Head of Climate Solutions

Johnson Recruitment; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 165,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Job summary

Australia Climate Impact Initiative (ACII) is a new philanthropic initiative accelerating climate and environmental giving across Australia. The Head of Climate Solutions will set the strategic vision for a new Climate Solutions function, reporting to the Founding Executive Director.

Based in Sydney or Melbourne with hybrid work options, the role offers a salary of $165K-$185K plus super, with flexible full-time (0.8 considered).

Qualifications

• 10–15 years senior experience in climate/environment sector and policy knowledge.
• Ability to translate science to funder briefs and portfolios.
• Strong analytical, research, and impact measurement capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Portfolio Curation: curate high-impact funding opportunities across climate, energy transition, nature, adaptation, and First Nations leadership.
• Translating Science into Action: translate climate science and policy into clear funder briefs for non-experts.
• Due Diligence & Sector Engagement: establish an expert Advisory Group, conduct due diligence, and integrate First Nations leadership.
• Global Alignment: work with Climate Lead to adapt global methodologies to Australia and contribute local opportunities to the global pipeline.

Skills

Senior leadership

Climate policy knowledge

Analytical skills

Research skills

Impact measurement

Storytelling

Cultural competency

First Nations engagement

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

$165K - $185K + super | FT or 0.8 considered

• Career-defining leadership role | Build a new function
• Flexible location - Sydney or Melbourne (Hybrid WFH options)
• $165K - $185K + super | FT or 0.8 considered

The Organisation

Australia Climate Impact Initiative (ACII) is an ambitious, newly established philanthropic initiative dedicated to accelerating high-impact climate and environmental giving across Australia. Incubated by the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN) and partnered with global leader Climate Lead, ACII provides intelligence, connections, and guidance to major philanthropists, free of charge, to unlock environmental giving at scale.

The Role

Reporting to the Founding Executive Director, the Head of Climate Solutions will set the strategic vision for and build a new Climate Solutions function.

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic Portfolio Curation: Act as an impartial expert broker to curate high-impact funding opportunities across climate, energy transition, nature, adaptation, and First Nations leadership.
• Translating Science into Action: Translate complex climate science and policy into clear, compelling funder briefs and tailored portfolios for non-expert philanthropists.
• Due Diligence & Sector Engagement: Establish an expert Advisory Group, conduct rigorous due diligence, and integrate First Nations self-determination and land stewardship as a foundational dimension of Australian climate philanthropy.
• Global Alignment: Partner with Climate Lead's Global Climate Strategies team to adapt global due diligence methodologies to the Australian context while contributing local opportunities to the global pipeline.

• Strategic Portfolio Curation: Act as an impartial expert broker to curate high-impact funding opportunities across climate, energy transition, nature, adaptation, and First Nations leadership.
• Translating Science into Action: Translate complex climate science and policy into clear, compelling funder briefs and tailored portfolios for non-expert philanthropists.
• Due Diligence & Sector Engagement: Establish an expert Advisory Group, conduct rigorous due diligence, and integrate First Nations self-determination and land stewardship as a foundational dimension of Australian climate philanthropy.
• Global Alignment: Partner with Climate Lead's Global Climate Strategies team to adapt global due diligence methodologies to the Australian context while contributing local opportunities to the global pipeline.

The Candidate

You bring substantive senior experience in the climate and environment sector (typically 10-15 years) alongside deep knowledge of the Australian climate and biodiversity policy and advocacy landscape. You possess strong analytical, research, and impact measurement skills, paired with an exceptional capability to write inspiring, accessible narratives for donor audiences.

You demonstrate high cultural competency and a strong commitment to First Nations rights and leadership. Characterised by an entrepreneurial start-up mindset, sound ethics, and a collaborative approach, you thrive in evolving environments and excel at working across diverse theories of change.

The Offer

This is a unique opportunity to shape the strategy and future of climate philanthropy in Australia at a critical inflection point. The position is offered on a full-time basis (with flexibility for 0.8) based in either Sydney or Melbourne, featuring flexible hybrid work arrangements. The salary on offer ranges from $165K - $185K + superannuation, in line with experience.

Johnson Recruitment actively embraces diversity in the workforce through inclusive community representation of gender, culture, thought, and work arrangements.