unit conversions discount rates nominal and real dollars and other economic principles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize and summarize research and analysis.
• Ability to work and communicate well with project managers and team members.
• Ability to manage complex tasks with competing priorities and time requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Economics Energy and Environmental Policy Physical Sciences Engineering Mathematics Statistics or related field.
• A relevant bachelors degree and 2 years of relevant industry experience (energy economics and/or engineering sector.) Graduate education can substitute for an equivalent number of years of industry experience (ex. a one-year masters program in a relevant degree would substitute for one year of work experience)
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work and communicate well in teams.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize critical tasks and conflicting requirements.

You dont have to satisfy every requirement or meet every qualification listed above. If your skills are transferable or you are near the number of years of experience we seek please apply. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

We are looking for a candidate to start working in spring-summer 2025 in our Cambridge Massachusetts office on a hybrid basis.

Preferred Qualifications

Any of the following qualifications will be considered an asset:

• A masters degree in economics physics engineering or similar field
• Work experience in a consulting environment.
• Proficiency with programming languages like Python R or MATLAB.
• Experience with EnCompass PLEXOS ReEDs SERVM or IMPLAN.

Working at Synapse

Synapse prides itself on its flexible and collaborative working environment. Many staff work in-person in our Cambridge Massachusetts office while others are hybrid or fully virtual across the country. Synapse currently supports a hybrid work environment so our staff can find the right mix of support collaboration and flexibility. While we prefer employees located locally so we can nurture this environment we will consider remote candidates where such an arrangement is compatible with our clients work.

Synapse offers numerous benefits to its employees:

• Generous and flexible PTO (35 days)
• Flexible work hours and holidays and the ability to choose a schedule that works for you
• Medical dental and vision insurance
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (EOSP): a tax-deferred retirement plan that offers employees a chance to be partial owners of Synapse.
• Profit-sharing bonuses
• Work-life balance benefit: at the end of the year salaried employees are compensated for every hour worked over their standard full-time work schedule
• 401K plan; including an employer safe harbor contribution of 3% of your annual salaryregardless of individual contributions
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Collaboration: everybody contributes asks questions proposes solutions and works on interesting research and analysis
• Extensive professional development opportunities
• Cambridge MA office space with sit-stand desks lots of meeting space indoor bike parking and plenty of nitro cold-brew and kombucha on tap

The Associate base salary range is $64000-$96000 annually based on a full-time schedule. Our starting base salary range represents the floor for this position and does not include profit-sharing bonuses. Actual salaries will vary from the floor based on various factors including but not limited to location experience and performance. Synapse offers competitive market salaries based on our primary market of nonprofits and government agencies. Our salaries reflect our work for these public interest clients.

Please note that Synapse is unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time. Applicants must have permanent residency status or be otherwise authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Synapse is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a culturally diverse company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color national origin gender sexual orientation age marital status veteran status or disability status. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates including women minorities individuals with disabilities veterans and individuals from the LGBTQIA community.