Senior Director, Food and Agriculture

Summary
Climate Advisers—a respected think tank, advocacy, public policy, and communications group dedicated to strengthening climate action in the United States and around the world—is seeking a dynamic leader to spearhead our growing food and agriculture (“food and ag”) climate solutions program. The aim of this program is to transform the global food system in line with limiting global warming to 1.5-2.0 degrees Celsius in ways that advance global sustainable development goals. Toward that end, the Senior Director will manage projects as part of a small cross-cutting, multidisciplinary team seeking to build U.S. and global support for high impact food and ag climate solutions, with an emphasis on international diplomacy and plurilateral cooperation. The Senior Director will take the lead in managing and securing new clients, funders, and projects to enable Climate Advisers to continue scaling-up its work and profile on food and ag climate solutions. The Senior Director will report directly to the Vice President of Programs and will work closely with the Organization’s CEO, CFO, and development team.

The Senior Director’s initial tasks will include defining realistic yet ambitious policy advocacy objectives; developing priorities for U.S. leadership at the Federal and international level; identifying U.S. and global advocacy partners who share our goal of transforming the global food system in line with global climate and development goals; creating multi-stakeholder coalitions focused on promoting action by the Executive Branch, Congress, international organizations; and capitalizing on near-term U.S. diplomatic opportunities for quick wins, when feasible.

Alternative proteins—plant-based and cultivated meats and precision fermented foods that aim to mimic the taste and texture of conventional animal meat without the emissions and other harms associated with conventional products—are a particular emphasis of Climate Advisers’ food and ag work. Climate Advisers’ view is that alternative protein innovation aimed at making these products competitive on taste and price with conventional animal meat is the single most powerful strategy for reducing emissions from food and agriculture. More about our perspective on these topics is available in these recent essays in Foreign Policy magazine, available here and here. While the Senior Director will be encouraged to grow the organization’s food and ag practice to cover other climate solutions, initially promoting Federal and global policies to accelerate innovation on alternative proteins will be the primary focus of the portfolio.

The Senior Director will bring their creative insights, experience, and expertise in food and agriculture climate solutions to this leadership role. They will define program goals and strategy as well as oversee the execution of strategies. They will supervise important quantitative and qualitative research and writing, with responsibility for program outputs and results. Climate Advisers is looking for an experienced, highly motivated, practice group leader to help the United States and international community transform the global food system in line with climate and sustainable development goals.

This is a full-time exempt, salaried position. Climate Advisers is a fully remote organization with most of its staff concentrated in and around Washington, D.C. The position may be based anywhere in the United States. You must be authorized to work in the U.S.; we are not able to sponsor visas.

Responsibilities

• Lead an organization-wide effort to define clear goals and strategies for Climate Advisers’ food and ag climate solutions program.
• Supervise a small team of peers and junior staff implementing food and ag policy advocacy and diplomacy projects.
• Convene key climate stakeholders, food and agriculture companies, and Federal policy experts to identify opportunities for Federal leadership in food and ag climate solutions, with an emphasis on international cooperation.
• In partnership with others, author major reports, policy briefs, briefing memos, and other written products.
• With the support of the organization’s leadership team and development staff, lead fundraising and client development/management for the organization’s food and ag climate solutions practice.
• Convene multistakeholder coalitions to advocate for stronger action by the U.S. internationally on food and agriculture climate solutions.
• Coordinate with Climate Advisers' communications team on a communications strategy for food and agriculture advocates and project partners.
• Work with partners to achieve politically feasible quick wins, when possible.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing projects or programs, including defining objectives and strategies, and overseeing project implementation.
• Prior experience mobilizing cross-cutting teams or managing staff.
• Deep expertise and experience on climate solutions in the food and agriculture sectors.
• At least ten years of professional experience, including time spent in graduate school.
• Prior experience fundraising or selling professional services.
• Record of academic achievement; graduate degree preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information gathered from background research across multiple sources and present key findings in a concise and accessible format.
• Demonstrated experience working with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, with facilitation skills a plus.
• Strong presentation skills, both written and speaking.
• Highly motivated, self-starting and equal comfort working independently and managing small teams to meet program and project objectives.

Compensation and Benefits
Salary range for this position is $120,000 - $135,000 annually depending on skills and experience. Climate Advisers offers an excellent benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance; employer-paid life, long-term and short-term disability insurance; generous paid time off; and multiple retirement plans.

To Apply
Submit your resume, cover letter and one writing sample via our careers portal at https://climateadviserstrust.bamboohr.com/jobs. Preference will be given to applications received by January 3, 2023.

About Climate Advisers
Climate Advisers is a mission-driven policy, research and evidence-based advocacy group working to deliver a strong clean economy. We work with philanthropies, think tanks, advocacy groups, international institutions, companies, capital markets and governments in the United States and around the world, to create and implement large-scale, cost-effective strategies to strengthen climate action and improve lives.

Our legal, political and policy expertise help our grant partners and consulting clients drive forward global, national and local climate solutions. We use communications to shape the narrative and set the agenda. Our research and insights help investors make informed decisions. We work to expand the realm of the politically possible, creating and executing program strategies that turn good ideas into reality. We develop innovative policy solutions, which quickly move to the center of the debate. And we conduct transformative analysis that gives important context and spurs action. Our growing team is based primarily in Washington, DC but works to advance climate solutions around the world.

B Corporation Status
Climate Advisers is proud to be a Certified B Corporation, a new kind of company that meets higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Learn more about B Corporations at www.bcorporation.net

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Climate Advisers is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and strives to select the best-qualified person for each position in the organization. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religion, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, disability, military service or veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances. The organization is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.