Program Director, Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal

 Who We Are 

Ocean Visions is a science-based conservation organization focused at the nexus of the interlocking ocean and climate crises. Ocean Visions works on a four-part strategy to directly address the causes and impacts of climate disruption from an ocean lens:   

1. Reduce: Identify and advance high-leverage ocean-based opportunities for a just transition to a low carbon economy
2. Remove: Identify and advance ocean-based pathways for cleaning up carbon pollution from the air and ocean
3. Repair: Develop interventions to avoid catastrophic loss of critical marine ecosystems while we rebalance global carbon cycles
4. Reach: Build a global community to innovate and develop ocean-climate solutions

This Role 

We are looking for a talented, energetic, and collaborative individual to join our team and help take our marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) work to the next level.  Over the first four years of our work in this area, we built detailed roadmaps that assess the current developmental stage of various mCDR technologies and identify the diverse obstacles and first-order priorities to advance development and testing of these technologies quickly. Since releasing these roadmaps, we have worked to catalyze and support diverse efforts to address first order priorities, and build a supportive enabling environment for this work to go forward.  We have worked directly with start-ups to support the science and engineering that goes into their work.  We also created a high level road map to prove or disprove mCDR approaches within the next 5-7 years. 

Since we began, the field has gone from barely existing to now being a robust arena with a number of players and growing. However, we are still at a relatively early stage in the field’s trajectory, with much more to do.  We seek a thought and action leader to drive maximum impact towards our overarching goal in this space – to advance the research, development, and demonstration of all viable approaches, at scales sufficient to answer the critical questions of whether these approaches will be able to contribute to climatically-relevant carbon removal at acceptable levels of impact to ecosystems and people.  To accomplish this goal, the person in this role will need to work with diverse actors across the world to significantly expand the overall investment of time, energy, and money into this emerging sector. 

Why mCDR

Carbon dioxide removal is an imperative.  In addition to maximizing decarbonization, we also need to remove billions of tons of “legacy” carbon dioxide pollution that is already overheating and acidifying the ocean.  This means quickly developing a host of technologies that can remove carbon dioxide from the air and water and safely store it as permanently as possible.

The ocean holds enormous potential to safely draw down and sequester additional carbon dioxide. The ocean is already the largest carbon reservoir on the planet. Natural ocean processes have already moved tremendous amounts of carbon from the atmosphere into the ocean, the ocean already occupies ~70% of the surface area of the planet, and the ocean offers the potential of long-term carbon storage.

Who

We seek a highly experienced and broadly trained individual to lead Ocean Visions’ mCDR work.  The ideal candidate will have exceptional analytical and social skills. Experience working in ocean issues and with carbon dioxide removal is strongly desired.  They will be bold and thoughtful, a critical and creative thinker who can apply a rigorous analytical mind and tools to complex problems. This person must possess the ability to understand and stay abreast of this rapidly changing arena that includes shifting landscapes in science, policy, engineering, governance and economics, among others.  And from this understanding, be able to identify avenues for action that are both high leverage and feasible, and know the steps to take to bring them to life.  A successful candidate will have demonstrated these abilities in other arenas, and in partnership with others.  Familiarity with the application of technology and innovation to solve complex problems is necessary.

Passion for this work is essential, we have no less a goal than to slow, stop and ultimately reverse the climate crisis.

This Program Director will report to the CEO, work very closely with the Chief Scientist and collaboratively with all Ocean Visions staff.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in a related field
• Experience working with diverse interests and sectors to solve complex environmental problems, demonstrated by at least seven years of relevant work experience after terminal degree
• Demonstrated ability to come up to speed quickly on new subject matter areas
• Comfortable with technology and engineering concepts
• Experience with facilitation across diverse areas of expertise and knowledge synthesis
• Ability to design and lead complex, multi-party projects and programs.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong project design and management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and organize a diverse workload, while adjusting to periodic changes to account for new opportunities
• Expert analytical skills
• Ability to operate with independence, work in a home office, meet deadlines, and fulfill commitments.

Desired Qualifications

• Thought leadership, vision and passion for the work
• Familiarity with research, development and demonstration of technology, preferably in the climate space.
• Familiarity with concepts related to CDR generally, mCDR specifically, ocean ecology and governance, and related topics.
• Experience working at the intersection of science and policy
• Experience with innovation and scaling of innovation

Location, Hours, and Travel

This is a regular full-time remote position. Applicants must be U.S.-based, legally authorized to work in the U.S., and available to work standard business hours of a continental U.S. time zone.  Must be willing and able to travel nationally and internationally, up to 20% time.

Compensation:

The salary range for this position is $110,000-$145,000, commensurate with the candidate’s specific skills, years of experience, and background. Ocean Visions offers a competitive benefits program including dental, vision, and health insurance; generous vacation and sick time; funds for home office maintenance; a 403(b) plan; parental leave; and more.

To Apply:

Applications must be submitted by July 19th to be considered.  Candidate review will begin on July 22, 2024 and screening interviews held in early August.  Finalists will be asked to provide names and contact information for professional references. Given the high number of applications we receive, we may not be able to respond to all.

Equal Opportunity

Ocean Visions is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. Ocean Visions is continually seeking to diversify its staff, particularly to broaden opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy.