Program Officer, U.S. Electricity

Climate Imperative Foundation; United States; Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Fertility benefits

Student loan repayment

401k matching

Public transit benefits

Cell phone reimbursement

Parental leave

Paid holidays & PTO

Team lunches

Office snacks

Job summary

Climate Imperative Foundation is seeking a Program Officer, U.S. Electricity, to collaborate with the Initiative Director on grantmaking strategies advancing decarbonization of the U.S. electricity sector.

You will manage grantees, develop funding rationales, and drive evidence-based learning across the program. The role requires 8-10+ years in climate/energy/policy, strong research and communication skills, and a willingness to travel up to 15%.

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years of climate, energy, or policy experience.
• Knowledge of or experience in grantmaking.
• Knowledge or experience related to US policies that decarbonize the electricity sector.
• Ability to advance policy through government, nonprofits, private sector, or philanthropy.
• Familiarity with climate/clean energy landscape and advocacy tactics.
• Ability to develop strategies and prioritize resources for impact.
• Strong research, analysis, and synthesis skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 15%.
• Deep commitment to reducing climate change.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic grantmaking plans and memos for new initiatives.
• Solicit proposals, summarize funding requests, and answer substantive questions.
• Develop a complete and coherent rationale for funding proposals.
• Conduct site visits and travel to meetings and conferences.
• Monitor progress on approved grants and strategies.
• Provide timely sector updates and presentations for staff and partners.
• Collaborate to define objectives and key results that support the theory of change.
• Contribute to an evidence-based learning culture and inform the board on progress.

Skills

Grantmaking experience

US policy experience

Research & analysis

Strong communication

Travel up to 15%

Strategic thinking

Job description

PRIORITY FOR APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Position Summary

The Program Officer, U.S. Electricity will work closely with the Initiative Director to develop grantmaking strategies and portfolios that advance decarbonizing the electricity sector in the United States. This position will also play a key role in managing a set of grantees as they work towards the adoption of zero-emission policies, quickly and equitably.

Key Responsibilities

Program Management

• Develop strategic grantmaking plans; author memos on strategies, new subject areas, and for new initiatives
• Work with potential grantee organizations to solicit proposals for possible funding; develop concise and accurate summaries of funding requests; and answer substantive questions about the proposals
• Develop a complete and coherent rationale for funding proposals
• Conduct site visits to current and potential grantees; travel to meetings and conferences
• Monitor progress on approved grants and strategies
• Provide timely sector and strategy updates, summary reports, and presentations for senior staff and other internal and external partners
• Collaborate with the team to define and prioritize objectives and key results that support the theory of change
• Contribute to both an internal and grantee culture of evidence-based learning
• Inform the board of directors about program developments, including the effectiveness of individual grants, strategies, and opportunities for future improvements

Partnership Development

• Lead thorough collaboration, both inside and outside the organization
• Work with teams across the organization and experts in the field to refine and improve the program’s overall strategy
• Participate in joint efforts with other funders and affinity groups of foundations to determine collaboration opportunities to achieving shared goals
• Keep abreast of the funding landscape and advocacy field to determine emerging trends, areas of interest, current funding trends, and opportunities

Experience

• 8-10+ years of relevant experience in a climate, energy, and/or policy focused role
• Knowledge of or experience in grantmaking
• Knowledge or experience related to US policies that decarbonize the electricity sector
• Ability to advance relevant policy through first-hand experience in government, nonprofits, the private sector and/or philanthropy
• Familiarity with the climate and clean energy field landscape, as well as advocacy strategies, tactics, and key leverage points to advance policy
• Ability to develop strategies and prioritize resources to maximize impact
• Strong research, analysis, and synthesis skillset
• Ability to prioritize and be flexible in a fast-paced, constantly evolving, and collaborative environment
• Effective and flexible interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills
• Detail-orientation with strong organizational and project management skills
• Ability and willingness to travel (up to 15%)
• Deep interest, passion, and commitment to reducing climate change

SALARY

We provide a salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. The target national salary range is $145,000 to $155,000 with adjustments made for people in higher-expense markets, i.e. the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, and Washington D.C. Equity is incredibly important to the organization, and a pay audit for equity is completed annually.

Benefits

Climate Imperative provides a comprehensive benefits package. Benefits include:

• Up to 100% of premium paid for medical, dental, and vision
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Carrot fertility and family planning benefits
• Student loan repayment assistance
• 401k retirement plan with a company match contribution
• Public transportation benefit options
• Cell phone and health/wellness reimbursement
• Parental Leave
• 14 paid holidays and four weeks of paid time off (PTO)
• Regular staff lunches and team building activities
• SF and DC office stocked with healthy snacks and beverages
• An innovative, collaborative, welcoming work culture

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This role is done primarily in an office environment.

An employee must be able to satisfy the following physical requirements with or without a reasonable accommodation.

• Remain in a stationary position (at a desk) for at least 75% of the day
• Use hand and fingers to type
• Frequently communicate via phone or video and email and must be able to communicate using those methods

This description reflects essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Climate Imperative supports a hybrid work environment and requires all employees to come together in person two to three times per year.

OUR COMMITMENT

Climate Imperative is committed to diversity, equity, & inclusion and to a transparent recruitment process that fosters belonging. Our goal is to hire and advance people regardless of race, gender, ability, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, military service, medical condition, and any other protected characteristic under local, state, or federal law. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We are committed to an accessible employee experience. If at any time you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

About Us

Climate change is governed by physical facts—about carbon sources, accumulation, impacts, and timing, and more importantly, about solutions that work. These facts must inform strategy: they show that avoiding dangerous climate change is only possible through strong policy to cut carbon, promptly, in the biggest countries. To address these issues, Climate Imperative was founded to provide resources to the field of climate policy in this decisive decade.

Climate Imperative is a 501(c)(3) public charity focused on solving the climate crisis at speed and scale by providing funding, technical support, and expertise to win the world's most significant emissions reduction policy decisions this decade.

Climate Imperative operates from two office locations in San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC. Employees based in those areas work from the office one to three days per week. We support a hybrid work environment and bring the full team together in person one to two times per year for organization-wide collaboration.