Director of Innovation, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)

Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 127,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) invites a Director of Innovation to lead the Innovation Program, shaping policy-relevant research and engagement with industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The role emphasizes strategic leadership, team development, and funding pursuits to accelerate clean energy innovation.

The Director reports to the Vice President for Policy and Outreach, enjoys autonomy, and will build a team to advance an ambitious innovation agenda during a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with at least 12 years of relevant experience.
• Master’s degree with at least 9 years of relevant experience.
• Strong understanding of U.S. innovation ecosystem and federal programs.
• Experience supervising and mentoring staff.
• Independent, self-starter with ownership of a growing program.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategy for expanded innovation program aligning with the organization’s broader strategy.
• Lead and manage innovation programs including cross-cutting challenges and specific clean energy tech areas.
• Build and manage a high-performing team and represent C2ES in coalitions.
• Lead development of policy strategy with the Advocacy team and engage with congressional offices.
• Conceptualize and track progress against program objectives and deliverables.

Skills

Policy expertise

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Team management

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

DEI commitment

Collaboration

Organizational skills

Self-motivation

Education

Bachelor's degree (economics/energy policy/environmental studies/political science)

Master’s degree in science/technology/energy/environmental policy/political science

Job description

Director of Innovation, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)

Organization/Grantor: Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)

Position/Title/Fund: Director of Innovation

Type/Term: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Washington D.C. (preferred) or U.S. Remote

Salary: $127,000 - $158,000 annually

Description

Our mission is to secure a safe and stable climate by accelerating the transition to a thriving, just, and resilient low-carbon economy. We are widely recognized as an influential voice on climate issues, a trusted convener, and a credible source of expertise and analysis. We work closely with international climate negotiators; federal, state, and local policymakers; executives of Fortune 500 businesses; and a wide range of other stakeholders to advance strong policy and action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote clean energy, and strengthen resilience to climate impacts. C2ES is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.

The Director, Innovation will lead C2ES’s growing Innovation Program, overseeing and strengthening the organization’s existing work with companies, experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders, while also developing and executing new programmatic initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a combination of relevant innovation policy expertise, technical and market knowledge of key clean energy technologies, a keen strategic and program management skills, and experience managing high-performing teams - and will be poised for an inflection point in their career trajectory and growth as a leader, and ready to take on significant program leadership responsibilities.

The Director, Innovation, will report to the Vice President for Policy and Outreach, and will be given substantial autonomy and responsibility in developing the organization’s strategic direction for this area of work, and building out a team to deliver impact. This position offers an exciting opportunity for leadership, professional development and real-world impact, at an exciting time of organizational growth.

Responsibilities

Program Strategy and Execution

• Working with the VP for Policy and Outreach, develop a strategy for an expanded innovation program at C2ES that aligns with and informs the organization’s broader strategy, and draws on C2ES core competencies;
• Working with the VP for Policy and Outreach and with the C2ES development team, articulate a compelling vision for the innovation work that can inspire significant investment and new resources from a range of funders;
• Direct and execute C2ES’s existing innovation programs at a high-level, including ongoing workstreams focused on cross-cutting innovation challenges, engineered carbon removal, sustainable aviation fuel, clean hydrogen, and clean firm technologies, as part of our Technology Working Groups;
• Build and manage a highly effective team to deliver impact;
• Represent C2ES, and provide substantive leadership in coalition efforts focused on developing an innovation policy agenda;
• Working with the C2ES Advocacy team, lead the development of C2ES's strategy in the federal appropriations process, including engagement with congressional offices and coalition partners, as well as the submission of appropriations requests;
• Conceptualize, meet and track progress against program objectives and deliverables, including contributing to the development of grant proposals, reports and budgets;
• Conceptualize, develop and execute convenings with stakeholders to explore policy approaches to accelerating innovation;
• Represent C2ES with policymakers, media and other stakeholders, including public speaking opportunities (e.g., panels, webinars, briefings);
• Manage consultants as necessary.

Policy and Thought Leadership

• Leverage strong expertise in policy, including an understanding of existing state and federal programs and incentives available to support the development and commercialization of emerging clean energy technologies, particularly engineered carbon removal, sustainable aviation fuel, clean hydrogen, and clean firm technologies;
• Synthesize technical, market, policy, and stakeholder input to identify policy and programmatic opportunities that advance clean energy innovation;
• Identify and recommend organizational policy priorities for accelerating technology-inclusive approaches to strengthen the U.S. innovation ecosystem and U.S. global technology leadership, and strategies to advance those priorities;
• Provide subject matter expertise and internal thought leadership on opportunities to advance clean energy innovation and scale the organization’s impact;
• Provide thought leadership to external stakeholders, including companies and policymakers, on approaches to accelerate clean energy innovation;
• Work with key internal partners to conceptualize, develop, manage and produce C2ES research and analytical products relating to innovation;

Enterprise Leadership

• the organization’s strategic planning, direction and development objectives;
• a strong organizational culture, including with respect to the organization’s priorities around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB);
• the strengthening of internal capacity and core competencies, and;
• the alignment of staff responsibilities and resources across C2ES programs and initiatives.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) expectations

• Participate in monthly all-staff DEI meetings;
• Demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment;
• Complete trainings during on-boarding and on a yearly basis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., economics, environmental or energy policy, environmental studies, political science) with at least 12 years of relevant experience; OR
• Master’s degree in science and technology, energy or environmental policy, political science or related field, with at least 9 years of relevant experience;
• Strong understanding of the U.S. innovation ecosystem, including federal funding and programs, commercialization pathways, project finance, technology transfer mechanisms, and regional technology hubs;
• Experience supervising, mentoring and supporting professional development for staff;
• Experience managing teams and collaboration across programs while balancing staff and resource allocation across competing priorities;
• Independent, self-starter with a strong interest in taking ownership of a growing innovation program;
• Positive, constructive and outcomes focused attitude;
• Experience engaging stakeholders, particularly companies, in the climate and energy sector;
• A strong, relevant network among NGOs, companies, agencies, congressional offices, trade associations, etc.;
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Self-motivated, and able to work both independently and collaboratively;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Commitment to C2ES values, including knowledge of, or experience in advancing issues of diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental/climate justice;
• Flexibility, willingness to pitch in at all levels, and a team player;
• Humility, collegiality, a sense of humor, and a deep spirit of collaboration.