Public Exchange Climate and Sustainability Practice Director

University of Southern California•Los Angeles, CA

15d•$160,000 - $175,000•Hybrid

About The Position

USC Dornsife Public Exchange is reimagining how research serves the public. Founded in 2020 at USC, Public Exchange fast-tracks collaborations between academic researchers and partners across the public and private sectors to define, analyze and solve complex problems together. In 2025, Public Exchange became a national network through a partnership with Washington University in St. Louis—working collaboratively to accelerate the use of evidence in decision-making across the country. In 2023, USC Dornsife Public Exchange established a Climate and Sustainability Practice drives flagship, high-impact initiatives such as ShadeLA and the California Solar Canal Initiative . Other projects have addressed electrified mobility, water conservation, and climate communications, in partnership with the City and County of Los Angeles, the United Nations Foundation, the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, and leading non-profits. POSITION SUMMARY We are seeking a strategic, collaborative, and impact-driven leader with deep understanding of climate-related issues to guide and grow Public Exchange’s Climate & Sustainability Practice. This role sits at the intersection of research, policy, and on-the-ground action—ideal for someone who can lead teams, build broad coalitions, and translate ideas into real-world impact. The Practice Director will oversee Public Exchange’s growing portfolio of applied climate projects while helping shape the next generation of initiatives in this space. Over the next three years, a major focus will be leading ShadeLA—a signature regional campaign built to deliver a lasting legacy of expanded natural and build shade across the region, connected to the series of several major sporting events hosted in Los Angeles in the coming years. This work goes far beyond research: it requires coordinating a large and diverse coalition of public agencies, community partners, architects, designers, and funders; facilitating fundraising efforts to support implementation; and fostering innovation to deliver visible, lasting results. In addition to ShadeLA, the Practice Director will help advance initiatives such as the California Solar Canal Initiative and other applied projects and will have broad latitude to develop new projects, pilot cross-sector collaborations, and shape the future direction of Public Exchange’s climate work. The ideal candidate combines visionary leadership with a hands-on, get-it-done attitude—equally comfortable in strategy sessions with senior partners and in the details of program delivery. They will thrive in interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, cross-cultural teams and in situations with complexity and uncertainty, leading with empathy and a servant-leader approach. Public Exchange is a new program and still at an early stage of its growth. An entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to pitch in and work with a small but mighty team to build a program from the ground up is essential, as are intellectual curiosity and a commitment to innovation and social impact.

Requirements

Master’s degree and at least 10 years of experience in climate, sustainability, or environmental leadership roles across government, nonprofit, or industry sectors.
Proven success developing and implementing climate policies, programs, or initiatives with measurable impact.
Deep understanding of climate change, resilience, sustainability innovation, and the U.S. policy landscape, as well as the key actors across those spaces.
Experience working with or within for-profit companies on sustainability, climate innovation, or ESG strategy.
Exceptional coalition-building and stakeholder engagement skills, with a track record of fostering trust across sectors.
An unwavering commitment to leveraging the Public Exchange Network’s intellectual capital and resources to address climate change.
Strong strategic thinking and project management capabilities; able to balance long-term vision with tactical execution.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex ideas for diverse audiences.
Strong analytical skills.
Experience managing project budgets for maximal impact and growth strategy.
Ability to successfully cultivate donor and philanthropic relationships to fund projects and growth opportunities.
Experience representing organizations at high-profile conferences and events.

Nice To Haves

Experience commissioning or conducting research is a plus.
Experience with communications, storytelling, and media engagement is a plus.
Experience building corporate sponsorship programs is a plus.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership Update and implement the Climate and Sustainability Practice strategic plan to maximize the impact of Public Exchange’s work in this area, working closely with the Executive Director (ED) and Director of Strategy and Operations (DSO).
Lead delivery of Public Exchange projects and initiatives, including ShadeLA, coordinating coalition partners; guiding policy and implementation strategy; securing resources for delivery; and driving innovation to achieve measurable outcomes.
Partnership & Brand Building Engage with USC and external faculty to understand areas of expertise and identify opportunities for alignment with Public Exchange’s climate and sustainability projects.
Maintain awareness of USC faculty research in climate and sustainability, and continually identify opportunities to match USC experts with emerging needs in the public and private sectors.
Build relationships that expand Public Exchange’s visibility and reputation among potential partners, funders, and thought leaders.
Project Oversight & Team Management Oversee the practice’s portfolio, including ShadeLA, the California Solar Canal Initiative, Redesigning Urban Rivers, and other initiatives, providing strategic direction and ensuring high-quality execution.
Develop concepts for new projects in collaboration with the practice team, identifying potential partners, managing seed funding, and leading the process from ideation to kick-off.
Manage and mentor a team of four project managers, ensuring clarity of roles, accountability for results, and professional growth opportunities.
Lead the recruitment process for new staff as the practice area expands.
Communications & Thought Leadership Represent Public Exchange at key conferences and other events, serving as a thought-leader in the practice area.
Serve as a subject-matter expert advisor to the growing Public Exchange network, providing counsel and guidance on climate initiatives in development across the network.
Lead practice area communications strategy, in coordination with Public Exchange’s communications manager and partner communications team, including the development of presentations, messaging, press releases, web and social media content, videos and other materials.
Programs Development Working with the ED and the DSO, maintain relationships with key actors, potential partners, and foundations or other funders in the climate and sustainability space.
Develop new pilot concepts and proposals that expand Public Exchange’s climate impact portfolio.
Manage budgets strategically to maximize resources and advance growth.

Benefits

To support the well-being of our faculty and staff, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future.
These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package.
You can learn more about USC’s comprehensive benefits here .

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