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Climate and Energy Program Director (Remote)

Employer
Union of Concerned Scientists
Location
Columbia, MD
Closing date
May 22, 2022

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TERM: PermanentClimate and EnergyUnion of Concerned ScientistsLocation: Remote/Hybrid - located in close proximity to the Cambridge MA; Washington DC; Bay Area, CA; or Chicago, IL OfficeThe PositionThe Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is an independent national nonprofit that uses science to protect our health, safety, and environment. We are scientists, engineers, economists, activists and everyday people who develop and advocate for innovative, practical solutions to some of our planet's most pressing problems-from combating global warming and developing sustainable ways to feed, power, and transport ourselves, to fighting misinformation, advancing racial equity, and reducing the threat of nuclear war.The Climate and Energy Program Director is accountable for, and provides leadership, strategic guidance and oversight for the activities of the Climate and Energy (C&E) Program including overall vision, campaigns and advocacy, research, analysis and budgets; guides and deepens C&E's continued efforts to be a more anti-racist department; supervises senior C&E Program staff; fosters cross-program and cross-campaign coordination and collaboration; represents and raises the visibility of UCS on climate and energy issues in key public, scientific, non-governmental, media and policy fora; helps establish effective partnerships and collaborations with external organizations especially in the environmental and climate justice spaces; and ensures the quality and integrity of C&E programming and activities.The Climate and Energy Program Director shapes and sets directions and effective coordination of C&E's work, including the development and execution of annual work plans and evaluation of their success, and works with the Development Department to grow funding for UCS and the program.The Climate and Energy Program Director is responsible for fostering a culture where every employee can thrive and grow, and where the voices of BIPOC staff and those of others with less power in the organization are fully heard and centered.As a member of UCS's senior leadership team, the Climate and Energy Program Director is an 'institutional citizen' who contributes to setting and shaping organization-wide policies and practices. In this role, the Program Director will source and share best practices with and from other UCS programs and departments, and proactively seek opportunities to scale and deepen impact through efforts that join forces with other UCS programs, departments, and external partners.Responsibilities:As part of the essential job duties and responsibilities of the position, the Program Director will be expected to: Lead efforts to define and clearly articulate priorities for the C&E program, including the development, implementation, and integration of theories of change for specific campaigns. Work with C&E's staff on strategies and activities to support UCS and program objectives and to develop advocacy strategies that deliver wins in Congress, federal agencies, state government, and courts, and accountability for corporations. Play to UCS's core strengths, securing decisive, significant, and measurable gains toward our campaign goals, and ensuring impactful climate, energy, and corporate accountability policies are equitable and just. Provide overall management and oversight of all of C&E's activities including daily operations, budget, and project implementation. Oversee annual program planning and budgeting. Ensure the program has a cohesive process for measuring progress, accountability, learning, and revising work plans as necessary. Ensure projects live into UCS's shared values concerning justice and equity. Effectively assign responsibility and delegate tasks and decision-making authority to C&E managers and staff and C&Es internal leadership council, Policy Committee and other existing or emerging structures in the program, to ensure our program structure is effective, less siloed, and nimble. Oversee program budget development and implementation, including allocation of resources among campaigns and activities. Authorize major expenditures and ensure cost-control within the annual budget. Ensure that C&E consistently and effectively lives into and deepens its anti-racism commitments, approaches and practices as part of a science-based advocacy organization, infusing an anti-racism lens into science, environmental policy, and social impact; be accountable for efforts to set and achieve diversity, equity and inclusivity goals in C&E and for fostering a culture that centers, values and lifts up BIPOC voices and experiences, and where all staff can thrive and grow. Work with C&E's science and analytic leads to help strategically plan and design research activities and projects in support of UCS and program objectives, strengthening our scientific and technical credibility and reputation for innovation by engaging with emerging issues, and maintaining scientific excellence in the department's output. Ensure our campaigns and analyses are relevant for communities and people's lives. Represent and raise the visibility of UCS on climate and energy issues in key public, non-governmental, governmental, policy and media fora. Help establish effective and strategic partnerships and collaborations with external organizations and constituencies, especially in the environmental and climate justice spaces, ensuring that we are seen as meaningful and trusted contributors to the coalitions and movements. Oversee programmatic personnel decisions including hiring, review and approval of candidate pools, and staff promotions Work with the People and Culture team to establish and develop mechanisms in C&E to support all staff in working to their maximum potential, including by providing them with resources, mentorship, support, regular feedback, performance reviews, professional development and career growth guidance and opportunities. Strengthen cross-programmatic collaboration through coordination with the Executive Team, other program directors, and regional offices. Advocate for the resources required for C&E and its staff to be successful. Communicate regularly with C&E staff about relevant management decisions and organizational developments. Maintain and promote a culture of transparency, openness and two-way information flow that encourages staff of all backgrounds and levels of seniority to feel confident, understood, and valued in communicating their ideas and/or concerns. Work with the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and their team to identify and cultivate foundation and individual donors for UCS and C&E. Represent C&E with donors and participate in proposal development and presentation. Provide oversight and quality control of program grant and budget proposals and expenditure reports. Represent C&E with the Executive Team, the UCS board, and internal groups and teams. Perform other related functions, as directed or needed.RequirementsQualifications and ExperiencePosition requires at least ten years relevant experience, including four to five years of senior management experience, and demonstrated commitment to the application of science to public policy. A master's degree or a PhD in a relevant field would be a plus but is not required.Position requires strategic acumen and the ability to provide vision, set direction, and lead C&E into the future through science, innovation, and bold new initiatives. Expertise in climate and energy, a strong current knowledge of climate and energy policy issues, energy and climate justice, climate science, just climate resilience, and experience designing and leading effective advocacy campaigns for social change are essential. A general familiarity with energy technologies, corporate campaigning and climate litigation is desirable. Proven ability to lead and inspire high-performing matrixed teams, include and engage people, effectively delegate, and foster trust at all levels of staff are essential. The Program Director should bring anti-racism experience, a demonstrated ability to thoughtfully navigate, implement, and lead on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a deep commitment to advancing these values and cultivating and maintaining collaborations with environmental justice organizations. Demonstrated skills in strategic thinking, campaign development and advocacy, fundraising, budgeting and budget management are required, and experience in organizing, government affairs, and project management are desirable. The Program Director must have excellent written and spoken communications skills and be an accomplished public speaker. Fluency in English is required and Spanish language skills are highly desirable.SupervisoryManage senior Climate & Energy Program staffPhysical RequirementsLittle or no exertion; may require extended periods at a computer.HoursRegular office hours may include some nights and weekends.TravelRegular travel to UCS offices as well as to meetings, functions and events to represent C&E and UCS. Occasional international travel may be required.BenefitsDetails:This is a full-time remote/hybrid position based in either our Cambridge MA; Washington DC; Bay Area, CA; or Chicago, IL or in close proximity to one of these offices. For those who meet all position requirements, the salary range is $171,000-$190,000. UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment.Information about the organization is available at training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.More about the team:Our team is made up of a dedicated group of researchers, scientists, communicators, campaigners, and advocates from wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and a collaborative and supportive work environment where all staff can thrive. We continually strive to create an environment which is a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, parents, empty-nesters, and people with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.To Apply: We know there are great candidates who won't check all of these boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven't considered. If that's you, don't hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. Please upload a cover letter and resume. In the cover letter, please confirm that the listed salary meets your expectations. Upload materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls, please.Covid Mandate for New Hires:For in office roles, UCS employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Employees are considered fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC. All new hires who will be reporting to an office location must provide notice of their vaccination status and vaccination documentation, on or before their first day of work. For all others, UCS strongly encourages full vaccinations among its employees, up to and including booster shots, even if working remotely.All new employees must comply with the mandatory vaccination requirements outlined in UCS policies as soon as practicable. Union of Concerned Scientists will notify candidates for employment of the requirements of this policy before the start of employment.Deadline: Until Filled

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