Program Lead, Methane Removal

About the Organization

Spark Climate Solutions is accelerating progress in emerging climate fields, towards repairing the climate. Spark focuses on high-leverage, under-resourced solution areas and takes a systems approach, working collaboratively with experts and other stakeholders, to accelerate these fields by building strategic roadmaps, providing research funding, seeding new organizations, and communicating with the public. Spark’s first focus area is accelerating solutions for near-term warming management, starting with enteric fermentation mitigation and methane removal. Our team has deep expertise in science, engineering, and climate-focused philanthropy. Spark’s funders include the Grantham Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Astera Institute, Climate Pathfinders Foundation, and Additional Ventures.

Program Lead, Methane Removal

Spark seeks a Program Lead for the Methane Removal Program to drive its effort as a leader and manager to develop the strategic roadmap and grow the community needed to develop scalable methane removal. Methane removal could be critical to keeping global temperatures under 1.5°C and preventing potential runaway global warming from releases of naturally stored methane. This role would be interdisciplinary, taking science, engineering, talent, society, economics, and policy into account to advance the field across every dimension. Spark is looking for a candidate who is deeply motivated by climate action and is excited to interface with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders to change what’s possible for climate action.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Program Lead, Methane Removal will perform the following and other duties as assigned:

• Research and author roadmaps for the overall solutions ecosystems, including well-researched and supported recommendations for RD&D topics, policy changes, and public communication efforts.
• Drive strategic and collaborative efforts in field building, including spinning up new programs internal to Spark, with other organizations, and potentially seeding new organizations where needed.
• Build relationships with science, policy, and philanthropic partners to collaborate on roadmaps, research agendas, and granting opportunities.
• Collaborate with, and potentially manage and mentor, a small number of interdisciplinary teammates working together to shape and organize emerging fields.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and area advocate to other organizations and funders getting involved in the space.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have the following minimum qualifications:

• 7+ years of combined professional and research experience, inclusive of any graduate work.
• Scientific literacy and comfort working with scientific material and collaborating with leading scientists in a given field (likely a PhD, lending them credence in the field, in science or engineering, or equivalent experience).
• Experience independently running projects and complex work tracks in research-heavy areas, in academia, consulting, or business environments.
• Proven ability to initiate independent projects and work across disciplines.
• Excellent written, speaking/presentation, and interpersonal communication skills to engage effectively within the organization and with external collaborators/stakeholders.
• Driven to learn about the climate problem and help drive solutions.
• Flexibility, creativity, and tenacity.
• Fluency in English.

Preferred Attributes:

• Insatiably curious and and enjoys the process of seeking to be continuously less wrong.
• Are humble and collaborative.
• Action-oriented and have business or consulting experience to draw from.
• Systems-thinker, who can both dig into the details on a specific science or policy proposal, and zoom out to the big picture to see what’s missing in a field, moving comfortably among fundamental science, technological potentials/limits, and broader social and policy implications.
• Strong written and oral communicators, and consistently synthesize complex topics and systems.
• Can quickly evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, and untested potential of different technical, scientific, social, and political approaches to climate challenges.
• Have experience leading and mentoring high potential people with varying backgrounds.
• Have proven abilities of working collaboratively, effectively, and efficiently in ways that prioritize and center empathy and equity
• Excited to stay dedicated to the field for years to come.

Eligibility:

• Ability to work as a W2 employee for a US non-profit.
• Availability during the US Pacific time work day.

Compensation and Location

Spark offers a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience and location. The salary range for this position is $150,000-$200,000 a year. In addition, Spark provides exceptional benefits including flexible PTO, sick time, holidays, generous health insurance coverage, 401(k) with employer match, and full-covered dental/vision/life insurance, and parental leave.

As with all positions at Spark Climate Solutions, this role will be remote. Employees can work anywhere within the United States or internationally with approval. Spark’s center of gravity is in the SF Bay Area, with a possible option of some in-person work later in 2023.

Note: Travel expectations will be minimal and average 5-days/quarter. Duration will likely be 2-4 days at a time.

To Apply

CEA Recruiting is assisting Spark with this search. To be considered for this position, interested candidates must follow the link below to submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements through CEA’s job portal.

Apply here.

Spark Climate Solutions is an equal opportunity employer.

CEA Recruiting works with leading environmental nonprofits, foundations, and businesses to recruit top talent and design effective organizational staffing strategies. For more information, visit www.cearecruiting.com.