Program Manager for Planetary Intelligence and Climate Adaptation

SLAC; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 104,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability is seeking a Program Manager to lead day-to-day operations for the Planetary Intelligence and Climate Adaptation Flagships, coordinating multiple stakeholders across Stanford and external partners.

You will monitor projects, analyze data, develop presentations, and advance strategic priorities while maintaining strong relationships and advancing event planning and knowledge management in a dynamic, start-up–like environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in a scientific or engineering field.
• Interest in science-related careers (academia, business, policy).
• Experience with AI or geospatial science.
• Experience with data management or computer science.
• Experience developing events, workshops, and trainings.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and monitor Planetary Intelligence and Climate Adaptation projects, ensuring they remain on track and within scope.
• Collect and analyze program data, generate reports, identify trends, prepare presentations and memos.
• Conduct in-depth technical and market research on project-related solutions and report on developments.
• Design, plan, develop content for events, workshops, luncheons, meetings, and trainings; manage logistics and post-event follow-up.
• Facilitate communication and identify synergies between cohort projects and external stakeholders.
• Represent the Accelerator internally and externally at conferences and meetings.
• Direct project work of the administrative staff assigned to the Planetary Intelligence and Climate Adaptation program.

Skills

AI & Geospatial

Data management

Events planning

Stakeholder management

Influence without authority

Education

Science/Engineering degree

Job description

This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring pause.

This is a fixed-term position ending 8/31/29, with the possibility of renewal dependent on programmatic need and budgetary availability.

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment VISA.

About Us

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability works toward a world where humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school has a three-part structure:

• Academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people.

• Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges.

• The Sustainability Accelerator serves as a launchpad for sustainability solutions, turning innovative ideas into transformative and scalable technologies and policies that will substantially improve the quality of human life and our planet. The Sustainability Accelerator is rooted in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and works across the University and with external partners to drive solutions from the lab into the world.

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change. For more information, please click here.

The Accelerator team manages operations, runs our competitive project selection process, and provides resources and support to Stanford faculty and research teams. The Program Manager will play a crucial role in the management of projects in the Planetary Intelligence and Climate Adaptation Flagships.

The Accelerator seeks a candidate with experience in knowledge and project management, with a proven ability to maintain and drive the adoption of crucial business practices, systems, and tools, and foster proactive communication across teams and with external partners. We are looking for someone highly motivated with strong interpersonal and organizational skills, who is comfortable with a dynamic, start-up-like environment, and who knows how to get things done.

Responsibilities will include:

• Coordinate and monitor Planetary Intelligence and Climate Adaptation projects, ensuring they remain on track and within scope, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, anticipating evolving needs, mobilizing the right support, tracking performance and impact, and making recommendations to the Managing Director.

• Collect and analyze program data, generate reports, identify trends, prepare presentations and memos, and develop actionable recommendations to drive continuous improvement.

• Using technical expertise, domain knowledge, and intellectual judgment, conduct in-depth technical and market research on the state-of-the-art of project-related solutions to aid project teams. Make recommendations on potential external and Stanford resources and connect teams with additional resources. Report on ongoing developments in the field.

• Design, plan, develop content for events, workshops, luncheons, working group meetings, stakeholder meetings, and training programs. Execute on the planning by producing marketing materials, identifying and inviting participants, assisting with event moderation, scheduling, logistics, onsite coordination, facilitation support, and post-event follow-up.

• Facilitate communication and identify synergies between cohort projects and external stakeholders.

• Represent the Accelerator internally and externally, including at conferences and working group meetings.

• Direct project work of the administrative staff assigned to the Planetary Intelligence and Climate Adaptation program.

• Serve as a primary operational point of contact for assigned projects and stakeholders, building strong relationships while coordinating communications, resources, meetings, and collaborative activities across Stanford and external partners.

• Lead day-to-day program management for complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, coordinating meetings, timelines, deliverables, communications, and follow-up actions to ensure projects progress efficiently.

• Proactively anticipate, identify, and resolve issues that hinder the smooth and timely operations of the program.

• Provide operational support across Accelerator initiatives, proactively contributing wherever needed to ensure successful execution of programs, events, and strategic priorities.

• Prepare project documentation, reports, financial justifications, presentations, meeting materials, and other written deliverables that support effective program operations and leadership decision-making.

* - The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

In addition to the minimum requirements below, our preferred qualifications include:

• Degree in a scientific or engineering related field (chemistry, physics, computer science, engineering, environment, sustainability, or related discipline)

• Interest in science related career (e.g. academia, business, investment, policy, medicine)

• Interest in entrepreneurship and impact

• Experience with AI and/or geospatial science.

• Experience with data management and/or computer science

• Experience developing spreadsheets, presentation materials, briefings

• Experience with or in start-ups.

• Experience working effectively within an academic setting to move projects forward.

• Demonstrated experience developing events, workshops, and trainings.

• Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with a wide variety stakeholders & experts across different disciplines and guide efforts towards results.

• Ability to influence without authority.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Occasional evening and weekend hours.

* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.

The expected pay range for this position is $104,000 to $127,000 per annum.