Senior Manager, Climate Tech and Innovation

FAS•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is seeking a Senior Manager, Climate Tech and Innovation to guide and grow its emerging program. This program focuses on building support for cutting-edge research in overlooked areas and harnessing market and economic forces to scale high-impact environmental and climate solutions. A major initial focus will be building support for responsible research into climate interventions and promoting productive, science-based dialogues around climate interventions among policymakers and in the public discourse. Other topics may include expediting development and deployment of advanced electric grid technologies, catalyzing sustained investment into adaptation and resilience (A&R) technologies, and strengthening the U.S. innovation ecosystem with respect to climate and the environment. This role involves working at the frontiers of research, technology, financing, and policy intersection on climate and environmental topics, building dynamic coalitions, motivating policy progress through various tactics, providing direction for complex projects, sharpening administrative skills, managing junior staff, and co-leading fundraising strategy.

Requirements

At least 8 years of experience relevant to the responsibilities of this role (as described below). Please note each year of higher education beyond high school is considered equivalent to one year of professional experience.
A broad understanding of climate policy and technology, particularly in the U.S. context.
Excellent written communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to adapt writing styles to different formats (e.g., reports, policy briefs, concept notes, grant applications, blog posts, and op-eds).
Ability to work independently without close oversight while also contributing as a team player.
A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and pursuing it within the mission of FAS.
Willingness to learn, give, seek and implement feedback.

Nice To Haves

Subject-matter expertise on climate interventions.
Subject-matter expertise on other rapidly emerging areas of climate and clean energy technology, such as advanced grid technology or technology to enhance climate adaptation and resilience.
Established and diverse relationships with policymakers, scientists, technologists, and/or investors committed to advancing the field of climate tech and innovation.
emerging fields of climate technology.
Fundraising experience.
People-management experience.

Responsibilities

Owns programmatic budget and grant/contract administration (forecasting, tracking, reporting, compliance).
Ability to break large and complex projects into manageable components and timelines, and to flexibly adjust project plans to changing circumstances.
Ability to track and provide quality control for multiple deliverables associated with a single project.
Ability to coordinate work energetically, enthusiastically, and successfully across diverse teams.
Ability to provide clear direction to project contributors at different levels of seniority, including within and outside of FAS.
Owns a multi-year programmatic roadmap for component workstreams.
Sets success metrics/KPIs and reports progress.
Leads prioritization tradeoffs across workstreams.
Working at the frontiers of where research, technology, financing, and policy intersect on climate and environmental topics, with enthusiasm for both scaling proven approaches as well as for thinking big about ideas that are “so crazy they just might work”.
Building dynamic and unconventional, yet powerful, new coalitions, taking advantage of rapidly shifting political and economic dynamics to rethink who can work productively together.
Thinking creatively and entrepreneurially about how to motivate policy progress on climate tech and innovation, using a variety of tactics (e.g. convening, research synthesis, stakeholder briefing, media engagement, etc.).
Providing direction, oversight, and accountability for a variety of complex, fast-moving projects.
Sharpening budget-management, grant-management, and other high-level administrative skills.
Managing and mentoring talented junior staff.
Co-leading fundraising strategy and pipeline for Climate Tech and Innovation program in partnership with FAS development and senior staff.