Associate Director, Food and Agriculture

Job Description

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global organization committed to our mission: to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. Since our founding in 2008, we have awarded over $1 billion in grants to more than 500 organizations advancing climate solutions around the world. We helped grow the field of climate philanthropy to where it stands today, establishing infrastructure, global networks, and momentum for continued growth. Through our Global Programs and Services we equip philanthropy with global knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress.

• Scaling solutions: Our collaborative Global Programs — focused on solution areas including carbon dioxide removal, cooling, industry, transportation, and more — produce results that are bending the greenhouse gas emissions curve. From the U.S. to Europe, China, Brazil, and beyond, we collaborate with a diverse community of funders, NGOs, and climate leaders to accelerate just and equitable climate solutions.
• Guiding and supporting funders: Our Global Services provide funders with comprehensive resources to assess, build, evolve, and execute high-impact climate-giving strategies. Our Global Intelligence service equips funders and the climate community with climate insights to pinpoint opportunities for impact and philanthropic insights to help identify investment priorities. We facilitate Global Collaborations that enable funders to increase individual and collective impact. Our Global Grantmaking services enable funders to invest in climate solutions around the world.
• Fostering collaboration, exploration, and growth: Our collaborative approach and commitment to learning ensures that we continuously explore innovative ideas and emerging opportunities — all with the aim of scaling philanthropy-supported initiatives to help end the climate crisis.

As experts in climate science, public policy, economic and social analysis, and strategic philanthropy, ClimateWorks’ staff understands the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities of climate change. We are researchers, strategists, collaborators, and grantmakers who care passionately about our mission. For more information, please visit www.climateworks.org.

The global food system produces 34% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Left unchecked, emissions from food are projected to increase by at least 50% by 2050. But a far better path is possible because of a diverse set of climate solutions from food systems that are at hand and able to scale globally. Ranging from reinvesting in age-old agricultural practices to cutting-edge technologies, the food system presents a wide range of opportunities that can deeply reduce emissions while also providing nutrition for all and improving the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. Realizing the full potential of climate solutions in food, could, by 2030, generate $5 trillion per year in inclusive new business opportunities, create over 100 million well-paying jobs, and save $6 trillion annually in health and environmental costs.

The ClimateWorks Food & Agriculture Program empowers a diverse and growing set of changemakers demanding that food make good on its potential as a climate solution, while improving global health, environmental quality, and combating injustice. Our grantees and partners work across the globe with particular focuses in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America. The group includes hundreds of NGOs, researchers, businesses, governments, and other funders. Through our grantmaking and partnerships, we scale innovative technologies and ideas; advance ambitious laws, policies, and targets; and create conditions that enable business and consumer choices that align with a safe climate. We do this work within two core focus areas: the Protein Initiative and the Food Systems Transition Initiative.

The ClimateWorks Food and Agriculture Program is growing rapidly within a dynamic, rapidly-evolving field. We are looking for candidates with a track record of both successfully scaling programs and initiatives and effectively managing them as they reach maturity. The Associate Director of Food and Agriculture will report to the Program Director, Food and Agriculture.

Includes the following and other duties as assigned:

• Recommend and shape activities of program staff based on the goals of the program
• Monitoring projects and overseeing project managers to ensure goals are met
• Evaluate the program’s strengths and weaknesses; proactively and/or collaboratively taking corrective measures
• Support the management of programmatic contractors as needed
• Support the origination, development, and delivery of project funding to grantees, contractors, and other programmatic partners

• Provide guidance and support for external partners and consultants

• Meet with and exchange ideas and information with experts in the field including grantees and partners
• Facilitate sharing of knowledge on Food and Agriculture program strategy and grant making, and other areas where lessons can be generated and shared, including overseeing the commissioning, development and sharing of knowledge products
• Work with the Program Director, Food and Agriculture, to manage programmatic budgets and financials
• Make presentations to internal and external audiences
• Monitor the impact of the Program, with guidance from the ClimateWorks Monitoring and Evaluation team
• Deputize for the Program Director where necessary
• Meet and liaise with ClimateWorks staff to advance program goals

The successful candidate should have at least six years of relevant professional experience with progressively more senior managerial roles. No particular disciplinary background is necessary, provided that the candidate demonstrates strong command of the socio-political and techno-economic dimensions of food system transformation. As the work of the Food and Agriculture program includes partnerships in Europe, the US, China, and Brazil, experience working across multiple geographies is strongly preferred. Specific requirements include:

• Undergraduate degree required; Advanced degree strongly preferred
• Have 7 to 10 years’ experience in a program or project management role with at least 3 years of experience in a related field, including climate, agriculture, food, or clean energy
• Have strong program and project management skills, including:
  • comfort with project management software tools
  • being impeccably organized and enthusiastic about ensuring administrative program needs are addressed efficiently and effectively
  • ability and desire to effectively manage time, projects, budgets and teams with minimal supervision

• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize, and multi-task

• Excellent relationship management skills, including a natural ability to be articulate and polished in interactions with high-level groups.
• Excellent speaking, listening, and writing skills
• A commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment

• Resourcefulness, good judgement, and a commitment to excellence and integrity
• Experience and comfort working in a highly collaborative and deadline-driven professional environment

• Excellent personal and interpersonal skills and a great team player
• Willingness to travel (noting current restrictions due to Covid-19)
• Ability to take early or late calls to accommodate partners in different time zones as needed
• Political or advocacy strategy experience, for example with campaigns (NGO or electoral), legislatures, or government agencies.
• Commitment to ClimateWorks’ mission and values

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience (geographic differential applied based on location).

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. This position is classified as US Flexible. Exceptional candidates can work from the SF office or from other locations, geographic differential applied to compensation based on local cost of labor.

At ClimateWorks Foundation, we are driven by our vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come. We aim to foster an inclusive workplace that values diverse lived experiences and emphasizes the voices of marginalized people — especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — who are most vulnerable to climate impacts, and whose voices, ideas, and leadership are crucial to winning the climate fight.

To ensure that we are making meaningful progress, we have made a set of diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments across all dimensions of our work to further our mission and realize our vision. For more information, please visit: Fostering Racial and Social Justice in Pursuit of our Mission

ClimateWorks Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse candidate pool. The Foundation recognizes diversity as an asset essential to accomplishing its work and views diversity as encompassing differences in race and gender/gender identity, as well as age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, job skills, education, and geographic location. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

The Food and Agriculture program is hiring for three positions simultaneously: Associate Director (based in San Francisco), Program Manager (based in Europe) and Program Associate (based in San Francisco). If you are interested in being considered for the other positions, please apply for those positions directly.

To be considered for this position, interested candidates must follow the link below to submit a resume and cover letter. This position will remain open until filled.