Database Content Lead

We are looking for an ambitious and driven person to lead the work on energy systems and technologies within the Database Content team, with a passion for sustainability, enabling data-driven insights, and making a positive difference. The successful candidate thrives in a diverse collaborative team setting, and is able to engage effectively with database users, data providers, and other stakeholders. You are meticulous, open-minded, and committed to improving availability of high-quality environmental data for better insights and more sustainable decisions around the world. This role combines strategic thinking, technical expertise, and team leadership to ensure the quality, consistency, and impact of our data in the fast-evolving energy landscape.

Your Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and actively maintain the strategy for the Energy sector in the ecoinvent database, based on comprehensive analysis and stakeholder consultations.

• Support higher management and other Database Content Leads and Sector Managers in developing and implementing the database content strategy in alignment with the overall organizational goals, database product vision, and across sector strategies.

• Serve as the technical reference for energy topics within the Database Content team.

• Monitor trends and developments across relevant policies, regulations, and standardization initiatives (e.g., for Scope 2/3 in corporate carbon accounting) and methodologies (e.g., prospective LCA) to ensure that the ecoinvent database remains aligned with market needs and regulatory requirements.

• Actively define our position, prioritize, and engage with relevant stakeholders, standardization or industry initiatives, shaping the dialogue on sustainability data requirements and standards related to energy systems.

Operational Excellence

• Define, manage, and report on sector-specific Objectives and Key Results, ensuring alignment with broader Database Content and organizational goals, ensuring accountability and effective delivery.

• Provide strategic clarity and structure for the Energy sector work, setting clear priorities and enabling team members to excel in content delivery, collaboration, and continuous improvement through an agile mindset.

Team Leadership and Development

• Empower the Project Managers and Data Analysts within the Energy sector team to leverage and grow their skills while meeting/exceeding users' expectations on data availability and quality for energy systems and technologies in the ecoinvent database.

• Formulate clear goals for the team and individual members and conduct performance reviews, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and individual development.

• Lead recruitment activities to further strengthen the sector team's capabilities. Working with our HR team, you drive the recruitment of new Project Manager's or Data Analyst's by preparing the job description, conducting interviews, evaluating, selecting, and onboarding suitable candidates.

Resource and Budget Planning

• Assess and refine sector resource needs and priorities for the annual budget planning

• Collaborate with other Data Content Leads and Sector Managers to prepare clear and well-justified resource plans and budget requests for the Database Content area.

• Lead data acquisition and contract negotiations for technical collaborations, projects, and editorial services within the Energy sector.

Your Profile

• Advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in energy and environmental systems engineering, energy science and technology, renewable energy systems, or a related field.

• Proven experience and expertise in energy systems modeling and analysis, LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), and sustainability metrics, ideally within an advanced research, market analytics, or database management context.

• Deep understanding of energy systems and technologies (electricity, heating/cooling, steam, hydrogen), the ecoinvent database, energy statistics, and familiarity with relevant modeling frameworks for energy scenario analysis and projections, prospective LCA, etc. Proficient in Python for data science and modeling.

• Experiences from other related fields (e.g., energy policy and economics, energy attribute certificates and tracking systems, techno-economic analysis, statistics) are an advantage.

• Demonstrated leadership experience, with ability to manage technical multidisciplinary teams toward common goals.

• Strategic thinker with strong organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Fluency in English; other languages are considered an asset.

Why ecoinvent?

As a fast-growing team based in Zürich with over twenty nationalities, we embrace diversity and promote a collaborative and adventurous mindset. We are committed to building an inspiring work culture that nurtures creative thinking, transparency, and reliability.

Our benefits include flexible and hybrid work, employee professional growth plans, and our most vital asset: our community. We value transparency, flexibility, and a diverse working environment that encourages learning and continuous improvement. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. Join us and make an impact.

Our Mission

ecoinvent is an internationally active, mission-driven organization devoted to supporting high-quality, science-based environmental assessments. Its activities include publishing and maintaining the ecoinvent database—a comprehensive life cycle inventory database that provides reliable and transparent information on the environmental impacts of various products and services. It is used by companies, researchers, and policymakers to analyze the environmental impacts of their operations and make informed decisions.