Applied Artificial Intelligence Manager

ClimateWorks Foundation; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Paid time off

401(k) plan

Life insurance

Family support services

Job summary

ClimateWorks Foundation seeks an Applied AI Analyst to own the AI and automation capability for understanding climate philanthropy funding. You will set technical direction, build AI-enabled workflows, and collaborate across A&I and IS&T to scale data-driven insights for funders and partners.

The role requires deep ML/LLM expertise, Python proficiency, and experience delivering end-to-end AI solutions with strong data visualization and stakeholder communication skills.

Qualifications

• BS/BA or MS/MA degree with related experience in data analysis, AI, or similar technical role.
• Hands-on experience with large language models and AI APIs to build automations, NLP tools, or AI-augmented workflows.
• Strong programming skills in Python and data wrangling, transformation, and pipeline work.
• Experience with ML concepts and tools, especially for classification or text processing; NLP a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to identify workflow problems and deliver AI/automation solutions.
• Strong data management and analytical skills with good judgment on AI suitability.
• Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau/Power BI) and producing visual outputs for non-technical audiences.
• Excellent communication skills and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience leading cross-functional work streams and project management.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and climate philanthropy mission.

Responsibilities

• AI Strategy, Technical Ownership: set and govern AI/adoption standards, evaluate tools, and guide adoption.
• Building & Scaling Automation: design/deploy AI-enabled workflows and automate grant tagging and data processing.
• Partnership & Cross-Team Delivery: translate needs into technical approaches and align roadmaps across teams.

Skills

LLM & AI APIs

Python programming

Data visualization

Data wrangling

Portfolio examples

Automation engineering

Stakeholder engagement

Data confidentiality

NLP basics

Project management

Education

BS/BA or MS/MA with related experience

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

About the Role

ClimateWorks Foundation is seeking an Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Analyst to serve as the technical owner of the AI and automation capability behind its work to understand the philanthropic ecosystem and foundation funding for climate action. ClimateWorks has built the most comprehensive view of climate philanthropy funding available, delivering timely information, analysis, and insights that equip climate funders to identify priorities and deploy funding more effectively. Those core data assets are now beginning to scale, and with them the capabilities and intelligence needed to support an ever-growing ecosystem. Meeting that demand requires a substantial expansion of the automation capacity behind this work, and this role leads those efforts.

Reporting to the Director, Advisory & Insights (Climate Philanthropy), the Applied AI Analyst works as part of the joint team between Advisory & Insights (A&I) and Information Systems & Technology (IS&T) that powers ClimateWorks' funding intelligence. The role sets the technical direction for how AI and automation are applied to ClimateWorks' philanthropic ecosystem and funding data work, and carries that direction through partnership with the functional and product teams who define what the work must deliver and the technology teams who build and maintain the underlying infrastructure. This person establishes the standards and practices that govern how AI is evaluated, deployed, and reviewed across this work.

This is a hands-on technical role. The successful candidate combines deep practical expertise in large language models, machine learning, and automation with the judgment to decide where these approaches belong, and the ability to build agreement on technical direction with colleagues who do not report to them.

Department Summary

Advisory & Insights Departmental Overview

In a complex and rapidly shifting world, timely insights are crucial. A&I provides data, analysis, and strategy support to identify catalytic opportunities, inform decisions, and promote rigorous, evidence-based strategies across the philanthropic ecosystem. Our offerings include global trend reports, sectoral modeling, horizon scanning, and custom briefings, designed in partnership with funders, partners, and implementing leaders. We strengthen the practice of philanthropy so funders, both new and experienced, can turn insight into action for people, economies, and the planet.

Information Systems & Technology Departmental Overview

IS&T is a key partner within ClimateWorks’ operations function, managing and optimizing the organization’s technology and information to support key business objectives. The department owns the long-term roadmap for ClimateWorks’ systems architecture, along with user support, risk management, cybersecurity, and infrastructure and network administration. Within IS&T, the Information Systems team works closely with A&I’s Climate Philanthropy team to maintain the systems and processes used to collect, store, analyze, and share climate and philanthropic insight data with staff and partners.

How you will contribute

Includes the following and other duties as assigned:

AI Strategy, Technical Ownership, & Adoption

• Own the AI and automation agenda for ClimateWorks' philanthropic ecosystem and funding data work, setting priorities for what gets automated, in what sequence, and to what standard.
• Establish the standards and practices that govern applied AI across this work, including how models and tools are evaluated, where human review is required, and how confidential data is safeguarded.
• Evaluate emerging AI tools and platforms for organizational fit, and lead the support for adoption through documentation, training, and hands-on guidance.
• Serve as the point of contact for applied AI across the joint A&I and IS&T team, advising colleagues on where AI can and cannot responsibly solve a problem.

Building & Scaling Automation

• Design, build, and deploy AI-assisted workflows and LLM-powered tooling, including natural-language interfaces over the funding dataset, automated synthesis of recurring analyses, and grantee-profile lookups.
• Lead a substantial expansion of automated data processing, including grant tagging, taxonomy classification, quality checks, and normalization, materially reducing manual effort so the team can shift toward analysis and insight.
• Improve the machine learning behind grant classification and tagging, raising accuracy and coverage over time.
• Build crosswalks and connectors that integrate ClimateWorks data with external and partner datasets, reconciling them into a unified view of the philanthropic ecosystem.

Partnership & Cross-Team Delivery

• Partner with functional and product teams across A&I and IS&T to understand what the work must deliver, and translate those needs into technical approaches.
• Partner with technology teams across A&I and IS&T on the infrastructure that AI and automation workflows depend on, aligning technical direction across teams with separate roadmaps and priorities.
• Engage directly with data partners on how AI is applied to the data they contribute, building confidence in how it is used and safeguarded.
• Conduct rigorous quantitative analysis and produce clear data visualizations for ClimateWorks teams and affiliated climate funders.

Required qualifications

• BS/BA degree +8 years of related experience, or MS/MA degree +6 years of related experience in data analysis, analytics, AI, or similar technical role.
• Hands-on experience working with large language models and AI APIs to build automations, natural-language tools, or AI-augmented workflows, not just using AI products.
• Strong programming skills, with proficiency in Python, and experience with data wrangling, transformation, and pipeline work.
• Experience with machine learning concepts and tools, particularly for classification or text processing; NLP experience a plus.
• A track record of identifying a workflow problem and delivering an AI or automation-based solution; portfolio examples or project descriptions welcome.
• Strong data management and analytical skills, paired with good judgment about when AI is and is not appropriate.
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI, and comfort producing clear visual outputs for non-technical audiences.
• Strong communication skills, able to explain technical work clearly to colleagues without a technical background.
• Experience engaging stakeholders, data partners, or end users to understand needs and shape what gets built.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and cross-functionally, taking initiative and managing multiple workstreams.
• Minimum 5 years of project management experience.
• Understanding of data confidentiality, including how to handle sensitive organizational and donor data responsibly in an AI context.
• A commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment.
• Passion for environmental issues and a commitment to the mission and values of ClimateWorks Foundation.

Location

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. This position is classified as US Flexible. Exceptional candidates can work from the SF office or from other locations, geographic differential applied to compensation based on local cost of labor.

Compensation

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience (geographic differential applied based on location).

For US-based position the salary range is as follows:

Tier 1:$120,000 to $130,000 (SF Bay Area/NYC)

Tier 2:$110,000 to $120,000 (Other US locations)

Benefits

ClimateWorks provides employees with a competitive benefits package, including:

• 100% healthcare coverage plans (medical, dental, and vision).
• 20 days of paid time off for first-year employees, with incremental paid time off in subsequent years; 14 paid holidays annually; and paid sabbatical leave for qualifying employees.
• 401(k) plan with contributions from ClimateWorks and matching employee contributions.
• Life insurance and disability (short-term and long-term) coverage.
• Support for families, including fertility, child, elder, and pet care.
• Access to physical wellness benefits (e.g., gym memberships, fitness equipment), financial wellness (e.g., financial planning services), and mental wellness (e.g., therapy and coaching).

Culture

ClimateWorks’ culture is rooted in our core values: collaboration, humility, curiosity, learning, and risk-taking. We come together around shared goals, draw strength from diverse perspectives, and face challenges with an open mind. We grow through experience and boldly experiment to drive meaningful impact in climate philanthropy. Together, we turn ambition into action—spotting big opportunities, convening people, and helping scale bold solutions.

As a globally distributed organization, ClimateWorks offers multiple opportunities each year for staff to meet in person, foster relationships, and enhance collaboration. Staff are expected to attend an in-town week in San Francisco, an all-staff retreat, and a department retreat annually.

About ClimateWorks Foundation

ClimateWorks Foundation is a catalyst for accelerating climate progress, driving bold solutions that benefit people and the planet. We connect funders and implementing organizations worldwide to identify and scale transformative solutions across sectors and geographies, achieving faster, greater impact together. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees across 50 countries, working with over 80 funders.

ClimateWorks Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

ClimateWorks Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. We make decisions about all aspects of our employment practices, without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, sex (including childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), pregnancy, uniform service member and veteran status, citizenship status, disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

As part of our commitment to centering diverse people and perspectives and providing equal opportunities, we ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please note that in your application.