About the Organization

Spark Climate Solutions is accelerating progress in emerging climate fields, towards repairing the climate. Spark focuses on high-leverage, under-resourced solution areas and takes a systems approach, collaboratively working with experts and other stakeholders, to accelerate these fields by building strategic roadmaps, providing research funding, seeding new organizations, and communicating with the public. Spark’s first focus area is accelerating solutions for near-term warming management, starting with enteric fermentation mitigation and methane removal. Our team has deep expertise in science, engineering, and climate-focused philanthropy. Spark’s funders include the Grantham Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Astera Institute, Climate Pathfinders Foundation, and Additional Ventures.

Program Lead, Enteric Methane

Spark seeks a Program Lead for the Enteric Methane Program to lead and manage the development of a strategic, cross-sectoral roadmap. The Program Lead will be expected to translate this work into tangible outcomes, including new government funding priorities and policy changes over multiple years, new research funding programs, and spinning out new non-profit projects and organizations. Livestock enteric methane production is ~25% of global anthropogenic methane emissions, driving ~0.1°C and counting of current warming. Current commercial solutions incompletely address the very small portion of methane emissions from cows on feedlots and similar, globally estimated at ~2-5%. Addressing the remaining 95%+ requires systematic research, international development, and sociology investments. This role would be interdisciplinary, taking science, engineering, talent, society, economics, and policy into account to advance the field across every dimension.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Program Lead, Enteric Methane will perform the following and other duties as assigned:

Lead and manage the development of Spark’s enteric methane roadmap, translating that roadmap into impactful research projects, policy changes, and public communications.
Drive strategic and collaborative efforts in field building, including spinning up new programs internal to Spark and seeding new organizations where needed.
Build and own relationships with science, policy, and philanthropic partners to collaborate on roadmaps, research agendas, and granting opportunities.
Mentor, collaborate with, and manage interdisciplinary teammates and contractors.
Contribute to Spark’s overall strategic direction.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have the following minimum qualifications:

7+ years of combined professional and research experience, including any graduate work.
A combination of scientific, business, and policy-related background in agriculture, biology, biogeochemistry, environmental science, or biochemistry-related areas.
Experience independently running projects and complex work tracks in research-heavy areas, in academia, consulting, or business environments.
Proven ability to initiate independent projects and work across disciplines.
Scientific literacy and comfort working with scientific material and collaborating with leading scientists in relevant fields.
Demonstrated systems thinking.
Experience leading and mentoring in a manner that centers collaboration, empathy, and equity.
Excellent written, speaking/presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Insatiable drive to learn about the climate problem and help drive solutions.
Flexibility, creativity, and tenacity.
Fluency in English.

Eligibility

Ability to work as a W2 employee for a US non-profit.
Availability during the US Pacific time work day.

Compensation and Location

Spark offers a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience. The salary range is $130,000-$200,000 a year, depending on experience and location. In addition, Spark provides exceptional benefits including flexible PTO, sick time, holidays, generous health insurance coverage, 401(k) with employer match, and full-covered dental/vision/life insurance, and parental leave.

As with all positions at Spark Climate Solutions, this role will be remote. Employees can work anywhere within the United States or internationally with approval. Spark’s center of gravity is in the SF Bay Area, with a possible option of some in-person work later in 2023.

Travel expectations will be minimal and average 5-days/quarter. Duration will likely be 2-4 days at a time.

How to Apply

CEA Recruiting is assisting Spark with this search. To be considered for this position, interested candidates must follow the link below to submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements through CEA’s job portal. Click here to apply online.

Spark Climate Solutions is an equal opportunity employer.

CEA Recruiting works with leading environmental nonprofits, foundations, and businesses to recruit top talent and design effective organizational staffing strategies. For more information, visit www.cearecruiting.com.

Enteric Methane jobs

Program Lead, Enteric Methane