International Policy Manager

Cascade Climate•Washington, DC

1d•$80,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Join Cascade Climate, a global nonprofit propelling high-potential climate solutions from the margins to the mainstream. The climate crisis has outpaced our response. In addition to cutting carbon emissions, we need dramatically expanded efforts on mitigating super pollutant emissions (including methane and refrigerants) to cool the planet in the near term, and scaling up carbon removal technologies to restore atmospheric balance for the long haul. Many promising solutions remain sidelined not because they lack potential, but because they haven't gotten the push needed to overcome adoption bottlenecks. We founded Cascade to provide that push. Our team is currently focused on building the world’s capacity for durable carbon removal through enhanced rock weathering (ERW) and mitigating near-term warming through refrigerant management and transition. We do this by leading ambitious initiatives spanning markets, policy and science to overcome the biggest barriers to progress. Cascade is philanthropically backed and since our launch in 2023 has earned the trust and support of leading philanthropic organizations, including Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Grantham Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, and more. We are a distributed team of remarkably accomplished and insistently humble people — artists, community builders, entrepreneurs, scientists, and policy strategists — working to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time. About the Role Cascade Climate is hiring an International Policy Manager to lead policy and economic analysis across priority countries in the Global South, informing Cascade’s global expansion strategy for our Refrigerants and ERW programs. This role combines rigorous jurisdictional research with strategic external engagement—conducting landscape assessments of regulatory environments and market readiness, identifying climate finance opportunities through multilateral and bilateral channels, and translating analysis into policy briefs, roadmaps, and presentations for government and external partners. The ideal candidate brings climate policy or international development experience with a strong track record in jurisdictional analysis and policy research in climate-relevant sectors. You excel at synthesizing quantitative and qualitative research into clear, actionable recommendations and have experience producing strategic outputs for diverse audiences including governments, multilaterals, and NGOs. Ideal candidates may come from development finance institutions, international NGOs, or consulting firms. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who may not see themselves in traditional "policy" roles but are excited to apply market and economic analysis to support climate policy development and implementation in the Global South.

Requirements

3+ years of relevant experience in climate policy, international development, or a related field
Strong track record in policy and/or market research, landscape assessments, and jurisdictional analysis in climate-relevant sectors (such as clean energy transitions)
Experience working with international or multilateral policy frameworks and their translation into national or sectoral policies
Demonstrated ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative research into clear, actionable recommendations and strategic outputs
Excellent writing and communication skills, with experience producing briefs, memos, or strategy documents for diverse audiences
Experience working with or alongside external stakeholders (e.g., governments, multilaterals, NGOs, research institutions, or private sector actors)
Comfort working across geographies, cultures, and institutional contexts
Working knowledge of climate finance architecture, carbon markets, or development finance institutions
Candidates must be based in or willing to relocate to one of Cascade's hubs: Boston (our headquarters), Washington D.C., New York City, or the Bay Area.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for H-1B visa sponsorship at the time of application.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in environmental economics, international development, climate policy, or related field
Familiarity with industrial decarbonization, refrigerant management, or agricultural climate solutions
Experience working internationally, especially in Global South contexts
Empathy, humility, and contagious curiosity – evident in how you approach your work and relationships
Comfort with complexity – you can embrace tension and hold space for multiple perspectives simultaneously
Uncommonly strong self-driven learning habits – evidenced from your past education, work experience, hobbies, and interests
Ease with ambiguity – you’re comfortable navigating uncertainty and can chart a path forward without any definite answer
High standards with pragmatism – you have naturally high expectations of yourself, and you avoid letting “perfect get in the way of really good” so you can deliver strong work quickly
Climate solutions enthusiasm – you're energized to explore diverse approaches to the climate crisis. You are excited to dig deep into a range of solutions to the climate crisis. This may include research on climate-relevant financing, policy, and market mechanisms or parsing through scientific research.

Responsibilities

Lead quantitative and qualitative policy and economic analysis across priority countries (particularly in Asia, Africa, and South America) to inform Cascade’s ERW and Refrigerants strategies
Translate policy and economic analysis into external facing materials including presentations, policy briefs, roadmaps, and strategic memos
Support government stakeholder mapping and relationship development in priority jurisdictions
Identify and evaluate opportunities to unlock climate finance through multilateral development banks and other climate finance institutions
Monitor policy developments and emerging regulatory opportunities in priority jurisdictions
Support preparation for and Cascade participation in conferences, workshops, and stakeholder convenings (e.g., COPs, regional policy forums)
Collaborate closely with Refrigerants and ERW teams to ensure policy and economic insights shape broader program strategy