Chief Technical Officer

Science Based Targets initiative; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and development

International collaboration

Holiday package

Competitive NGO salary range

Job summary

Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) invites applications for a Chief Technical Officer to lead the technical engine room and drive the corporate net-zero transition from London, with regular international travel. The role reports to the CEO and sits on the Executive Leadership Team.

As CTO, you will guide the development and execution of Version 2 of the Corporate Net-Zero Standard, integrate across departments, and build strong partner relationships to push credible climate action globally.

Qualifications

• Proven track record designing and delivering complex, high-profile analytical work programmes under external scrutiny.
• Experience leading development of decarbonisation approaches bringing science, economics and technology together.
• Proven skills communicating and engaging with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Brilliant people leader, able to build and sustain high-performing technical teams.
• Ability to manage a budget effectively, including dynamic team resourcing and funding alignment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the SBTi's Technical Department of around thirty professionals.
• Own design and execution of a work programme for Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2, including sector approaches.
• Ensure the Technical Team has clear direction, common purpose and good practices.
• Ensure Technical Department is integrated with other departments and services.
• Build strong relationships with partners and stakeholders.
• Represent the SBTi in fora and international events.
• Set organisation priorities with the Executive Leadership Team and develop annual business plans.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Technical leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Net-zero / decarbonisation

Policy understanding

Team building

Public speaking

Job description

Location: London, UK with regular international travel

Apply by: 28th September 2026

Job Purpose and Background:

The opportunity

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is hiring a new Chief Technical Officer to play a leading role in moving the organisation to focus on action and implementation of the net-zero corporate transition.

Having set the gold standard for corporate net-zero targets, the SBTi is now moving from ambition to action. This is a rare opportunity to lead that shift from the inside by building and running the technical engine room of the organisation that the world's leading companies look to for what "credible" climate action actually means.

About the role

The Chief Technical Officer reports to the CEO and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team. The role is based in London and involves regular international travel.

About the SBTi:

The SBTi has been incredibly successful in recent years, setting emissions reduction targets with around 11,000 globally. It has particularly extensive corporate networks in the United States, the UK, Europe and Asia. It is widely regarded as setting the Gold Standard for corporate climate action.

In the next phase, SBTi will evolve its approach, through target setting that better reflects corporate transition risks and opportunities; and working with companies at the system level on the implementation journey. This is set out in the SBTi's recently published five-year strategy, to be implemented through the Corporate Net-ZeroStandard Version 2 and sector approaches currently under development.

Success in five years will be an expanded community of companies working to meet science-based targets, with particular growth opportunities in emissions intensive sectors, in Asia, and through supply chains that already have targets. The SBTi will also play a leading role facilitating learning about implementation of the corporate net-zero transition, together with identifying and addressing barriers to implementation through close working with partners.

The SBTi is an independent legal entity, registered as a charity in the UK. It is a mission driven organisation, with employees who are committed, professional and capable; there are just under 200 employees, with hubs in Mexico City, London and Berlin. Revenues are from a combination of commercial activity (i.e. payments for validation services) and philanthropic funding.

The CEO of the organisation is David Kennedy, who brings a twenty year track record of leadership and impact on energy and net-zero, in the UK, Europe and internationally. The Chair of the SBTi's board is Francesco Starace, who was previously CEO of the Italian energy utility ENEL. The board includes representatives of partner organisations, together with members who bring business experience together with leaders of international climate action.

For more information, please visit www.sciencebasedtargets.org

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading the SBTi's Technical Department of around thirty professionals.
• Owning design and execution of a work programme for implementation of Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2, including sector approaches (for steel, aluminium, shipping, aviation, etc.).
• Ensuring that the Technical Team has clear direction, common purpose, good working practices, and capabilities to design the corporate net-zero transition.
• Ensuring that the Technical Department is fully integrated with other departments in the SBTi and the Services subsidiary responsible for operations.
• Building strong relationships with partners and stakeholders.
• Representing the SBTi in various fora and at international events.
• With colleagues on the Executive Leadership Team, setting organisation priorities, both for the medium-term and annually, in the form of a business plan.

Experience and Skills:

• A recognised thought leader, with a track record designing and delivering complex, high-profile analytical work programmes under intense external scrutiny.
• Experience leading development of decarbonisation approaches bringing together science, economics and technology, informed by an understanding of commercial perspectives, implementation barriers and government policies.
• Proven skills communicating and engaging with stakeholders from a range of backgrounds.
• Brilliant people leader, able to build and sustain high-performing technical teams.
• Ability to manage a budget effectively, including through dynamic team management (changing structures, re-allocating resources, etc.) to ensure ongoing match between capabilities and changing work / funding requirements, and targeted use of external resources.
• Working directly with companies on net-zero strategy and planning.
• Working with government(s) on policy to support net-zero transition, from within or outside.
• Greenhouse gas accounting experience.
• Working in an organisation with a geographically dispersed footprint.

Important information before you apply:

• This is a full-time role based in London, UK
• The salary for this role will be competitive and depend on location and experience level.
• Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in October by a panel chaired by the SBTi's CEO, and which may include an external advisor.
• Interested candidates should be legally allowed to work in the specified countries and already be visa holders. The SBTi cannot sponsor working visas.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in SBTi.

What we offer:

• Working in one of the most successful and fastest-growing initiatives driving climate action.
• Exciting and challenging tasks in a dynamic, international, innovative, and highly motivated team.
• Training and development.
• Attractive holiday package plus public holidays in your country.
• Competitive NGO salary range

SBTi is an equal opportunity employer - committed to building an inclusive workplace and diverse staff, where all can thrive. We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all identities and backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.