Director, Multilateral Engagement, Energy Transition

Overview

Put your passion and skills to work for the planet. Climate change is the most urgent issue of our time, and we need people like you to help us build a vital Earth — for everyone.

We’re Environmental Defense Fund, a fast-paced nonprofit with a growing staff of more than 1,000 people in nearly 30 countries. We deliver game-changing solutions that cut climate pollution and strengthen people’s ability to thrive despite the effects climate change is already having. We work wherever we can have the most impact, from local communities to top companies to governments worldwide, and even in space.

Our culture, values and commitment to diversity make EDF an exciting and meaningful place to work. Every job here makes a difference. Won’t you join us?

Responsibilities

Energy Transition Overview

The goal of the EDF Energy Program is to bend the curve on greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas production and use by 2030, while meeting the world’s energy needs cleanly and equitably. We are achieving this through a defined set of objectives targeted at 1) reducing emissions from oil and gas production, delivery, and use, and 2) reducing demand for oil and gas in power generation, transportation, buildings, and industry. To achieve our goal, we seek reforms in law, regulation, and/or business practice through a set of strategic corporate partnerships, direct engagement with policymakers, and mobilizing investor and public sentiment in favor of change. In achieving our objectives, we facilitate cutting-edge science, technical innovation, and rigorous economic and financial analysis to develop durable solutions.

Locations: Candidates located in NYC or D.C. are preferred; however, this role can be based out of any US EDF office, our Brussels office, or it can be fully remote.

Overall Function

Working closely with other members of the Energy Transition team’s Global Methane workstream, the Director, Multilateral Institution Engagement will lead efforts to engage multilateral institutions and related stakeholders. This position will focus on advancing country-level energy methane reduction plans; fostering cooperation on methane mitigation between buyers and sellers in the global natural gas trade; advancing innovative finance mechanisms to support methane mitigation in developing economies; fostering technical capacity building with regulators and companies in the early stages of methane abatement; and improving monitoring, reporting, and verification practices at the country and company levels in key target regions including North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The Director reports to the Vice President, Energy Transition.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the planning, development, and execution of the Global Methane team’s strategy for engaging multilateral institutions that are instrumental to EDF’s energy methane objectives, with a key focus on organizations of high relevance to the European and Asia-Pacific gas markets.

• Identify global and regional-level organizations, and their relevant staff, that offer the most strategic opportunities to advance methane mitigation dialogues, commitments, project finance, and project oversight in EDF’s target countries and among EDF’s target companies.

• In collaboration with senior leadership, map out objectives, identify resources, and implement engagement strategies for identified relevant institutions – including related stakeholders such as foreign ministries, energy ministries, trade associations, financial institutions and other major investors, scientific bodies and civil society groups.

• Develop and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders and coalitions and serve on external forums as needed to advance program objectives.

• Participate in advancing EDF DEI goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.

• Establish metrics, track progress against metrics and objectives, ensure strategic planning documents are current and complete, manage related internal reporting, and provide relevant updates to team leadership regarding strategy implementation, working with the analytics team as applicable.

• Conduct complex and rigorous analysis to determine pathways for advancing reduction plans and identifying the highest strategic opportunities.

• In coordination with Energy Transition Operations and Mission Finance staff, manage budget, finance, and contracting activities.

• Represent EDF through speaking engagements and, in coordination with the Marketing and Communications (MarComm) team, through written pieces and media interviews.

• In collaboration with Energy Transition leadership, the MarComm team, and others, help lead the planning for the team’s presence at major global convenings and conferences.

• Serve as key point of contact for internal coordination on multilateral engagement within the Energy Transition team and across relevant organizational units within EDF.

• Participate in coordinating and advancing broader global methane objectives, as needed. In collaboration with the Development team, engage philanthropic community stakeholders as needed.

• May eventually lead a multidisciplinary team including staff, interns, and fellows to support the multilateral engagement effort depending on programmatic needs and as budget allows.

• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of direct experience in international relations, diplomacy, or finance required.

• Advanced degree in law, finance, economics, policy, or another related field required.

• Deep familiarity with major multilateral institutions including World Bank, UNEP, OECD, IEA, and others, including their: authorities, objectives, and incentive structures; internal decision-making processes; political landscape dynamics; and key stakeholders.

• Experience working with multilateral institutions preferred.

• Experience managing a budget is strongly preferred.

• Excellent strategic thinking skills and judgment in the context of complex political environments.

• Proven experience with strategy development and implementation.

• Ability to work independently and as a collaborative team member and maintain strong working relationships across multiple time zones.

• Outstanding attention to detail and proactive.

• Expert problem solving, time management, and organizational skills.

• History of success in managing multi-stakeholder collaboration and negotiating concrete results in the context of international relations.

• Demonstrated self-awareness, self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.

• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly matrixed organization.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Fluency in English is required. Advanced multilingual capacity is a strong plus, with a preference for UN languages.

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 25% of the time.

Pay Ranges

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

The pay range for this role is shown below.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.

Minimum Salary

USD $125,000.00/Yr.

Maximum Salary

USD $136,000.00/Yr.

EEO Information

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.